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A man in Shanghai was swindled out of nearly 200,000 yuan (approximately $28,000) after falling prey to a sophisticated scam involving an AI-generated “girlfriend,” Chinese state media reported on Wednesday.
The victim, identified as Mr. Liu, was tricked into transferring the money to what he believed was the bank account of his online romantic partner.
Scammers employed generative artificial intelligence to create highly realistic videos and images of a fictional woman named “Ms. Jiao,” convincing Mr. Liu that she needed financial assistance to start a business and cover a relative’s medical expenses.
To make the deception more convincing, the fraudsters fabricated identification documents and medical records, further strengthening their elaborate scheme, according to reports.
A police investigation, cited by CCTV, confirmed that a group of perpetrators orchestrated the scam, sending AI-generated photos and videos to manipulate the victim. Throughout the ordeal, Mr. Liu never met “Ms. Jiao” in person. CCTV even broadcasted AI-created images of the fictitious woman in various settings, such as holding a paint palette and standing on a city street.
This case underscores the increasing sophistication of AI-powered scams, which leverage deepfake technology to create convincing images, videos, and even real-time interactions. The rise of generative AI has fueled global concerns about a surge in online fraud and digital deception.
