Pikesville Man Warns of Growing AI Voice Scam Threat

Michael Bresler shares his family's experience to help others avoid falling victim to AI-powered impersonation scams.

Apr. 3, 2026 at 11:14pm

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A highly detailed, 3D illustration of a glowing, neon-colored digital interface with a pulsing, ethereal light source at the center, representing an AI-generated voice. The interface is surrounded by a complex web of circuitry and data streams, conveying the technological complexity and potential dangers of this emerging cybersecurity threat.As AI voice technology becomes more sophisticated, scammers are leveraging it to perpetrate increasingly convincing impersonation scams that prey on vulnerable consumers.Baltimore Today

Artificial intelligence voice scams are becoming more prevalent as the technology becomes more accessible. Michael Bresler, a Pikesville resident, shared his family's story with WBAL-TV 11 News to help inform others about this emerging threat. Bresler's father nearly fell victim to an AI-powered scam where the caller impersonated Bresler's brother, claiming to be in police custody and needing money. Experts advise being aware of common scam tactics like using emotion, urgency, and threats of loss, as well as taking steps like having a safe word with loved ones to verify identities.

Why it matters

AI-powered voice scams are a growing concern as the technology becomes more advanced and available. These scams can be difficult to detect, and they put vulnerable populations like the elderly at risk of financial loss. Raising awareness about the tactics used by scammers and providing tips on how to avoid falling victim is crucial to protecting consumers.

The details

Bresler's father received a call from someone claiming to be Bresler's brother, saying he was in the hospital and in police custody for a DUI, and that money needed to be sent. The caller even used the family's nickname for Bresler's father, 'ABBA,' to make the impersonation more convincing. Experts at Nomorobo, a spam call and text blocking app, explain that scammers often use a combination of emotion, urgency, and threats of loss to pressure victims into sending money. In Bresler's case, he was able to verify the caller was not his brother by asking a personal question only his brother would know the answer to.

  • Bresler received the suspicious call from his father while attending his son's basketball game.

The players

Michael Bresler

A resident of Pikesville, Maryland who shared his family's experience with an AI voice scam to help inform others about this growing threat.

Matt Mazenko

The managing director at Nomorobo, a spam call and text blocking app, who provided insights on common tactics used by scammers.

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What they’re saying

“It is one of these things that, over time, is kind of steadily growing as these bad actors figure out the best ways to use these technologies.”

— Michael Bresler

“One is emotion, obviously. The second is urgency. And, the third is the threat of some sort of loss, whether that's the loss of money, the loss of an actual human, things like that.”

— Matt Mazenko, Managing Director, Nomorobo

What’s next

Experts recommend that people download call or text blocking apps on their phones, and establish safe words with loved ones to verify identities if they receive suspicious calls. They also advise that anyone who falls victim to a scam should not feel embarrassed, as these tactics can be difficult to detect.

The takeaway

This case highlights the growing threat of AI-powered voice scams, which can be highly convincing and put vulnerable populations at risk of financial loss. By raising awareness and providing practical tips, consumers can be better equipped to protect themselves and their loved ones from these emerging cybersecurity threats.