Monday, 14 September 2026 ⚠️ Real Incident

Australian Pensioner Loses R2 Million to AI Deepfake Scam

An Australian pensioner lost about R2 million after falling in love with a fake online persona. The scammer used AI deepfake technology, which creates realistic computer-generated images or videos of a person.

What happened

An Australian pensioner fell in love with someone online who claimed to be a nurse from South Africa. The victim believed the romantic relationship was real and ended up losing about R2 million. The person they interacted with was actually an artificial intelligence deepfake created to deceive them.

How it worked

Scammers build fake online profiles to gain emotional trust and form romantic relationships. They use deepfakes, which are computer-generated images or videos that mimic real people, to appear authentic. Once the victim trusts the scammer, they are convinced to send money to someone who does not exist.

How to protect yourself

• Never send money to someone you have only met online, regardless of how convincing they seem.
• Be aware that artificial intelligence can create realistic fake photos and videos.
• Discuss any online financial requests with a trusted family member or bank manager before transferring funds.

Source: news24.com