Grandmother Defrauded of Life Savings in Elaborate AI Hoax
A vulnerable British widow from Cambridgeshire has been left homeless after falling victim to a sophisticated romance scam that cost her an astonishing £500,000. The fraudster, posing as Hollywood superstar Jason Momoa, used artificially generated videos to convince the grandmother they were in a genuine relationship and building a dream home together in Hawaii.
The Elaborate Deception Unfolds
The cruel hoax began when the woman, believing she was interacting with the real Jason Momoa, received a reply to a post she had made on a fan page dedicated to the actor. This initial contact quickly blossomed into what she thought was a romantic relationship. The scammer then deployed a series of convincing AI videos featuring the actor's likeness, further legitimising the fake connection.
Over time, the imposter began requesting large sums of money, claiming his personal fortune was inaccessible because it was tied up in various film projects. In a devastating blow, the grandmother transferred the entire £500,000 she had received from the sale of her house in Cambridgeshire. Tragically, once the payment was made, all communication ceased and her online 'heartthrob' vanished without a trace.
A Growing Trend of Sophisticated Fraud
This case is not isolated. Cambridgeshire Police confirmed the authenticity of this 'far-fetched' but tragically true story, noting it left a vulnerable woman without a home. In the past five months alone, other victims in both the UK and US have been targeted by similar schemes. One grandmother from Newcastle was duped into sending £80,000.
The Cambridgeshire victim revealed further distressing details to The Sun, explaining she had even believed she was conversing with the actor's fictional 15-year-old daughter. 'I was also told he was fighting his ex-wife for the house and he said we needed a marriage certificate to keep the house,' she confessed. 'So I was gullible and paid it.'
Dave York, a fraud prevention officer, highlighted how scammers deliberately target people at their most vulnerable. 'Scammers target those at their lowest ebb, looking to fill a gap in their lives,' he stated, underscoring the emotional manipulation at the core of these online fraud operations.
Jason Momoa, known for his roles in Aquaman, Dune, and the upcoming Minecraft Movie, was an unwitting figure in this criminal enterprise that exploited his celebrity status to devastating effect.
