AI romance scam posing as Dubai 'prince' dupes victims

Email: online@newsofbahrain.com

Dubai: A growing number of online fraud instances have emerged in which scammers use artificial intelligence algorithms to impersonate a so-called "Dubai prince," constructing convincing profiles, voice messages, and chat conversations to attract victims into romantic relationships.

Investigators suspect that the operation uses AI-generated photos and deepfake audio to gain credibility, frequently acting as a wealthy royal stranded abroad or needing assistance with temporary financial issues. Victims are then convinced to send money, give sensitive information, or invest in fraudulent enterprises.

According to cybersecurity researchers, the scam is becoming more difficult to identify because to the realism of AI-generated content, which can resemble famous personas and emotionally responsive discussions. In other cases, victims described months of continuous engagement before discovering the deceit.

Officials are encouraging the public to independently verify identities and be careful of online interactions that involve unexpected payment requests, particularly from those claiming royal or privileged rank.