A Quebec man lost nearly C$20,000 after receiving multiple phone calls from scammers impersonating his son and a lawyer, illustrating the growing sophistication of phone fraud schemes that use voice mimicry to deceive victims.

Details of the Scam Incident

Eric Sovajou, 60, recounted that the incident began with a call from a private number where the caller, posing as his son Sam, claimed to be at a courthouse after an accident, citing a broken nose to explain a changed voice. Over the next three hours, Sovajou received additional calls from the same impersonator and another individual alleging to be a lawyer. Under the pressure of the calls, Sovajou made two separate bank withdrawals totaling nearly C$19,000 in cash, which was collected from his home by two different couriers.

Sovajou only realized the deception after the couriers had taken the money and he contacted his son’s workplace, discovering that Sam was there all along. The scam exploited Sovajou’s trust and the apparent authenticity of the voice imitation.

Emotional Impact on Victims

Both Eric Sovajou and his son Sam expressed the emotional toll the scam took on them. Sovajou described feeling “devastated” and “stupid” despite being aware of similar scams targeting older adults, such as the “grandfather scam.” Sam emphasized the shock of hearing his own voice manipulated to deceive his father.

Law Enforcement Challenges and Guidance

Authorities noted the increasing difficulty in identifying scams that use artificial intelligence or advanced voice imitation technologies, as these methods can convincingly replicate a person’s voice. Police advise vigilance and recommend verifying any urgent financial requests by contacting family members directly through known channels.

Do not trust calls from unknown or private numbers claiming emergencies.
Verify the identity of the caller by reaching out to the supposed person through a separate, trusted contact method.
Never withdraw or transfer large sums of money based on phone requests without confirmation.

Recovery Efforts and Public Awareness

The Sovajou family is working to recover the lost funds and is sharing their experience to raise awareness about sophisticated phone scams. They stress the importance of public education to prevent others from falling victim to similar fraudulent schemes.

“It’s devastating. You feel stupid. I mean, you feel like you’re an idiot and then I know the scam. I know the grandfather scam and I’m aware of it and I was just uh you know it was just they…” – Eric Sovajou, Quebec victim of phone scam