AI Deepfakes Used In Dubai Prince Romance Scam

A Filipino woman has lost an entire year's savings after becoming a victim of an online romance scam in which criminals used AI and deepfake technology to impersonate Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed, Crown Prince of Dubai. The scammers built a relationship through sweet messages and video calls, eventually convincing her it was true love.

The victim, identified only as Maria, said she met a man claiming to be a prince through a dating website before moving their conversations to WhatsApp. The man messaged her constantly throughout the day, expressing love and concern continuously until she felt connected to him. "He would message me even when I was sleeping. It felt like there was a magic spell of love that bound our two hearts together," she said.

Credibility increased when they began video calls, with the image on screen appearing to be the real Dubai crown prince. His lips moved smoothly in sync with his words, though the voice did not match the real prince. During conversations, the man called her "dear" and thanked her for her love and support.

After establishing trust, the criminals convinced Maria to transfer money, claiming it would be used to process marriage registration and royal family membership cards that would help her get a job in Dubai. She lost 100,000 Philippine pesos, roughly 54,000 baht—a full year's savings—before the criminals requested an additional 60,000 pesos (approximately 32,000 baht) to book a hotel for their first meeting.

The second request raised Maria's suspicions. Upon examining the man's Facebook account carefully, she discovered it was linked to Nigeria, not the United Arab Emirates as claimed. She immediately ended contact, sending a final message: "Go to hell, you criminal!" The account was later deleted.

Researchers say this type of operation is linked to criminal networks in Nigeria that increasingly use AI and deepfakes to create realistic images, videos, and conversations to impersonate famous people, particularly Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed, who has over 17 million Instagram followers, tricking many victims into believing they are communicating with the real prince.

Multiple Facebook pages and groups have been found falsely claiming to be official accounts of the prince, luring victims to chat via WhatsApp or Telegram and sharing AI-generated images such as the prince on one knee with a ring or holding roses with sweet messages. Despite internet users warning that these are fake accounts, many people continue to believe and admire the posts.

Todd Spodek, a fraud attorney in the United States, warns that "online romance scammers typically establish long-term relationships with victims before requesting money," using psychological manipulation techniques, especially targeting those facing life problems. He recommends that if someone you met online begins asking for money, expensive gifts, gift cards, or mobile phones, these should be viewed as red flags and contact should be stopped immediately. Being vigilant, he advises, is the best way to protect yourself against AI-era criminals.