An Argentinian woman has fallen victim to a sophisticated scam involving artificial intelligence and a fake version of Hollywood superstar George Clooney. The woman, whose identity remains undisclosed, believed she was having daily conversations with the actor over the course of six weeks—conversations that were, in fact, carried out by scammers using deepfake technology and social engineering.
The scam began when the woman encountered a Facebook profile claiming to belong to Clooney. The account appeared convincing, even displaying a verification badge. Shortly after, she began receiving messages that seemed personal and heartfelt. What added to the illusion were AI-generated videos in which a digitally created Clooney blinked, smiled, and mouthed affectionate words like, “I love you,” and “Thank you for supporting me.”
The impersonator told the woman he was in the process of divorcing his wife and needed financial help to complete the legal process. He promised to repay her and even help her secure a job as a token of appreciation. The scammer requested money to activate what he claimed was a Fans Club card, a requirement for receiving the promised job and gifts.
Initially hesitant but emotionally invested, the woman began transferring money. Each time she sent funds, she was met with further requests—more payments were “needed” to activate the card, then more again for administrative purposes. By the time she realized she had been deceived, she had lost £10,000.
“I really thought it was him,” she later told local reporters. “I didn’t tell anyone because I didn’t want to jinx it. I thought I was helping someone who was going to help me in return.”
Eventually, suspicions crept in. The “actor” was never able to take a live call and often cited his “divorce” as the reason for his secrecy. She reported the incident to the FBI in hopes of recovering the lost funds and alerting others about this growing form of cyber fraud.
This isn’t an isolated case. Earlier this year, a French woman named Anne was duped in a similar scheme involving AI-generated images and messages from a fake Brad Pitt. The scam, which stretched over a year, began after Anne received a message on social media claiming to be from the actor’s mother. Soon after, “Brad Pitt” himself began messaging her, sharing poetry, sweet affirmations, and photos that appeared to show him lying in a hospital bed.
The AI Brad Pitt ultimately claimed he was battling cancer and needed help covering medical expenses. Anne, who was going through a difficult divorce at the time, sympathized and wired over £697,000 before realizing it was all a sham. Her tipping point came when she saw photos of the real Pitt with girlfriend Ines de Ramon in the news—raising doubts about the legitimacy of her online relationship. French authorities later traced the scam back to three Nigerian nationals.
These cases highlight a new and alarming form of digital deception. With deepfake technology becoming more advanced and accessible, scammers are now able to create realistic videos and audio of celebrities, making their schemes more convincing than ever. What was once the realm of obvious catfishing has evolved into an emotionally manipulative, high-tech con game.
Experts warn that AI-generated scams are on the rise, urging social media users to remain cautious when interacting with accounts claiming to be celebrities. If a celebrity ever requests money—especially under emotional pretenses—chances are it’s a scam.
Both victims are now advocating for stronger safeguards against AI misuse and calling for more public awareness about the dangers of celebrity impersonation online.
Bottom line: If George Clooney ever slides into your DMs, it’s probably not him.