Podcast Summary: "INTERVIEW: AI Voice Scam with April Monroe"

Podcast: Scams, Money, & Murder
Host: Nicole Lapin (Crime House Studios)
Guest: April Monroe, scam victim
Date: September 11, 2025

Episode Overview

In this compelling episode, Nicole Lapin interviews April Monroe, whose family recently became the victim of a cutting-edge AI voice scam. April details how scammers cloned her voice to convince her mother she was in a dire emergency, resulting in a significant financial loss and enduring psychological trauma. The conversation dives deep into the mechanics of AI-enabled scams, the emotional aftermath for victims, and practical protections for listeners.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. How the AI Scam Unfolded

• The Call That Changed Everything [03:30]

  • April recounts being informed at work that her mother was being scammed.
  • The scammer called April’s mother (Sharon), using an AI-generated replica of April’s voice, claiming she had been in a car accident involving a pregnant woman.
  • The story involved criminal charges, hospitalization, and a need for immediate bail.

• Layered Deception [04:01]

  • Scammers added layers by introducing fake "detectives" and a "bail bondsman."
  • April’s mother was told not to inform anyone, including bank staff, escalating the pressure and secrecy.
  • The scammers even sent a "bonds courier" (via a ride-share driver in a black Tahoe) to pick up the cash directly from Sharon’s driveway.

“Nothing would have convinced her that it was not me on the phone.” - April Monroe [04:01]

2. Escalation and Resolution

• Continued Demands [06:16]

  • After the initial handover of $15,000, the scammers called back to falsely claim the allegedly injured baby had died, now escalating the supposed legal threat to vehicular homicide and requesting more money.
  • Only after family friend Leslie intervened ("do not, this is a scam!") and connected the real April via phone did the family begin to unravel the fraud.

• The Emotional Fallout

  • Sharon was so traumatized that even after speaking to the real April, both she and April’s son were physically ill with relief.
  • The family spent hours recovering together, and the event left deep emotional scars.

"She couldn't stop hugging me...she just couldn't believe it. It was a lot." - April Monroe [06:54]

3. Why the Scam Was So Convincing

• Personal Information Sourcing [08:31]
  • April reflects that much of the scam’s credibility came from details easily found online or via ChatGPT: soccer, family faith, kids’ GPA, their names.

“Just for funsies, me and my son were like chatgpting ourselves...they knew a lot about both kids. They knew a lot about me.” - April Monroe [08:31]

• Targeting Vulnerable Demographics [09:41]
  • April speculates that the boomer generation—and especially those less tech-savvy—are prime targets, as their online connections are easy to map, and they are often more trusting.

"They disarmed her immediately...family, faith, anything that along those lines, they're going to get you pretty hard." - April Monroe [09:41]

4. The Financial Aftermath

• Life-Altering Losses [10:24]
  • April shares how $15,000 represented a significant share of her retired parents’ savings, jeopardizing needed repairs and future security.
  • A GoFundMe campaign helped recover more than half, but the stress remains.

"Knowing what that was...comparison to what they have, it was a lot. They're on a fixed income..." - April Monroe [10:30]

5. Psychological Trauma and Trust Issues

• Enduring Psychological Impact [14:00]
  • April describes her mother’s emotional state as akin to PTSD, noting Sharon couldn't face reliving the experience—even for a podcast interview.

"It was very, very traumatizing...I think it’s probably PTSD anytime she needs to, like, rehash anything." - April Monroe [14:00]

• Changes in Behavior [15:31]
  • The family now avoids answering unknown calls, uses code words for verification, and is hypervigilant about potential scams via mail, text, or email.

"We don't answer anything anymore...We have our little word, a family code word." - April Monroe [15:31]

6. How Scammers Use Technology and Services

• Obtaining Voice Recordings [16:23]

  • April suspects recordings from social media, phone calls, or breaches were likely used to clone her voice.

• Use of Ride-sharing Services for Crime [17:04, 21:13]

  • Police traced some elements of the scam internationally and found that ride-share drivers (like Uber couriers) were often unwittingly used to collect packages of cash.

"He took the box and asked if he could put it in the back seat. Almost as if he needed to know if it was fragile...don't know if there's like a head person and then the drivers are the middle man." - April Monroe [17:04]

7. Family and Community Responses

• Emotional Toll on Younger Generations [23:12, 23:29]

  • April’s teenage son vomited with relief upon verifying she was unharmed, reflecting how trauma rippled through the entire extended family.

• Integrating Safe Practices [24:04, 24:28]

  • The family now has dedicated code words and protocols to verify emergencies, and April strongly advocates this approach for all listeners.

• Community Outreach and Shared Stories [28:43, 35:38]

  • April has connected with many other victims through her GoFundMe, describing multiple similar scams affecting elderly people across the US.

"Have a safe word, have a couple...If they can't answer that, then I'd be like, okay, let me call you back." - April Monroe [24:04]

8. Advice, Prevention, and Advocacy

• Prevention Tips
  • Use code words for emergency verification with family.
  • Never act on high-pressure calls; always pause and ask questions.
  • Be skeptical about unknown callers, especially those requesting secrecy or cash pickups.
  • Beware of convincing-looking but suspicious emails.

"There's almost no company that's going to call you and ask for immediate money or cash." - April Monroe [25:01]

• Stay Informed and Talk to Vulnerable Relatives
  • April stresses the importance of educating less tech-savvy relatives and keeping up to date on scam tactics, as scammers evolve quickly.

"Once this one gets shut down... they're going to come up with something else. Viruses do the same thing, and that's what these people are." - April Monroe [37:34]

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “Nothing would have convinced her that it was not me on the phone.” – April Monroe [04:01]
• "The amount of emotions felt within an hour’s time is…very, very traumatizing on your system." – April Monroe [14:35]
• "We have our little word, a family code word…if we call and we're in a panic, there's a code word that we have to verify that you're who you say you are." – April Monroe [15:31]
• "You can’t give 100 to everything. Something's gonna suffer. And on that day, it was her logic. And that could be anybody." – April Monroe [27:11]
• "There's a special place in hell for scammers who prey on elderly people." – Nicole Lapin [32:23]

Important Timestamps

• [03:30] – April receives the initial call about her mother being scammed
• [04:01] – Scam details: voice cloning, supposed car accident
• [06:16] – Scam escalates, scammers demand more money
• [10:24] – Financial impact on family
• [14:00] – Psychological impact: trauma and exhaustion
• [15:31] – Trust breakdown and code word protocol
• [17:04] – Law enforcement traces scam techniques, ride-share link
• [23:12, 23:29] – Emotional toll on April’s teenage son
• [24:04] – Safe word and verification protocol discussion
• [28:43] – April connects with other scam victims
• [35:38] – Additional stories from other families
• [37:34] – Advice: be aware that scam tactics evolve

Final Thoughts & Advice

April Monroe’s harrowing story is a cautionary tale about the power of AI, the emotional vulnerabilities of even the most loving families, and the calculated manipulation used by modern scammers. The incident led to direct financial loss, lasting psychological scars, and a hard-earned wariness of unsolicited calls and messages.

Actionable tips for listeners:

• Develop family code words for emergencies.
• Pause and verify all high-pressure requests for money.
• Educate elders and vulnerable relatives.
• Limit social media sharing and lock down privacy settings.
• Question every unsolicited request—especially those involving cash, secrecy, and urgent threats.

"Be careful with what you put on social media...how many people really need to know where you had dinner?" – April Monroe [38:25]

If you suspect you or a loved one may be the target of a similar scam, remain calm, ask for verification, and get law enforcement involved.

For more real-life financial crime stories and expert interviews, subscribe to Scams, Money, & Murder, and follow Crime House on Instagram and TikTok @crimehouse.