Romance scammers are now building trust with AI-generated deepfakes. Here's how to spot them.
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Romance scammers, known as 'Yahoo Boys,' are using AI-generated deepfakes to defraud people online. The Nigerian online crime group has cost Americans $1.3 billion in 2022. The scammers create fake online personas and solicit money from victims by gaining their trust. They often target older individuals for their life savings, inheritances, and retirement funds. Victims have reported losing significant amounts of money, with one widow losing $39,000. The scammers have started using deepfake video clips and video calls to dupe internet users. They set up calls through Zoom and use software to change their facial features. In February, a finance worker in Hong Kong lost $25 million to scammers using deepfakes. In Utah, seven members of the Nigerian group were indicted for laundering funds obtained from romance scams. Victims in Utah lost over $3.6 million in 2022. To spot a deepfake, it is recommended to do a reverse image search and check the true source of an image. The US attorney's office advises never to send money to someone you haven't met in-person.

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https://www.businessinsider.com/romance-scams-ai-deepfakes-yahoo-boys-nigeria-fraud-2024-4