AI-Generated Deepfake Video Used in Romance Scam Impersonating Dubai Crown Prince
A Filipino domestic worker reportedly lost her annual savings in a romance scam conducted via deepfake video impersonating Dubai's Crown Prince. The scammer used AI-generated video technology with mismatched audio to build trust before extracting money through deception, with researchers linking similar scams to Nigerian crime syndicates.
What happened
A Filipino domestic worker identified as Maria met a scammer impersonating Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed, the Crown Prince of Dubai, on a dating site. The scammer used AI-generated deepfake video technology to conduct video calls appearing lifelike, though his voice did not match the prince's actual voice.
The scammer gradually built an emotional connection with Maria over WhatsApp before requesting money. Maria was persuaded to send 100,000 Philippine pesos (approximately $1,600), representing her entire year's savings, for purported marriage documents and a 'royal membership card' to relocate to Dubai.
Reported impact
Maria lost her entire year's savings of 100,000 Philippine pesos. She became suspicious only when the scammer requested an additional 60,000 pesos for a hotel room booking and she discovered the associated Facebook account originated in Nigeria.
Index analysis
Researchers traced similar scams impersonating the Dubai Crown Prince to crime syndicates in Nigeria. Multiple Facebook groups with thousands of followers were identified impersonating the royal, posting manipulated images and directing users to WhatsApp or Telegram chats.
Classification
Sources and evidence
Sources not yet published
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