AI scams targeting kids: South African parents warned over photos online

Parents in South Africa are being warned that photos and videos of their children shared online could be used by scammers to clone voices, impersonate family members and target children.

The warning comes as AI scams become more advanced, raising fresh online safety concerns for parents

Speaking on CapeTalk, cybersecurity expert Boikokobetso Makhetloane said while the FBI has warned about AI-driven ‘virtual kidnapping’ scams abroad, local criminals are already using similar tactics in different ways, including impersonation and targeting children.

How kids’ photos online can put families at risk

Makhetloane warned that everyday social media posts can expose children to criminals.

Posting school uniforms, locations, or routines can make it easier for scammers to identify and target a child.

“A lot of parents would post their kids’ school or post their kids with their school uniform, and that can make them a target,” he said.

Criminals can then use that information to impersonate a parent and attempt to remove a child from school under false pretences.

AI voice cloning scams already hitting families

Makhetloane says AI scams and impersonation scams are evolving rapidly.

In one case, he investigated, scammers cloned a child’s voice and sent a WhatsApp voice note to a parent, claiming the child was in trouble.

“They cloned her voice… telling the mother, ‘I’m in prison right now, you need to pay a particular amount’,” he said.

The scam included instructions not to call back, with a fake ‘lawyer’ set to follow up, a tactic designed to create panic and urgency.

Why private social media accounts aren’t safe

While many parents rely on private social media accounts, Makhetloane warned that this is not foolproof.

If profiles are public, even temporarily, images and videos can be accessed and reused.

He also warned that once content is shared online, it may never fully disappear.

“Once you share it… It stays on the internet forever. Even if you delete it, I can still get it,” he said.

Apps harvesting children’s faces and voices

Parents are also being cautioned about apps that request photos or voice data.

Some platforms collect and store this information, which can then be used to train AI models or exploited by scammers.

Makhetloane says criminals are even creating apps specifically to gather faces and voices for cloning.

Can you really remove your child’s digital footprint?

Deleting content can help, but it may not fully erase a child’s digital presence.

Makhetloane recommended searching your own name or your child’s online to identify what information is publicly available and removing what you can.

However, he warns that complete removal is often impossible once content has spread online.

Why filters and watermarks won’t protect your child

Even adding filters, music or watermarks to videos may not be enough.

Makhetloane says AI tools can isolate and clone voices despite background noise or edits.

“The voice can still be cloned… Some apps can actually do that,” he said.

What parents should do now

— Avoid posting school names, uniforms or locations

— Don’t post children in real time

— Keep accounts private and review settings regularly

— Avoid apps that request photos or voice data

Experts warn that once children’s images or voices are online, they can be reused in ways parents may never see.

READ ALSO:

— New push to protect kids online — SA considers stricter social media rules

— AI scams are getting smarter — and more dangerous for everyday users

— Cybercrime surge in SA — experts warn attacks are becoming more sophisticated

For more detailed information, listen to Makhetloane on CapeTalk using the audio player below: