A Filipina domestic worker lost nearly a year’s worth of savings after falling victim to an artificial intelligence (AI)-powered romance scam in which fraudsters impersonated Dubai Crown Prince Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed.
The victim, identified only as Maria, told media organization that she met the scammer on a dating site before their conversations moved to a messaging app, where she received constant romantic messages and video calls.
The scammer used AI deepfake technology to appear as the Dubai royal during WhatsApp video calls, convincing Maria that she was in a genuine relationship.
In one of the recorded calls, the scammer appeared lifelike on screen, with synchronized lip movements although the voice did not match that of the real prince.
Believing the relationship was real, Maria sent 100,000 pesos for what the scammer claimed were a marriage certificate and a “royal membership card” that would supposedly help her secure a job in Dubai.
She became suspicious after the scammer asked for another 60,000 pesos to book a hotel for their meeting.
Maria later discovered that the Facebook account used by the suspect, which has since been removed, was based in Nigeria. She immediately ended all communication.
Researchers said similar scams have been traced to organized crime syndicates operating in Nigeria, where fraudsters impersonate public figures to build trust with victims before asking for money.
Maria said she was relieved to have escaped before losing more money, despite the emotional and financial toll of the scam.