A man in Shanghai lost nearly $28,000 after falling for a long-distance “relationship” with an AI-generated girlfriend, Chinese state media reported Wednesday.
AI-Powered Deception
Scammers used generative artificial intelligence (AI) software to create realistic videos and images of a young woman, posing as the fictional “Ms. Jiao”, according to state broadcaster CCTV.
Believing she was real, the victim transferred nearly 200,000 yuan ($28,000) to his supposed girlfriend’s bank account. The fraudsters used fake images and emotional manipulation, claiming she needed funds to start a business and help a sick relative.
Elaborate Scam Setup
To make the deception more convincing, the scammers forged an ID and medical reports, CCTV reported.
Authorities revealed that a team of fraudsters was behind the scam, sending AI-generated videos and photos or combining multiple images to create a lifelike persona.
“Throughout the process, (the victim) Mr. Liu never met Ms. Jiao in person,” investigators stated.
CCTV footage showed fabricated images of a woman posing with a paint palette and standing on a city street, reinforcing the illusion of a real-life identity.
AI Scams on the Rise
With the rapid advancement of AI tools, scammers are now able to generate convincing text, images, and even live video, leading to increasingly sophisticated fraud schemes worldwide.
