A criminal syndicate in Hong Kong has been arrested for orchestrating a romance scam that defrauded victims of around $46 million using advanced deepfake technology.
According to reports from the South China Morning Post (SCMP) and CNN, Hong Kong police apprehended 27 members of the organization, 21 men and 6 women. The syndicate operated from a hub in the Hung Hom district of Kowloon.
Romance scams are fraudulent schemes where perpetrators build relationships with victims through platforms like social media, ultimately tricking them into giving money.
Members of the organization, aged between 21 and 34, were mostly highly educated. After attending local universities, they were recruited to create fake cryptocurrency platforms in collaboration with overseas IT professionals. Reports suggest they pressured victims to invest in these platforms as part of their scam activities.
According to the police, the scammers initially targeted Asian men in Hong Kong, Taiwan, Singapore, and India by sending messages that appeared to be misdirected. They then utilized AI-generated fake images—commonly known as deepfake technology—to create young, attractive virtual women engaging in video calls to build trust with their victims.
The organization structured its approach in multiple stages, carefully cultivating trust with victims through a highly organized plan. They even had an educational manual indicating that members were meticulously trained to manipulate victims’ emotions and perceptions.
These virtual women tailored their responses to each victim, fostering close relationships. After establishing a connection, they shared personal struggles, such as failed relationships or business setbacks, to build trust. They then encouraged investments by painting a picture of a beautiful future together, including travel plans and shared dreams.
Police reported that the scam had been ongoing for a year, and they began their investigation after receiving relevant intelligence in August. During a raid on the operation center, authorities recovered approximately $26,000 worth of mobile phones and luxury watches.
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