Latest news with #WFLA
The Hill
4 hours ago
- The Hill
Florida woman conned out of $15K after AI clones daughter's voice
DOVER, Fla. (WFLA) — A Florida woman wants to warn others after falling prey to an elaborate AI-powered scheme that used cloned audio of her daughter's voice to demand thousands of dollars in fake bond money. Sharon Brightwell told Nexstar's WFLA that the ordeal began last Wednesday when she received a call from a number that looked like her daughter's. On the other end of the line, a young woman was sobbing, claiming to have been in a car crash. 'There is nobody that could convince me that it wasn't her,' Sharon said. 'I know my daughter's cry.' The caller said she had hit a pregnant woman while texting and driving and claimed her phone had been taken by police. A man then got on the line, claiming to be an attorney representing her daughter. He told Sharon that her daughter was being detained and needed $15,000 in bail money in cash. 'He gave very specific instructions,' Sharon said. 'He told me not to tell the bank what the money was for, that it could affect my daughter's credit.' Following his instructions, she withdrew the money and placed it in a box as directed. A driver showed up to her house to pick up the package. But it didn't stop there. Sharon received another call saying the unborn child had died and that the family, described as 'Christian people,' had agreed not to sue her daughter if she provided another $30,000. That's when her grandson stepped in. He was on the phone with a family friend who quickly called Sharon directly this time with her real daughter on the line. 'I screamed,' Sharon said. 'When I heard her voice, I broke down. She was fine. She was still at work.' The family believes the suspects used videos from Facebook or other social media to create a convincing AI-generated replica of her daughter's voice. 'I pray this doesn't happen to anyone else,' Sharon said. 'My husband and I are recently retired. That money was our savings.' Now, the family is urging others to take precautions, including creating a private 'code word' to verify identities over the phone in emergency situations. 'If they can't give it to you,' Sharon said, 'hang up and call them directly.' A report has been filed with the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office. The family also launched a GoFundMe campaign to help recover their financial losses.
Yahoo
15 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
‘Single Riders': New dating app for Disney lovers in development
TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) — Looking for your happily ever after? A new dating app is reportedly in development for lovers of all things Disney. One of the developers posted a TikTok about the idea for an app where people could connect over their shared passion for theme parks, calling it 'Single Riders.' The developer, who goes by @joethebeardednerd on TikTok, said the app won't just be for dating, but also for meeting like-minded friends to join your Disney adventures. They'll start looking for beta testers sometime this year, the developer said. Interested users were invited to share ideas or features they'd like to see in the app. 'I go to the parks alone and it would be AWESOME to have a feature that shows if other singles are at the parks at the same time,' one user wrote. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Climate
- Yahoo
NHC highlights area near Florida for potential development
Video above: Can AI help create more accurate hurricane forecasts? | Tracking the Tropics TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) — The National Hurricane Center is watching the waters surrounding Florida for potential development. An area of low pressure may form off the southeastern coast of the U.S. and has the chance to develop as it moves over the Florida peninsula and into the Gulf next week, NHC forecasters said. Can AI help create more accurate hurricane forecasts? | Tracking the Tropics Heavy rain is possible over parts of Florida and the southeastern U.S. next week, regardless of development. The potential system has a near-zero percent chance of development in the next 48 hours. It has a 20% chance of development over the next seven 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Health
- Yahoo
Florida leaders celebrate advances in pediatric genetic medicine
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WFLA) — With the signing of the Sunshine Genetics Act, Florida has positioned itself as a national leader in pediatric genetic medicine, but lawmakers and advocates say this is only just the beginning. After being signed by Governor Ron DeSantis, the Sunshine Genetics Act puts in place a five-year pilot program for newborns, where families can opt in to have their baby's full genetic code sequenced, free of charge. 'The implications are frightening': Cybersecurity experts weigh in following AI impersonation Marco Rubio The goal is to catch serious but treatable genetic conditions before symptoms even appear, offering families answers and access to care, when timing matters most.'It's just a matter of time before that hope is transformed into cures for rare diseases,' said State Representative Adam Anderson (R-Palm Harbor). Anderson led the bill after losing his son to Tay Sachs disease. He says momentum is already building beyond the state of Florida. 'I've already had about half a dozen other states reach out to me. They want to know what's going on in Florida. They're excited about the Sunshine Genetics Act, they want to bring the Sunshine Genetics Act to other states,' Anderson said.'I will tell you; it's been a rough, it's been a rough few years,' said Dorothea Lantz, PWSA | USA Director of Community Engagement. Lantz, a national advocate and mother to a child with a rare disease, says the national fight for better rare disease detection has been difficult, but with the Sunshine Genetics Act, Florida families can expect groundbreaking change.'I think being able to point to the state of Florida and say, 'Listen guys, you know we're working so hard to change rare, and recognize that rare isn't rare when it affects 30 million Americans',' said Lantz. Backers of the initiative acknowledge it opens new doors, but with it comes lingering questions, especially around data privacy. However, Representative Anderson said Florida already has one of the most protective genetic privacy laws on the books.'This genetic information is sensitive, we want to make sure that can't get into the hands of the wrong people, people who may want to use it for harm or profit, that's not what the Sunshine Genetics Act is about,' Anderson said. The Act not only jumpstarts the pilot program, but it also establishes the Florida Institute for Pediatric Rare Diseases within the Florida State University College of Medicine and lays the foundation for a new $100 billion genomic medicine industry in Florida universities, hospitals, and biotech leaders have joined the move, offering hope to families who may have otherwise endured years uncertainty. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Science
- Yahoo
July's ‘Buck Moon': When to see the full moon and how it gets its name
TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) — Head outside after the sun sets Thursday and you might catch a glimpse of a spectacular sight rising in the night sky. The full 'Buck Moon' will rise on Thursday, July 10, reaching peak illumination at 4:36 p.m. EDT, according to the Farmer's Almanac. Sea turtle photobombs family photoshoot to lay eggs The moon will be below the horizon at that time but should be visible in the southeastern sky just after sunset. This year will be particularly special due to a phenomenon known as a 'Major Lunar Standstill,' according to The phenomenon occurs once every 18.6 years when the sun's gravity affects the moon's orbit and makes it appear especially high or low in the sky, depending on the time of year. It will be low this year and may even take on a golden or reddish hue due to rays of light having to travel father through Earth's atmosphere. So why is it called the Buck Moon? Like many moon names, it is derived from North American tribes who took notice of things happening in the natural world around them. Male deer, or bucks, shed and regrow their antlers each year, and July's full moon rises at the same time the animals' antlers are in full growth mode, according to the Farmer's Almanac. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
