A 65-year-old Chinese woman allegedly used artificial intelligence to pose online as a 29-year-old doctor and later impersonated the doctor’s mother to scam a man out of 170,000 yuan (about US$25,000).
The woman, identified as Yu Xiuzhen, met Shanghai-based property contractor Liu Hui on social media in 2021. She allegedly claimed to be a doctor at a prestigious hospital and suggested she could help him secure engineering projects.
Liu reportedly developed a romantic interest in the woman but was repeatedly given excuses whenever he asked to meet in person or make a video call.
Yu then allegedly created a second identity, posing as the doctor’s mother. She told Liu that he needed to pay a 300,000-yuan dowry and purchase an apartment before he could meet her daughter. He eventually transferred 170,000 yuan over five months.
After becoming suspicious when the promised business opportunities failed to materialise, Liu reported the matter to police.
Investigators discovered that Yu was actually 65 years old and had worked as a cleaner at a hospital. Police also found AI-generated content disclaimers in some of her videos, which Liu said he had not noticed.
Police said the money was allegedly spent on cosmetic procedures, skincare products and clothing. The case has highlighted the growing use of AI in online identity and romance scams.
