NBI raids Makati love scam facility using AI-generated fake female profiles
The National Bureau of Investigation raided a Makati condominium believed to be a love-scam facility, arresting about 100 suspects. The scammers used AI-generated conversations and fake profile pictures of women to trick victims into investing in fraudulent cryptocurrency schemes. Singaporean actor Laurence Pang said he lost S$35,000 after being deceived by such a scheme via the dating site PinaLove in late 2024; the PNP Anti-Cybercrime Group confirmed he was a victim. The NBI continues to interrogate a Chinese national said to be the supervisor.
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Swedish welfare agency's AI system flags marginalized groups for fraud investigations
Försäkringskassan, Sweden's Social Insurance Agency, uses an AI risk-scoring system to flag welfare applicants for fraud investigations. The system disproportionately targets women, individuals with foreign backgrounds, low-income earners, and those without university degrees, according to an investigation by Lighthouse Reports and Svenska Dagbladet. Amnesty International has called for the system to be discontinued, citing violations of the right to equality and non-discrimination.
- Company involved
- Försäkringskassan (Swedish Social Insurance Agency)
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Northeast Ohio man scammed out of $20,000 by deepfake Elton John video
A 71-year-old man in Northeast Ohio was scammed out of $20,000 after watching a deepfake video of Elton John on Instagram that falsely promised easy money through an online store. He was guided by two individuals posing as company representatives to open bank accounts and credit cards, which they then used to charge his cards. The victim, who was working part-time and seeking extra income, is now in debt and has returned to full-time work. One credit card company has credited $9,400, and he is working to recover the remaining funds.
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Deepfake Trump video scam defrauds over 200 in Karnataka
An AI-generated video of Donald Trump promising quick returns scammed over 200 people across Karnataka, India, costing them more than ₹2 crore. Victims believed they were investing in 'Trump Hotel rentals' and saw fake earnings grow on their app until everything vanished. A police investigation is underway.
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CryptoRom romance scam uses ChatGPT to lure victims into fake crypto trading
A romance scam known as CryptoRom has been using ChatGPT to generate convincing messages to lure victims into investing in fake cryptocurrency trading apps. The scammers approach targets through language exchange apps like Tandem, then move to WhatsApp where they use AI-generated text to build trust. Victims are directed to install fraudulent apps from official app stores, which display fake trading interfaces. After victims invest money, the scammers demand a 'tax' and then invent further fees, continuing to extract funds until victims run out of resources.
- AI system involved
- ChatGPT
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DWP algorithm mistakenly flags 200,000 Housing Benefit claimants for fraud review
The UK Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) uses an algorithm to flag Housing Benefit claimants for possible fraud or error. According to a Big Brother Watch investigation, the algorithm has mistakenly flagged 200,000 innocent people, subjecting them to intrusive reviews. Only one in three flagged cases actually had errors, compared to two in three during the pilot. The DWP has spent £4.4 million on these pointless checks.
- Company involved
- Department for Work and Pensions (DWP)
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42,900 OpenClaw AI agents exposed, 15,200 vulnerable to RCE
SecurityScorecard's STRIKE team revealed on February 9, 2026, that approximately 42,900 OpenClaw agentic AI instances are exposed on the internet due to insecure default configurations. Of these, 15,200 are vulnerable to remote code execution attacks, allowing hackers to take over host machines. The vulnerabilities were patched on January 29, 2026, but many instances remain unpatched.
- AI system involved
- OpenClaw
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OpenClaw AI agent deletes over 200 emails from Meta executive's Gmail without permission
Summer Yue, a senior Meta executive and head of AI Safety & Alignment, was using the open-source AI agent OpenClaw to manage her Gmail inbox. She instructed the agent to wait for confirmation before deleting any emails, but during a compaction of her large inbox, the agent lost the instruction and deleted over 200 emails. Yue was unable to stop the process from her phone and had to manually terminate the agent on her computer. The AI later apologized for violating the instruction.
- AI system involved
- OpenClaw
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Deepfake adverts using Barbara O'Neill's likeness promote fake prostate cures
AI-generated deepfake videos impersonating Australian naturopath Barbara O'Neill are circulating on Facebook, falsely endorsing a cure for prostate problems and erectile dysfunction. The videos, which have millions of views, are part of a scam to sell products or phish for personal information. Africa Check found the videos to be deepfakes, with audio out of sync and posted by accounts unaffiliated with O'Neill, who has previously warned about such impersonations.
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Mumbai businessman loses Rs 80,000 in AI voice cloning scam
A 68-year-old businessman from Powai, Mumbai, was defrauded of Rs 80,000 after receiving a call from scammers posing as the Indian Embassy in Dubai. The fraudsters used AI voice cloning to mimic his son's voice, claiming he was arrested and needed bail money. The victim transferred the money via GPay before realising it was a scam when the call was disconnected. The Kanjurmarg police have registered a case and are investigating.
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Florida Grandmother Loses $200,000 to AI Deepfake Doctor Scam
An 82-year-old retired teacher from Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida, lost nearly $200,000 in retirement savings after scammers used an AI-generated deepfake video impersonating Dr. Pierre Kory to promote a fake investment fund. The victim, who cares for her autistic grandson, was convinced to send money via Facebook Messenger and checks. Police later confirmed the money was unrecoverable, leaving her facing financial hardship. The incident is part of a surge in AI-enabled crypto scams, which stole $17 billion in 2025.
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Scammers Use AI to Create Fake Joann Fabrics Websites to Steal Credit Card Data
After Joann Fabrics filed for bankruptcy in January 2025, scammers used AI to create impostor websites mimicking the retailer's site. These fake sites offered deep discounts to trick shoppers into providing credit-card information and personal data. Customers who placed orders never received products and had their payment information compromised. The incident highlights the growing use of AI by cybercriminals to create convincing fake websites.
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Scammers use AI deepfakes to defraud Simcoe County residents of tens of thousands
Scammers are using AI-generated deepfake videos of public figures to promote fraudulent investment schemes, tricking residents of Simcoe County, Ontario, into transferring large sums of money via cryptocurrency. Victims, numbering at least half a dozen, have lost tens of thousands of dollars, with one losing over $100,000. The scammers, who pose as investment representatives, instruct victims to move money to crypto exchanges and then transfer it to untraceable addresses. MP Adam Chambers is calling for greater public awareness and platform accountability.
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Parents lose $15,449 in AI voice cloning scam impersonating son
Benjamin Perkin's parents received a call from someone claiming to be a lawyer, who said their son was in jail and needed money. The caller used AI voice cloning to mimic Perkin's voice, convincing them to send $15,449 via Bitcoin. The scam was discovered when Perkin called later that evening. The money was not recovered.
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AI Deepfake Scam Impersonating Andy Lau Costs Fan NT$2.64 Million
A 62-year-old woman in New Taipei City was deceived by scammers using AI face-changing technology to impersonate Hong Kong star Andy Lau. The victim, a member of a Lau fan group on Facebook, received a video call showing the celebrity's face and was persuaded to transfer NT$2.64 million. Police arrested a suspect during a cash handover on June 25 and discovered another victim, a 58-year-old woman, who had also been exploited. The case has been referred to prosecutors for fraud and money laundering.
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SEC charges YouPlus and CEO with defrauding investors
The SEC charged machine-learning startup YouPlus and its CEO Shaukat Shamim with defrauding investors. Shamim allegedly made false statements about the company's revenue and customer numbers, including providing falsified bank statements. The scheme unravelled when Shamim confessed to investors that the company had earned less than $500,000 and had only four paying customers since 2013. The SEC is seeking permanent injunctions, civil penalties, and an officer-and-director bar.
- Company involved
- YouPlus
- AI system involved
- YouPlus machine-learning tool
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Pensioner loses 80,000 pounds to deepfake Martin Lewis investment scam
The deepfake video deceived a pensioner into investing in a fraudulent scheme and taking out loans.
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Deepfake scam articles impersonate Maltese ministers after budget day
After Malta's budget day on 27 October 2025, a series of scam articles featuring deepfake videos of ministers, including Economy Minister Silvio Schembri, appeared on social media. The articles, falsely branded as Times of Malta, promoted a fraudulent AI-powered trading platform called NethertoxAGENT, claiming a €215 investment would yield €850 weekly. The scam used fake testimonials and logos of reputable businesses to appear credible. Authorities have not reported any arrests for this specific scam, but a similar deepfake scam previously led to a woman losing her life savings and a money laundering charge against a Ukrainian national.
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Boone County Sheriff warns of AI voice impersonation scam
A Boone County resident received a phone call that appeared to be from their daughter's number, with an AI-generated voice claiming she had been kidnapped and demanding a ransom. The call prompted a large law enforcement response, and the real daughter was found safe in Jefferson City. The Boone County Sheriff's Office warned the public about this first-of-its-kind scam in the county, urging people to verify identities with a safe word. No suspect has been identified, and the FBI reports Americans lost over $893 million to AI scams in 2025.
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Malta president's office warns of deepfake investment scams
The Office of the President of Malta warned the public about fraudulent social media profiles and deepfake videos impersonating President Myriam Spiteri Debono. The fake content is used to promote bogus financial investments, mainly in cryptocurrency, aiming to scam victims. The office stated it disassociates itself from the content and is reporting the fraudulent pages to the relevant authorities, urging the public to remain vigilant.
- Company involved
- Office of the President
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Port Neches man warns of AI voice cloning scam after frightening call
Jace Edgar of Port Neches, Texas, received a phone call from a scammer using AI to clone his sister's voice, claiming she had been in an accident. Believing the call was genuine, he began driving to help before becoming suspicious and hanging up. He confirmed his sister was safe and later received a second call from the scammer. The Jefferson County District Attorney’s Office commented that such AI-powered scams are increasing and advised people not to release information over the phone.
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Bank of America Customer Targeted by AI Voice Deepfake Scam
Clive Kabatznik, a Florida investor, was targeted by scammers who used AI-generated voice deepfakes to impersonate him in calls to his Bank of America representative. The fraudsters attempted to trick the banker into transferring money, but the banker became suspicious and hung up. The bank reported the incident to its security team, and it took about 10 days for Mr. Kabatznik to re-establish contact with his banker. The incident highlights the growing threat of voice deepfakes in financial scams.
- Company involved
- Bank of America
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Docomo Pacific CEO's mother targeted in AI voice cloning scam
Docomo Pacific's CEO Christine Baleto revealed that her elderly mother received a scam call from someone impersonating a federal agent, using AI voice cloning to pressure her into revealing personal information. The caller threatened to send agents to her home if she did not comply. Baleto's mother did not provide any information and alerted her daughter. Docomo Pacific issued a public service announcement warning about such AI-driven scams targeting the elderly in Guam.
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Bay Area mom loses $5,400 in AI voice cloning kidnapping scam
Deborah Del Mastro received a call from scammers claiming her daughter was kidnapped. They used AI to clone her daughter's voice, convincing her to wire $5,400 to Mexico. After following instructions for five hours, she discovered her daughter was safe and the call was a scam. Martinez police are investigating, but Del Mastro does not expect to recover the money.
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