An AI-generated girlfriend scammed a man out of £21,000 by sending convincing ‘real-life’ videos, including one of her walking outside.
A man from China fell victim to a sophisticated scam involving an AI-generated girlfriend.
Over two months, he sent nearly $27,000 to someone he believed was his romantic partner.
This case highlights the dangers of online relationships and how technology can be misused.
AI-generated girlfriend scams man out of $27,000 by sending ‘real-life’ videos of herself walking down street as proof
The man, known as Mr. Liu, thought he was helping a woman named Mrs. Jiao.
He believed he was supporting her dreams of starting a business and paying medical bills for her family members.
Mr. Liu transferred money directly to the scammers, thinking he was in a genuine relationship.
The scammers created convincing fake documents to support their claims. They provided an identity card, family medical records, and receipts.
They also generated lifelike videos and images of a young woman. Some videos showed her walking down the street or holding a painting, making Mr. Liu believe she was real.
After two months of communicating, Mr. Liu began to feel suspicious. He realized he had never met Mrs. Jiao in person.
This lack of a real-life encounter raised red flags for him. Concerned about the situation, he decided to contact the police for help.
The police investigation revealed the scam involved sophisticated AI-generated deception.
When the police investigated, they discovered that the videos and photos were made using artificial intelligence.
The scammers had combined various images to create the illusion of a real person. The police found that the scam had earned the group a total of around $280,000, or two million Chinese Yuan.
This incident is not isolated. It follows a pattern of romance scams that have affected many people around the world.
Scammers frequently use fake identities online to exploit emotions and trust.
Just a month before Mr. Liu’s case, a French woman was scammed out of nearly $900,000 by someone pretending to be the actor Brad Pitt.
Warning from Authorities
Authorities are warning people about the risks associated with online relationships.
They stress the importance of verifying identities and being cautious when sending money to someone you have not met in person.
Scammers often use emotional manipulation to gain trust and ask for financial support.
Victims of such scams often experience emotional distress upon realizing their deception.
Mr. Liu may face feelings of embarrassment, anger, and sadness after losing a significant amount of money. Recovery from such experiences can take time and support from friends and family.
In a statement, they said: ‘Romance scams are a common scheme in which scammers target people in a variety of ways – malicious texts or emails, dating apps, social media posts, discussion forums and more – under romantic pretenses.
‘In these cases, scammers would typically pose as attractive, single and successful individuals, often with a military or business background.
‘They would send cold messages to many targets at once – in a typical spray and pray scheme – to initiate contact.
‘If a target were to respond, the scammer would try to build trust over a period of time, ultimately asking for money or suggesting a fraudulent investment opportunity.’
To avoid falling victim to similar scams, it is essential to follow some guidelines. Always be skeptical of online relationships, especially if the other person asks for money.
Look for signs of deception, like inconsistent stories or refusal to meet in person. Trust your instincts, and do not hesitate to seek advice from friends or authorities.
