A 65-YEAR-OLD woman in Shanghai allegedly used artificial intelligence (AI) to impersonate a young doctor and her mother, tricking a man into transferring 170,000 yuan (about RM110,000) to her over five months.
According to media reports, the woman, identified as Yu Xiuzhen, allegedly created a fake online persona and claimed to be a 29-year-old doctor working at a prestigious Grade 3A hospital in Shanghai.
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She also claimed to have influence over engineering and property projects at the hospital.
The victim, a property contractor, had connected with the woman, identified as Liu Hui, on social media in 2021.
Over several years, Yu regularly posted details of her supposed daily life online, accumulating nearly 7,000 videos and about 10,000 followers.
Believing she could help him secure engineering projects, Liu reportedly pursued a romantic relationship with her.
However, Yu repeatedly refused to meet him in person, despite both living in Shanghai.
She allegedly told Liu that her mother disapproved of the relationship and that they could only meet after he paid a 300,000 yuan dowry and purchased property in Shanghai.
Over a five-month period, Liu transferred 170,000 yuan to her despite never meeting her face-to-face.
His requests for video calls were also allegedly rejected, with Yu claiming that her mother was present.
The promised engineering projects also failed to materialise, prompting Liu to become suspicious and contact police.
Authorities subsequently tracked down Yu and discovered that she was actually born in 1961.
She had no medical qualifications and was working as a cleaner at a hospital. The bank account used to receive the money was also registered in another man’s name.
Police examining Yu’s social media videos reportedly found small text on some posts stating that the content contained AI-generated material.
Investigators said Yu had allegedly used AI technology to alter her appearance and create a more youthful and attractive image of herself, presenting a fabricated persona as a young doctor.
She also allegedly used AI-generated or composited footage to portray herself as her own mother, reinforcing her claim that her supposed mother’s objections were preventing the relationship from progressing.
Liu reportedly told police that he had not noticed the small AI-generated-content notices and was unfamiliar with the technology.
Police said Yu spent the money on cosmetic surgery, skincare products and clothing.
She also had a previous fraud conviction and was sentenced to four years in prison in 2009.
Authorities publicised the case as a warning about the growing use of AI in online romance scams, particularly schemes involving fabricated identities and manipulated images or videos.
The case highlights how AI-generated content can make fake online identities increasingly convincing, while combining romance with promises of lucrative business opportunities can make victims more vulnerable to financial fraud.
Online users reacting to the case highlighted the sophistication of the deception, with one joking that the 65-year-old was “better at AI” than many younger people.
Another suggested that the victim’s desire to secure business opportunities may also have contributed to him overlooking warning signs.
