Calgary woman targeted by ‘cruel’ AI ransom scam while searching for missing sister

A Calgary woman desperate to find her missing sister has been the target of heartless scammers using AI and social media.

A Calgary woman searching for her sister, who vanished last year, says she was targeted by scammers using artificial intelligence to create a fake hostage photo.

Deeanna Erickson was last seen on June 6 around 11 p.m. getting off a bus near a Shoppers Drug Mart in the community of Walden.

At the time, the 31-year-old appeared disoriented.

Her sister, Shelby Erickson, believes Deeanna may have asked a stranger for a ride home.

“Deeanna didn’t just take off or she didn’t just vanish. Someone knows something, and they’re just not coming forward,” said Shelby.

Shelby’s frequent social media posts to raise awareness might have made her a target for fraudsters.

In December, someone contacted her demanding $10,000 in Bitcoin.

To pressure her, the scammers sent an AI-generated image of Deeanna appearing to be tied up and held hostage in a van, threatening to kill her if the ransom wasn’t paid.

“At that time, I was just like in shock and so scared,” Shelby said.

“I, of course, called the police right away.”

A growing digital threat

Police and technology experts warn the use of AI in extortion is an escalating issue, particularly in high-emotion cases like missing persons.

“We’re starting to see in missing persons cases where victims are being contacted by criminals who are trying to extort them out of funds,” said Det. Leonard Van Woudenberg with the Calgary Police Service.

Tom Keenan, a University of Calgary professor and author of Technocreep, says the technology has reached a point where visual evidence can no longer be taken at face value.

“You simply can’t believe your eyes anymore,” Keenan said.

“Somebody shows you an image, and immediately you have to question, ‘Is that real, or is that AI?’

Then, in this case, it was a really nasty use of it because they created an alleged ransom photo of this person, and their family’s been looking for them. So, it’s quite a cruel hoax."

The search continues

Despite the traumatic encounter with scammers, Shelby remains focused on finding her sister, whom she describes as a “loving and caring person” who “cared for all animals and all people.”

She has started a GoFundMe page to raise money for a reward and to fund ongoing search efforts, like billboards.

The investigation is ongoing, and anyone with information about Deeanna is asked to contact police by calling 403-266-1234.

Tips can also be submitted anonymously to Crime Stoppers through any of the following methods:

• TALK: 1-800-222-8477
• TYPE: calgarycrimestoppers.org
• APP: P3 Tips