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🇦🇺 Australia /Crime & Justice

AI scammers target missing man's parents with chilling extortion attempt

From ABC Australia · () English

Summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Outcome reported
  • Scammers used AI to generate an image of a missing West Australian man and demanded a $6,000 ransom from his parents.
  • The 23-year-old, who has autism, was found safe after being missing for two weeks.
  • Authorities report a rise in scams, with AI lowering barriers for criminals to create personalized extortion attempts.

AI-powered extortionists targeted the parents of a missing West Australian man, sending a chilling AI-generated image of their son and demanding thousands of dollars. The parents received the demand hours after posting on social media about their son, Rakoia Battensoli, who has autism and had been missing for two weeks.

You gonna wire us $6,000 within 24 hrs or we cut off his neck and sell his body parts.

— AI ScammerThe message sent to Rakoia Battensoli's parents demanding ransom.

The scammers' message threatened to "cut off his neck and sell his body parts" if the $6,000 ransom was not paid within 24 hours. Fortunately, Mr. Battensoli was later found safe in Perth, over 160 kilometers from his home.

His mother, Montina Delamere, expressed disbelief at the scammers' cruelty, noting that vulnerable people in turmoil might fall victim. She stated, "I was worried for my baby, but I had a feeling he was OK. But there's people out there that would be in turmoil and they would probably send people like that the money."

How could you do this to anybody?

— Montina DelamereRakoia Battensoli's mother, reacting to the AI-generated extortion message.

According to Scamwatch, over 61,400 scams have been reported in Australia this year, resulting in more than $94.5 million in losses. Cognitive psychologist James Dunn from the University of New South Wales explained that AI significantly lowers barriers for scammers, making it easier to create personalized and fear-inducing attacks. "AI makes it really, really easy for you to target individuals," he said. "It's a very lucrative market ... for anyone who thinks this is a great way to make a buck."

I was worried for my baby, but I had a feeling he was OK. But there's people out there that would be in turmoil and they would probably send people like that the money.

— Montina DelamereRakoia Battensoli's mother, reflecting on the scammers' tactics.

Retired detective and e-safety expert Kristi McVee described the exploitation of vulnerable individuals as a "massive issue." She highlighted that the mother was already a victim of her son's disappearance and became a "secondary victim" of the extortion attempt, calling the situation "terrifying."

AI makes it really, really easy for you to target individuals.

— James DunnUniversity of New South Wales cognitive psychologist, explaining the impact of AI on scams.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by ABC Australia. Summarized and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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