In a shocking incident reported by Chinese state media, a man from Shanghai lost nearly $28,000 after falling victim to a sophisticated online scam involving an AI-generated girlfriend.
According to the state broadcaster CCTV, scammers utilized advanced generative artificial intelligence (AI) software to craft realistic videos and still images of a young woman they presented as ” Jiao.”
The victim, identified only as Liu, was persuaded to transfer close to 200,000 yuan (approximately $28,000) into what he believed was his online lover’s bank account.
A Shanghai man lost around $28,000 after being tricked by an Artificial Intelligence girlfriend. The man was deceived into believing he was in a long-distance relationship with a girl named "Ms Jiao. " Little did he know it was all an illusion.
Read more: https://t.co/P8hsQ8rwT1 pic.twitter.com/vTMni6BZlx
— The Times Of India (@timesofindia) February 26, 2025The scammers convinced him that “Jiao” needed the funds to start a business and cover a relative’s medical bills. They even fabricated a fake ID and medical reports to make their story credible.
CCTV revealed that a team orchestrated the scam using videos and photos created entirely through AI or by amalgamating multiple images. Throughout the ordeal, Liu never met Jiao in person. CCTV footage displayed various photos of the woman in different settings, including her posing with a paint palette and standing on a city street, all AI-generated.
Read: Italian Businessman Scammed in AI Deepfake Fraud, €1M Frozen in Netherlands
The rise of AI tools capable of generating convincing text, images, and live videos has led to an increase in sophisticated scams globally. Earlier this month, Meta, the US social media giant, issued a warning urging internet users to be cautious of online romantic entanglements that prompt financial aid, noting an uptick in scams leveraging generative AI technologies.
