A Shanghai man has fallen victim to an elaborate AI-generated romance scam, losing nearly 200,000 yuan ($28,000) after being tricked into a long-distance relationship with a fake online partner, according to Chinese state media reports.
AI-Powered Deception
Scammers leveraged generative AI to create realistic videos and images of a fictional woman known as “Ms. Jiao”, using sophisticated deepfake technology to convince the victim of her authenticity.
According to state broadcaster CCTV, the fraudsters sent lifelike images and videos of Ms. Jiao to build trust and maintain the illusion of a genuine relationship.
The scammers then convinced the victim, identified as Mr. Liu, to transfer funds to what he believed was his girlfriend’s bank account. They claimed the money was needed for starting a business and helping a relative with medical bills.
Fake Documents and Elaborate Ruse
To further deceive Mr. Liu, the fraudsters created a fake ID and fabricated medical reports to support their claims.
The scam was orchestrated by a team of fraudsters who systematically produced AI-generated content to reinforce the illusion.
“Throughout the process, Mr. Liu never met Ms. Jiao in person,” police revealed during their investigation, as reported by CCTV.
A CCTV video showcased some of the images used in the scam, depicting a young woman in different scenarios, such as holding a paint palette and posing on a city street.
The Growing Threat of AI-Powered Scams
The rise of AI-driven fraud is becoming a global concern, with generative AI tools now capable of producing convincing text, images, and even live video.
Earlier this month, Meta issued a warning about AI-enhanced romance scams, cautioning users to beware of online acquaintances who claim romantic interest but ultimately request financial assistance.
As AI technology continues to advance, authorities worldwide are urging internet users to remain vigilant against evolving online scams that exploit human emotions and trust for financial gain.
