Woman defrauded of $81,000 and $350,000 home proceeds in romance scam using deepfake videos
A 66-year-old Los Angeles woman was reportedly defrauded of $81,304 in cash and gifts, and induced to sell her condo for $350,000, by a scammer using AI-generated deepfake videos impersonating actor Steve Burton. Her daughter discovered the scam in February 2025 and intervened before an additional $70,000 could be transferred.
What happened
Beginning in October 2023, Abigail Ruvalcaba, 66, received messages on Facebook Messenger from someone claiming to be actor Steve Burton, known for playing Jason Morgan on General Hospital since 1991.
The scammer sent deepfake videos in which AI software had cloned Burton's voice and image, showing a person saying messages like 'Hello, Abigail. I love you so much, darling. I had to make this video to make you happy, my love.' and 'I want to live the rest of my life with you.'
The scammer told Abigail he had lost properties in the L.A. fires and persuaded her to send at least $81,304 in gift cards, cash and bitcoin. Later, after Abigail suggested selling her condo, the scammer responded positively, and she sold her Harbor City condo for $350,000 within less than three weeks.
Abigail's daughter Vivian discovered the scam in February 2025 and intervened before her mother could send an additional $70,000 of the condo proceeds to the scammer.
Reported impact
Abigail is now in complete debt and will have to file for bankruptcy. The family plans to sue the real estate companies that purchased the condo, as the new owner reportedly offered to sell it back for $100,000 more than purchase price.
Abigail's daughter said the family may be forced to move out of their home, with an eviction scheduled for September 3. Abigail said she is devastated over the ordeal.
Index analysis
Vivian Ruvalcaba attributed her mother's vulnerability to the scam partly to her long-standing mental illness and Bipolar 1 Disorder. An AI expert shown the deepfake video agreed it was likely made with AI software that cloned Burton's voice and image.
Abigail told KTLA: 'To me, it looks real, even now. I don't know anything about AI.' When confronted, she argued: 'How are you telling me this is AI if it sounds like him? That's his face, that's his voice, I watch him on television all the time.'
Governance controls
Reports of deepfake scams using Burton's likeness prompted the actor to issue a warning to his followers on social media.
Classification
Sources and evidence
This record was researched and written by the Index, based on the following original reporting.