How a Perth Woman Lost Thousands to a Romance Scam
Maggie, a Perth woman, recently fell victim to an elaborate AI deepfake romance scam that cost her tens of thousands of dollars.
After her husband’s passing and relocating to Western Australia, she became vulnerable and unknowingly became a target for a scammer named “Brian,” who claimed to be a Sydney-based geological engineer on an oil rig.
Red Flags and False Promises

Brian used deepfake technology to create a fake persona, convincing Maggie of his legitimacy by sharing fabricated documents and conducting video calls where his real appearance was masked. Over time, he began requesting financial help, citing various emergencies.
Despite warnings from her children, Maggie fell deeper into the scam, transferring money repeatedly. The ruse fell apart when a technical glitch during a video call exposed Brian’s true identity.
The Emotional and Financial Toll
After the scam was exposed, Maggie sought to recover her money but was tricked again by a fraudulent “fund recovery agent.” She is now on a mission to warn others about these scams’ emotional and financial devastation. Scams involving deepfakes are increasingly common, costing Australians millions annually.
Source 7news