Latest news with #Brightwell
West Australian
2 days ago
- West Australian
Sharon Brightwell: Mother cruelly tricked by AI scammer who used her own daughter's voice to steal from her
A mother has fallen victim to a heartless scam after callers used AI to pose as her daughter. When Sharon Brightwell picked up the phone on July 9 she heard her own daughter tearfully tell her she had been in a car accident. 'There is nobody that could convince me that it wasn't her,' Sharon said. 'I know my daughter's cry,' she told WFLA . She listened to the caller tell her that she had hit a pregnant woman while texting and driving, and said her phone was confiscated by police. Then the Florida woman heard a male voice who told her he was the lawyer that would represent her daughter. He said the daughter was in custody and needed $23,000 to post bail. Ms Brightwell said the man gave very detailed instructions, and warned her 'not to tell the bank what the money was for' because it would affect her daughter's credit score. In a state of shock she followed the instructions, withdrew the money and placed it in a box as the man had requested. Then a driver showed up to her house and collected the package. This was not the end, and Ms Brightwell received another call telling her the unborn child had died in the womb as a result of the accident, and that the family would not sue if they were paid $46,000. This is when Ms Brightwell's grandson intervened. He arranged a phone call with Ms Brightwell's real daughter on the other line. When Ms Brightwell heard her daughter's voice she 'screamed' and 'broke down'. Her daughter had been fine the whole time. The family suspects the scammers used videos from the daughter's social media to accurately replicate her voice in a cruel and emotionally manipulative scam. They have reported the matter to the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office and urge other families to take precautions against this sophisticated high-tech scam. Ms Brightwell's daughter has launched a GoFundMe page to cover the cost of the $23,000. On the page, she wrote, that the AI cloned voice sounded 'exactly like her'. 'After you hear your child in distress, all logic is out the window. Nothing would have convinced her that wasn't me.'
New York Post
5 days ago
- New York Post
Florida woman scammed out of $15K by AI cloning her daughter's voice: ‘I know my daughter's cry'
A woman in Florida was swindled into handing over thousands of dollars in retirement savings by a phone scammer who used artificial intelligence to clone her daughter's voice and pretend she was in trouble. Sharon Brightwell said she got a call last Wednesday that sounded exactly like her adult daughter, April Monroe, sobbing and panicking on the other end of the line and telling her that she had hit a heavily pregnant woman while texting and driving. The phone number didn't match Monroe's, and the voice claimed that the police had taken her personal cellphone after the accident. But the AI-generated sound was so similar to her daughter's voice — even her sobs — that Brightwell was completely convinced the call was real. Advertisement 3 Sharon Brightwell was scammed after someone pretended to be her daughter over the phone. WFLA 'There is nobody that could convince me that it wasn't her. I know my daughter's cry. Even though she's an adult, I know her cry,' Brightwell, of Hillsborough County, told WFLA. Then, a man abruptly took over the call, claiming to be an attorney for her daughter. The man said he needed $15,000 so that they could post bond for Monroe. Advertisement But, like a true scammer, the faux attorney gave Brightwell a shady set of instructions, including not telling the bank what the money would be for because it could negatively impact Monroe's credit score. Brightwell withdrew the required funds and placed it in a box at the direction of the so-called attorney. A driver showed up at her house, grabbed the package and drove away. 3 The clone of April Monroe, which was entirely generated by artificial intelligence, likely used videos available online to make a near-perfect replica of her voice. AFP via Getty Images Soon after, Brightwell received another phone call claiming that the pregnant victim's child died following the accident and that the woman's 'Christian people' family wouldn't sue Monroe if she posted another $30,000. Advertisement Brightwell only realized she had been scammed when she got a call from her grandson revealing to her that his mom was not in any trouble — he even put Monroe on the phone. 'I screamed. When I heard her voice, I broke down. She was fine,' Brightwell said. 3 Brightwell forked over $15,000 to the scammer. WFLA 'After you hear your child in distress, all logic is out the window,' Monroe added in a GoFundMe to help her parents recoup the money lost to the scam. Advertisement 'To tell you the trauma that my mom and son went through that day makes me nauseous and has made me lose more faith in humanity. Evil is too nice a word for the kind of people that can do this. My mother was sobbing on the phone with them, thinking I had been not only in a horrific wreck, but that a baby's life had been taken. The scammers continued without hesitation or remorse.' The family, stunned by how quickly matters had unraveled, believe that the scammer used videos of Brightwell's daughter on Facebook and Snapchat to generate a near-perfect replica of her voice. Going forward, they will be using code words to verify each other's identities over the phone. 'I pray this doesn't happen to anyone else. My husband and I are recently retired. That money was our savings,' Brightwell lamented. The family filed a report with the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office.
Yahoo
27-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Aeromexico partners with Latitude by Brightwell to transform passenger refunds and reimbursements
ATLANTA, May 27, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Brightwell, a leading-edge software solution designed to simplify the complexities of international payments, is proud to partner with Aeromexico to transform the airline's refund and reimbursement process. By leveraging Brightwell's digital refund solution, Latitude, Aeromexico is streamlining payouts, reducing operational costs, and enhancing passenger satisfaction. Aeromexico is committed to delivering a seamless travel experience, from booking to arrival. Now, with Latitude by Brightwell, the airline is modernizing its refund and reimbursement process—ensuring passengers receive funds quickly and conveniently while reducing strain on internal teams. With Latitude, Aeromexico passengers will receive a convenient Aeromexico-branded link that allows them to access their refund or reimbursement in faster than traditional methods via the payment method of their choice. This launch aligns with the Department of Transportation's mandate for issuing prompt, hassle-free passenger refunds. Providing a network of destinations spanning 93 cities in Mexico, the Americas, Europe, and Asia, Aeromexico chose Latitude because of Brightwell's unmatched expertise in travel payments. With a proven track record of solving cross-border payout complexities, Brightwell ensures airlines can meet passenger expectations for fast, hassle-free refunds while reducing the burden on customer service teams. "Aeromexico is dedicated to elevating the passenger journey towards an extraordinary experience," said Aeromexico's VP of Treasury, Emilio Ramos Ruiz. "Brightwell makes that easier with refunds that are convenient for agents and passengers, regardless of country or currency. The fully-branded user experience helps our passengers trust that they are making the right choice to fly with us and that any disruptions will be resolved quickly." Brightwell launched Latitude in 2024 to help businesses like Aeromexico streamline payments and enhance customer satisfaction. By digitizing the refund process, Latitude reduces costly manual operations, minimizes chargebacks, and accelerates payouts—allowing airlines to build stronger customer relationships and drive repeat bookings. "Aeromexico's move to bring on Latitude shows just how critical fast, seamless refunds have become in the travel industry," said Larry Hipp, CEO of Brightwell. "By cutting out the friction of cross-border payments and delivering a fully branded experience, Latitude helps turn what used to be a difficult process into a real moment of service — strengthening passenger trust and making Aeromexico stand out as a leader in global travel." To learn more about Latitude, visit About Brightwell Driven by a passion for financial inclusion and empowerment, Atlanta-based financial technology company Brightwell is living out its mission to create products that help people and businesses send money securely across the globe. Brightwell's suite of cross-border payment products is simple to use, easy to integrate, and designed to help customers achieve measurable results. Processing and securing billions of dollars each year, Brightwell's products are trusted by businesses of all sizes – from startups to Fortune 500. Brightwell media contact: marketing@ Brightwell is a technology provider and not a bank or other regulated financial institution. All regulated services associated with Latitude are provided by The Bancorp Bank. Terms and conditions apply. About Aeromexico About Aeromexico Grupo Aeromexico, S.A.B. de C.V., is a holding company with subsidiaries engaged in commercial and cargo aviation in Mexico, training, assistance, and maintenance, as well as the control of its passenger loyalty program: Aeromexico, Aeromexico Connect, Aeromexico Cargo, Aeromexico Formacion, Aeromexico Servicios and Aeromexico Rewards. The company is Mexico's global airline and has its main hub at Mexico City International Airport. Its destinations network features 21 countries and 93 cities nationally and internationally, including Mexico, the United States, Canada, Central America, South America, Asia, and Europe. The Group's operating fleet is comprised of Boeing 787 and 737 jet airliners and Embraer 190 models. Aeromexico is also a founding member of the SkyTeam airline alliance, an alliance which serves over 160 countries with 18 SkyTeam airline partners. Aeromexico media contact: amcomunicacioncorporativa@ View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE Brightwell
