Chinese Woman Uses AI to Pose as Doctor, Scams Man Out of Nearly One Million Baht
A 65-year-old Chinese woman used AI-generated videos to impersonate a young doctor and scammed a real estate contractor out of nearly 850,000 baht over five months by claiming her fictional mother opposed their relationship.
A 65-year-old Chinese woman used AI to create a fake identity as a 29-year-old doctor and impersonate the doctor's mother, tricking a real estate contractor into transferring 170,000 yuan—approximately 850,000 baht—despite never meeting him in person.
On September 26, foreign media reported on the scam targeting victim Liu Hui, a real estate contractor. Liu claimed he met Wei Xiuzheng through social media in 2021. Wei claimed to be a 29-year-old physician at a renowned Shanghai hospital with influence over the hospital's construction projects. She posted nearly 7,000 daily life videos that attracted approximately 10,000 followers, convincing Liu to pursue a romantic relationship with her.
Although they lived in the same city, Wei refused to meet in person, claiming her mother disapproved of the relationship. She demanded Liu pay a 300,000-yuan dowry—approximately 1.5 million baht—and purchase real estate in Shanghai as conditions for meeting.
Over five months, Liu transferred 170,000 yuan to Wei without ever meeting her in person or video calling, as Wei claimed her mother was always present. The promised construction projects never materialized.
When Liu grew suspicious and reported the matter to police, investigators discovered that the real Wei Xiuzheng was born in 1961 and was 65 years old with no medical license. She was employed as a hospital cleaner. The bank account used to receive the money belonged to another man. Police analysis of the videos revealed Wei had used AI to alter her appearance, creating the image of a young doctor and impersonating the doctor's mother to convince the victim that the mother was the obstacle to their relationship.
Police reported that the stolen money was used for cosmetic surgery, skincare products, and clothing. Wei had a previous fraud conviction and served four years in prison in 2009. Officers released the case to warn the public about online romance scams using artificial intelligence.
