The man thought that he had a long-distance girlfriend.
He was in a genuine long-distance relationship with a woman named Ms. Jiao.
But apparently, that girlfriend was AI-generated.
Online scams are growing by the day and are targeting people everywhere around the globe. Recently, a man in Shanghai fell victim to a sophisticated romance scam that cost him over Rs 24 lakhs. The man thought that he had a long-distance girlfriend, but apparently, that girlfriend was AI-generated. Scammers use advanced generative AI technology to create realistic images and even fake documents to convince the victim. Here’s what happened.
Scammers used AI technology to convince the victim Mr Liu that he was in a genuine long-distance relationship with a woman named Ms. Jiao. Having fallen for the scam, Mr Liu started to trust his AI-generated girlfriend. He was then deceived into sending 200,000 yuan to support his supposed girlfriend’s business venture and to assist with her family member’s healthcare expenses. Throughout their interaction, Mr. Liu never met Ms. Jiao in person. The scammers used AI to generate convincing visuals and counterfeit identification documents, making the deception appear legitimate. The scammers shared convincing images of a woman in different set ups, one with a paint palette and another one on a street.
According to state broadcaster CCTV, the operation involved a team of scammers who sent AI-generated videos and photos to manipulate the victim. The Shanghai police are investigating the case and working to track down the perpetrators. With the rise of AI, such cases have come forward and have raised concerns about the potential misuse of AI technology in online scams. Scammers are using AI and deepfakes to con innocents of their hard-earned money.
Meta also recently issued a warning and advised social media users to be careful of online contacts who promise romantic relationships while requesting money. Be really careful about who you talk to online and especially how you handle your money.
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Mustafa Khan
Mustafa is a young tech journalist who tells it like it is, cutting through buzzwords to deliver straightforward smartphone reviews. He’s the office go-to for insider tips and quick demos, and his video content doesn’t waste anyone’s time. When he’s off the clock, he geeks out over cars, photography, and hunting down the best spot for Indian food. View Full Profile
