A Filipino woman has lost her life savings after falling victim to an AI-powered romance scam in which fraudsters allegedly impersonated Dubai Crown Prince Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed through convincing deepfake video calls.
The victim, identified only as Maria, said she met the scammer on a dating website before their conversations moved to a messaging platform, where the individual regularly sent romantic messages and professed his love.
According to Maria, the scammer appeared in live video calls using what researchers believe was AI-generated deepfake technology, creating the illusion that she was speaking directly with the Dubai royal.
“He kept on messaging me even when I was sleeping,” she told AFP. “It felt like there was a love spell that connected our minds.”
In one of the recorded WhatsApp video calls reviewed by AFP, the man’s facial movements closely matched his speech, although the voice did not resemble that of the real Sheikh Hamdan.
The scammer allegedly convinced Maria to send 100,000 Philippine pesos (about US$1,625), claiming the money was needed to process a marriage certificate and a “royal membership card” that would help her secure employment in Dubai.
Her suspicions were eventually raised after the fraudster requested an additional 60,000 pesos for a hotel booking ahead of a supposed meeting.
After investigating the Facebook account used by the scammer, Maria discovered it was linked to Nigeria. She immediately ended all contact and sent a final message calling him a scammer.
The case highlights the growing threat posed by AI-generated deepfakes in online romance scams, where criminals use realistic video, audio and images to build trust with victims before requesting money.
Cybersecurity experts advise users to be cautious of online relationships that develop quickly, especially when requests for money arise. They also recommend verifying identities through multiple trusted sources and remaining sceptical of video calls alone, as advances in artificial intelligence have made deepfake impersonation increasingly convincing.
Authorities around the world have warned that AI-enabled scams are becoming more sophisticated, making public awareness and digital vigilance more important than ever.
