AI scam hits elderly investor: €300,000 or just €3,000?

AI scam: man loses €300,000 after falling for a computer-generated woman

A new case of emotional cyberfraud has once again highlighted how vulnerable certain profiles are to digital deception. According to information circulating on financial forums, an elderly man – described as a 'boomer' – fell victim to a scam in which a woman generated by artificial intelligence allegedly extracted up to €300,000 from him. The figure, however, is disputed: some claim the real amount could be as low as €3,000 and that the victim may have exaggerated his losses.

The scheme resembles the classic 'Nigerian prince' frauds but updated with deepfake technology. According to testimonies, the victim built an online relationship with a fake identity created using AI, which led him to make a series of transfers. The scam only came to light when the man tried to verify the identity of the person he was talking to.

An ongoing debate over the exact amount

While some commentators say the €300,000 loss is plausible – attributing the accumulated wealth to family inheritances – others argue the figure has been inflated out of shame or morbid curiosity. 'A fool and his money are soon parted,' they quip, citing the well-known proverb. The discussion reflects how hard it is to gauge the real damage in this type of fraud, where public humiliation often outweighs the financial loss.

The case underscores the growing sophistication of AI-powered romance scams, which combine identity theft, social engineering and emotional manipulation. Authorities recommend distrusting any profile that refuses to make live video calls or asks for money with urgent excuses.