Man Scammed of $28,000 by AI ‘Girlfriend’—Welcome to the Future of Heartbreak
Online dating just took a wild, sci-fi turn straight into scam territory! Imagine falling head over heels for someone online, only to find out later they never existed. That’s exactly what happened to one unlucky guy in Shanghai who got swindled out of nearly $28,000 by an AI-generated girlfriend. Yep, romance scams have officially leveled up!
Mr. Liu thought he had found “the one” in a long-distance relationship with a woman named Ms. Jiao. She seemed perfectly charming and caring and always had a reason to ask for money. The catch? She wasn’t real. Scammers used generative AI to create stunningly realistic images and videos of a young woman, making her look like the ideal online partner.
Feeling emotionally connected, Mr. Liu started transferring money to “help” Ms. Jiao with her business and a relative’s medical bills. In total, he sent nearly 200,000 yuan before realizing he had been tricked. Ouch!
What makes this scam next-level? The fraudsters didn’t just rely on sweet words; they went all in with AI-generated photos, videos, fake IDs, and even phony medical reports. This wasn’t your average catfishing scheme; it was a full-blown digital deception.
According to Chinese state broadcaster CCTV, a scammer team used AI to create every piece of “evidence.” They crafted the perfect long-distance love story, ensuring that Mr. Liu never suspected a thing. He never met Ms. Jiao in person—because she didn’t exist!
With AI tools advancing rapidly, scams like this are popping up everywhere. These days, AI can whip up convincing text, lifelike images, and even videos that look shockingly real. And scammers? They’re using every trick in the book to steal money from unsuspecting romantics.
Earlier this month, Meta (yep, the Facebook parent company) warned people to be extra cautious about online romance scams. If an internet crush starts asking for money, that’s your cue to run. AI-generated scams are growing fast, and the emotional and financial damage is very real.
If you’re looking for love online, here’s how to protect yourself:
- Video Chat Early On – If they always dodge live video calls, be suspicious.
- Google Reverse Image Search – Check if their pictures are AI-generated or stolen from someone else.
- Trust Your Gut – If something feels off, it probably is.
- Never Send Money – No matter how convincing their sob story is, don’t fall for it.
- Check for AI Glitches – Weird facial features or unnatural expressions in photos and videos? That’s a red flag!
AI is amazing, but in the wrong hands, it’s a dangerous tool. This Shanghai scam is just one of many that prove we need to stay sharp when making online connections. Love might be blind, but it shouldn’t be gullible. Stay woke, keep your wallet safe, and remember if it looks too good to be true,
