Woman loses savings to AI-powered romance scam featuring intimate video calls with deepfake Dubai prince
A Filipino woman thought she had found love with Dubai’s charismatic crown prince after weeks of flirtatious messages and intimate video calls.Instead, she became the latest victim of an increasingly sophisticated AI-powered romance scam that uses deepfake technology to impersonate Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed, the heir to Dubai’s throne, according to AFP.The woman, a domestic worker identified only as Maria, said she met a scammer posing as the prince on a dating site before their conversations shifted to WhatsApp, where he flooded her with affectionate messages.“He kept on messaging me even when I was sleeping,” the victim told AFP.“It felt like there was a love spell that connected our minds.”The deception reportedly became even more convincing during video calls.In one recording viewed by AFP, an image appeared on screen that looked like the real prince.
His lips moved in sync with his words, though the voice did not match the real Sheikh Hamdan’s.“Hello, beloved,” the caller said.“I really appreciate your love and support.”Maria said she initially had no reason to suspect she was being conned.By the time doubts surfaced, she had already lost 100,000 Philippine pesos — or about $1,625 — after the scammer persuaded her to pay for what he claimed were a marriage certificate and a “royal membership card” that would supposedly help her secure a job in Dubai.
The amount came to a year’s worth of Maria’s savings.The fraudster later asked for another 60,000 pesos, or about $974, to reserve a hotel room where they would finally meet.That request prompted Maria to look more closely at the Facebook account connected to the supposed prince charming.She discovered the account, which has since been removed, was based in Nigeria.She immediately cut off contact.“Go to hell, scammer,” she wrote in her final message.“Many people told me it’s good I didn’t go crazy after this experience,” Maria told AFP.Researchers cited by the wire ...