BEWARE: Woman falls victim to ‘deepfake’ romance scam and loses money
- Replies 9
In today’s modern era, finding love online is not uncommon.
However, the internet is also a breeding ground for scams, and unfortunately, many unsuspecting individuals fall prey to them.
One such person is Mary, a 66-year-old Australian woman who was deceived by a romance scam that lasted two years.
Mary believed she had found her perfect match in a British man who had immigrated to Australia.
Their online romance blossomed over two years, but as time passed, the man consistently dodged questions and declined opportunities to meet in person.
This raised suspicions among Mary's friends, particularly when a peculiar video he sent sparked alarm bells.
In the video, shared with the Kyle and Jackie O Show, the man expressed his eagerness to return to Sydney and meet Mary.
'Two weeks I will be back to Sydney, Australia' he said.
'I really do hope things go well between us. I would love us to meet and be together when I return.'
While Mary interpreted the video as a testament to his affection for her, her friend Liz was sceptical, asking, 'How do you know this stuff is real?'
Liz's suspicions were confirmed when a reverse image search revealed that the video was a deepfake, created using a photo of Andre Moreau, an Emmy-winning news anchor in the US.
The photo had been manipulated using artificial intelligence software to create a video in which it appeared to speak.
Moreau himself confirmed that his face had been used in romance and deepfake scams multiple times.
Unfortunately, this revelation came too late for Mary, who had already lost money to the scam.
Her supposed boyfriend claimed he was on holiday in Abu Dhabi and was eager to meet her in person upon his return.
'He was like, “Meet me at the airport at 8 pm.”' Liz shared.
'He didn’t show up. He said he got arrested at the airport for owing someone money. Mary had to transfer money.'
The aftermath of the scam left Mary heartbroken and confused.
'You want to believe your heart, and so I went down there [to the airport], and I waited there for probably about two hours,' Mary shared.
'I cried all the way home.'
'I don't understand it at all. I don't understand this AI thing.'
Her story resonated with many, with comments pouring in expressing sympathy and sharing similar experiences.
'This is literally happening to my grandmother, and she won’t believe anything I say. Idk what to do,' one shared.
While another added: 'This exact storyline happened to my [bestfriend]. Luckily, she didn’t send him any money. But the same story. Coming home, arrested at the airport for owing some money. Same location and all. It’s so sad.'
'Also happening to a relative of mine. She has sent them over 30k and won’t listen to anyone,' a third wrote.
'Poor lady. Fingers crossed she finds love and happiness elsewhere,' a fourth said.
Understanding Romance Scams and Deepfakes
Romance scams are a form of online fraud where criminals pose as potential partners on dating sites or social media.
They create fake profiles, build relationships with individuals, and then manipulate them into sending money, sharing personal information, or helping in fraudulent activities.
You can read more about romance scams here.
Deepfakes, on the other hand, are synthetic media where a person's likeness is replaced with someone else's.
This is achieved using artificial intelligence, making the video or image seem incredibly real.
Deepfakes have been used in various scams, from romance frauds to political misinformation.
You can read more about deepfakes here.
Have you or someone you know experienced a similar situation? Share your stories and tips on how to avoid scams in the comments below.
However, the internet is also a breeding ground for scams, and unfortunately, many unsuspecting individuals fall prey to them.
One such person is Mary, a 66-year-old Australian woman who was deceived by a romance scam that lasted two years.
Mary believed she had found her perfect match in a British man who had immigrated to Australia.
Their online romance blossomed over two years, but as time passed, the man consistently dodged questions and declined opportunities to meet in person.
A woman fell victim to a romance scam that used deepfake technology. Image source: Freepik.
This raised suspicions among Mary's friends, particularly when a peculiar video he sent sparked alarm bells.
In the video, shared with the Kyle and Jackie O Show, the man expressed his eagerness to return to Sydney and meet Mary.
'Two weeks I will be back to Sydney, Australia' he said.
'I really do hope things go well between us. I would love us to meet and be together when I return.'
While Mary interpreted the video as a testament to his affection for her, her friend Liz was sceptical, asking, 'How do you know this stuff is real?'
Liz's suspicions were confirmed when a reverse image search revealed that the video was a deepfake, created using a photo of Andre Moreau, an Emmy-winning news anchor in the US.
The photo had been manipulated using artificial intelligence software to create a video in which it appeared to speak.
Moreau himself confirmed that his face had been used in romance and deepfake scams multiple times.
Unfortunately, this revelation came too late for Mary, who had already lost money to the scam.
Her supposed boyfriend claimed he was on holiday in Abu Dhabi and was eager to meet her in person upon his return.
'He was like, “Meet me at the airport at 8 pm.”' Liz shared.
'He didn’t show up. He said he got arrested at the airport for owing someone money. Mary had to transfer money.'
The aftermath of the scam left Mary heartbroken and confused.
'You want to believe your heart, and so I went down there [to the airport], and I waited there for probably about two hours,' Mary shared.
'I cried all the way home.'
'I don't understand it at all. I don't understand this AI thing.'
Her story resonated with many, with comments pouring in expressing sympathy and sharing similar experiences.
'This is literally happening to my grandmother, and she won’t believe anything I say. Idk what to do,' one shared.
While another added: 'This exact storyline happened to my [bestfriend]. Luckily, she didn’t send him any money. But the same story. Coming home, arrested at the airport for owing some money. Same location and all. It’s so sad.'
'Also happening to a relative of mine. She has sent them over 30k and won’t listen to anyone,' a third wrote.
'Poor lady. Fingers crossed she finds love and happiness elsewhere,' a fourth said.
Understanding Romance Scams and Deepfakes
Romance scams are a form of online fraud where criminals pose as potential partners on dating sites or social media.
They create fake profiles, build relationships with individuals, and then manipulate them into sending money, sharing personal information, or helping in fraudulent activities.
You can read more about romance scams here.
Deepfakes, on the other hand, are synthetic media where a person's likeness is replaced with someone else's.
This is achieved using artificial intelligence, making the video or image seem incredibly real.
Deepfakes have been used in various scams, from romance frauds to political misinformation.
You can read more about deepfakes here.
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