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Deepfake lovers swindle victims out of $46M in Hong Kong AI scam


Scammers used AI deepfake tools to create fake online personas, tricking victims in video calls.

On Monday, Hong Kong police announced the arrest of 27 people involved in a romance scam operation that used AI face-swapping techniques to defraud victims of $46 million through fake cryptocurrency investments, reports the South China Morning Post. "The syndicate presented fabricated profit transaction records to victims, claiming substantial returns on their investments," said Fang Chi-kin, head of the New Territories South regional crime unit. The UN agency identified more than 10 deepfake software providers selling their services on Telegram to criminal groups in Southeast Asia, showing the growing accessibility of this technology for illegal purposes.

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