AI Romance Scam: Man Loses $180K to Deepfake Lover

A man in his 70s has lost $180,000 after falling victim to a deepfake romance scam. He believed he was in a loving relationship with a nurse named Melanie, communicating through video calls for a year. Unbeknownst to him, Melanie was an artificial intelligence creation. Scammers stole images of an American doctor and used voice-cloning and face-swapping technology to deceive him.

Digital forensics expert Dr. Priyanka Singh analyzed the final video call, identifying subtle clues like distortions and a momentary six-fingered appearance. The victim suspected a scam but was reassured by fake documents and photos. His bank repeatedly tried to block transactions, but he proceeded, believing he had found his soulmate.

Despite his family's concerns, he continued the relationship, only realizing the truth when he confronted the scammer, who then ended the call. Police have investigated but stated recovery of the funds is unlikely as the scam originated overseas. The victim has since closed all online accounts, seeking genuine in-person connections.