AI deepfake romance scam impersonating Dubai prince steals woman's savings

Romance scammers have become extremely bold, using deepfake technology to impersonate royalty and ensnare new victims.

Key takeaways

• Scammer used AI-generated video calls to impersonate Dubai's Crown Prince and build trust with victims.
• The victim lost an entire year's savings after believing she was in a genuine online relationship.
• Celebrity romance scams are evolving as criminals combine social engineering with convincing deepfake technology.
• AI makes scams more believable, not unbeatable. Verifying identities remains one of the strongest defenses.

Romance scammers have spent years pretending to be soldiers, doctors, oil rig workers, and celebrities. A recent case reported by the news outlet AFP highlights just how convincing these scams have become.

A woman from the Philippines believed she had fallen in love with Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed, the crown prince of Dubai, after allegedly meeting him on a dating site. Their conversations soon moved to WhatsApp, where they exchanged messages, and the victim says she even participated in “live” video calls with the prince.

According to AFP, the man she was talking to looked exactly like Dubai's Crown Prince. However, his voice did not match.

“In one recording of a WhatsApp video call seen by AFP, the scammer, appearing lifelike as the prince, flickered on the screen. His words matched his lip movements, but not the prince's voice,” the agency said.

"Hello beloved," the man told his victim. "I really appreciate your love and support."

He smiled, spoke directly to her, and expressed his affection. But the person on the other end wasn't royalty. It was a scammer using AI-generated deepfake technology.

"He kept on messaging me even when I was sleeping," the woman told reporters.

A year's savings lost

According to reports, the scammer gradually built an emotional connection before introducing financial requests.

The victim was persuaded to send approximately 100,000 Philippine pesos, roughly $1,600, representing an entire year's worth of savings. The money was supposedly needed for official documents, including a marriage certificate and a "royal membership card" that would help her relocate to Dubai.

When the scammer requested even more money to reserve a hotel room where they would finally meet, she became suspicious. After investigating the associated Facebook account, she discovered it originated in Nigeria. She ended all communication.

Why these types of scams keep working

This isn't an isolated incident. This latest case builds on trends we've covered before, including celebrity romance scams impersonating Brad Pitt, Jennifer Aniston and Martin Henderson, AI-powered romance scams, and the growing use of deepfakes to impersonate public figures.

Instead of stolen profile pictures and text messages, victims now receive:

• Personalized video greetings
• AI-generated voice messages
• Realistic video calls
• Romantic photos generated with AI
• Constant communication

You can also read more about how romance scammers operate in our two-part interview with Ayleen Charlotte:

• Love and Lies: The Tinder Swindler’s Ayleen Charlotte talks to Bitdefender about Romance Scams (Part 1)
• Love and Lies: The Tinder Swindler’s Ayleen Charlotte talks to Bitdefender about Romance Scams (Part 2)

How to protect yourself from AI romance scams

If someone you've only met online claims to be a celebrity, royal family member, wealthy executive, or public figure, a healthy dose of skepticism can save you from heartbreak and fraud:

• Be wary if the relationship moves unusually fast. Romance scammers will profess love quickly to build an emotional bond before asking for money or services.
• Don’t send money or sensitive personal information to someone you've never met in person, regardless of their reasons
• Remember that a video call no longer proves someone's identity. AI-generated videos and cloned voices are becoming increasingly realistic, allowing scammers to impersonate public figures and even people you know.
• Verify suspicious messages with Bitdefender Scamio. If you receive an unexpected romantic message, request for money, or invitation to continue the conversation on another platform, Scamio can analyze the text, screenshots, emails, or links and help determine whether you're dealing with a scam.
• Analyze suspicious videos with Bitdefender RealCheck for Android and iOS. If something seems too good to be true, or you're unsure whether a video call or recording has been manipulated, RealCheck can analyze the video for signs of AI-generated content and identify indicators of malicious deception, giving you more context before you trust what you're seeing.
• Talk to someone you trust. A friend or family member may notice warning signs that are easy to miss when emotions are involved.

You may also want to read:

• How to talk to someone caught in a romance scam who won’t listen
• Can your parent recognize an AI scam? How families can help
• 5 signs your online girlfriend might be a scammer