A British widow lost her life savings and her home after fraudsters used AI deepfakes of actor Jason Momoa to convince her they were building a future together.
The victim began following a fan page for the Aquaman star after the death of her husband of 50 years and soon received what she believed was a personal message from the actor, reports LAD Bible.
The woman, who wants to stay anonymous, says she couldn’t believe that the actor reached out to her. But AI deepfake videos of Momoa led her to believe that she was forming a real relationship with the celebrity.
The losses escalated quickly as the scammers pushed her to fund a £500,000 ($662,094) supposed dream home in Hawaii. The fraudsters told her that the actor’s money was locked up in film projects and needed support to complete the Hawaii property, pressuring the widow into transferring the funds.
To help the supposed illiquid Aquaman star, the victim sold her home and sent the funds to the scammers. After getting the money, the scammers cut all contact with the victim.
Says the Cambridgeshire Police,
“This might sound far-fetched, but it’s a true story, and it left a vulnerable woman without a home.”
The widow remains without a home as police investigate the impersonation scheme.
A similar scam in Newcastle saw a grandmother lose £80,000 ($106,011) to a fake Momoa who asked for money for flights, presents and even a marriage certificate.
Says the victim,
“I was gullible and paid it.”
Deepfakes are highly sophisticated online content, including videos, audio recordings and images, produced by scammers using generative AI for malicious purposes or to spread fake information.
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