A Shanghai man has reportedly lost nearly $28,000 after falling victim to an elaborate scam involving an AI-generated virtual girlfriend.
According to Chinese state broadcaster CCTV, scammers used advanced generative artificial intelligence to create realistic videos and photos of a fictional woman named “Ms. Jiao,” deceiving the victim, identified as Mr. Liu, into believing he was in a genuine long-distance relationship.
Over the course of their interactions, Liu sent around 200,000 yuan (approximately $28,000) to the scammers, who claimed the money was needed for his virtual girlfriend’s business and her relative’s medical expenses. To add credibility, the fraudsters fabricated identification documents and medical reports.
Police investigations revealed the entire scheme relied solely on AI-generated content. Mr. Liu never actually met “Ms. Jiao” face-to-face, despite receiving realistic images of her in various settings, CCTV reported.
Authorities worldwide have warned of rising cases of scams employing generative AI, urging internet users to remain cautious when encountering online romantic interests asking for money.
