A man in Shanghai, China, has been defrauded of almost $28,000 after becoming ensnared in an AI romance scam, according to a report from Chinese state media. The incident underscores how scammers are leveraging generative artificial intelligence to create highly convincing personas, making it increasingly difficult for victims to discern reality from fiction.
According to authorities, the scammers employed a generative AI program to fabricate realistic videos and photos of a young woman they called 'Ms. Jiao.' The victim, who became romantically interested in this fictional character, transferred close to 200,000 yuan (approximately $28,000) to the woman's bank account over time. The scam was bolstered by the creation of a complete fake identity, including forged medical records and bills, which were used to manipulate the victim into believing that Ms. Jiao needed urgent financial assistance.
This case is part of a troubling trend in which romance scams are becoming more advanced. While such frauds have existed for years, the introduction of artificial intelligence has added a new layer of danger. AI tools can now generate realistic images, videos, and even voice calls that make it extremely challenging for victims to verify the authenticity of the person they are communicating with. In the Shanghai case, the scammers even used AI to create real-time video calls, according to some reports, though the exact methods remain under investigation.
The rise of AI-powered romance scams
Romance scams have long exploited human emotions, but AI is supercharging these attacks. Typically, scammers create fake profiles on dating sites or social media platforms, build a relationship over weeks or months, and then fabricate a crisis that requires money. In the past, these profiles often relied on stolen photos from real people; but with AI, scammers can now generate entirely new, unique faces that do not belong to anyone, making reverse image searches useless. Additionally, AI can produce natural-sounding conversation, allowing scammers to handle many victims simultaneously through chatbots.
Computer security company McAfee released a report on February 11, 2025, that reveals more than half (52%) of people have either lost money or felt pressured to send money or gifts to someone they met online. The company has observed an “explosion of online romance fraud” across social media, messaging platforms, and AI chatbots. In their study, 26% of respondents reported that they—or someone they know—had been approached by an AI chatbot posing as a real person on a dating app or social media. Meanwhile, 21% had been contacted by someone pretending to be a well-known public figure; among those who fell for it, 33% lost money, with an average loss of $1,985.
McAfee also noted that in the seven weeks leading up to Valentine’s Day 2025, they blocked 321,509 fraudulent URLs specifically designed to lure victims into romance scams. These websites often mimic legitimate dating platforms or create fake charitable appeals that tie into the fabricated persona.
Other high-profile AI romance scam cases
The Shanghai case is not an isolated incident. Earlier in 2025, it was reported that a woman in France was duped out of €830,000 ($850,000) in an AI scam where she believed she was in a relationship with Hollywood actor Brad Pitt. The scammers used AI-generated images and videos of the actor’s likeness, as well as simulated voice calls, to convince the victim for over a year. The case made international headlines and highlighted how even well-known celebrities can be used in deepfake schemes.
Closer to the technology sector, in 2024, a similar scam was uncovered in Hong Kong, where a man lost $28,000 after a woman he thought he met on a dating app turned out to be an AI-generated avatar. And in the United States, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) reported that romance scams were the costliest type of consumer fraud in 2023, with losses exceeding $1.3 billion. The agency noted that crypto payments and gift cards were the top methods of payment, which are often difficult to trace.
How AI technology enables these scams
Generative AI has evolved rapidly, enabling the creation of hyper-realistic images, videos, and audio. Tools like deepfake software allow scammers to swap faces, manipulate expressions, and generate speech that matches a person's voice by using just a few seconds of sample audio. In the case of the Shanghai victim, the scammers likely used an AI platform to generate dozens of photos and short video clips of 'Ms. Jiao' that were consistent in appearance and mannerisms, making the persona seem like a real person. The use of AI chatbots can also automate initial conversations, allowing scammers to engage multiple victims simultaneously and weed out those who are less likely to fall for the scheme.
The technology is becoming cheaper and more accessible. Some generative AI models are freely available, and scammers can run them on standard hardware. Additionally, social engineering techniques remain crucial; the scammers combine AI-generated content with emotional manipulation to build trust and create a sense of urgency. In the Shanghai incident, the fake medical records provided a plausible reason for the victim to believe that the woman needed money for treatment, a classic scam tactic that has been reused for decades but is now more believable with AI-created documentation.
Protecting yourself from AI romance scams
As AI-driven scams become more common, consumers must take proactive steps to protect themselves. Be cautious of anyone who quickly expresses strong romantic interest, avoids video calls (or uses only pre-recorded AI footage), and asks for money, especially through unconventional methods like cryptocurrency, wire transfers, or gift cards. Reverse image searches can still be useful, but scammers may use AI-generated faces that do not appear anywhere; in those cases, scrutinize the person's social media footprint: do they have mutual friends? Are their posts consistent with their story?
Experts also recommend using video calls that require real-time interaction, which can sometimes catch scammers off guard if they are using pre-generated AI faces. However, with the advent of real-time deepfake avatars, even live calls may not be foolproof. Another good practice is to run a background check using a reputable service, although this may not be feasible for every new acquaintance. Financial institutions and dating platforms are also stepping up: some dating apps now use AI to detect fake profiles, and banks are starting to flag unusual transactions to customers. For example, in the UK, many banks have introduced scam alerts that interrupt a transaction and ask the customer to verify the payee's details.
Education is also key. People should be aware that romance scammers often target those who are lonely, recently widowed, or going through a difficult period. They may also target individuals who are not very tech-savvy. Law enforcement agencies urge anyone who suspects a scam to stop communicating with the person and report it to local authorities or the platform where the encounter occurred. In many jurisdictions, such reports help build cases against organized crime rings that run these operations.
The Shanghai case unfortunately exemplifies the dangerous intersection of artificial intelligence and social manipulation. As AI continues to advance, the line between authentic human interaction and fabricated personas will blur further. It is crucial for individuals to remain vigilant, question anything that seems too good to be true, and never send money to someone they have not met in person, no matter how compelling the story or how convincing the digital representation appears.
Source: ReadWrite News