FAKE AI VIDEOS AND LOCKED BRIEFCASE SCAM

New scam ‘one of the most elaborate ever seen’
Fraudsters created fake AI video of US colonel
Carer in her 60s lost nearly £20,000
WE RECOVERED ALL OF THE VICTIMS MONEY
Scammers trick victim into sending money to unlock briefcase ‘full of money’.
Law firm releases videos as warning to others- see fake AI footage below

A carer lost nearly £20,000 after a fraudster she met on dating site created fake AI-generated videos pretending to be a US colonel and sent her a locked briefcase through the post which he claimed was full of money.

The scammer told the woman in her 60s that his wife had died of cancer and that the briefcase contained life insurance money which they could use to retire together.

As part of the elaborate con, the victim was told she must send £10,000 to get the code to unlock the briefcase which he said contained the equivalent of £607,000. When the scam victim finally lost patience and managed to open the briefcase she found it contained blank paper.

The woman from the East of England, who has asked to remain anonymous, has turned to fraud recovery solicitors National Fraud Helpline, a trading name of Richardson Hartley Law, to recover her money on a no win, no fee basis.

We managed to recover all of the victim’s money for her.

She has agreed to National Fraud Helpline releasing the videos and photos in the hope that it would prevent more people falling victim to similar scams.

Senior Partner at National Fraud Helpline, Martin Richardson, said: ‘This scam is one of the most elaborate we have ever seen in that it involves AI as well as physical items being sent through the post.

‘Our client is a woman in her 60s who was sent videos of a man describing her situation, gifts through the post, such a jewellery and an ornament, plus letters, a card and ultimately the briefcase.

‘Particularly for people unaware of AI, it understandable how they would fall for such a fraud. This is a frightening ratcheting up of scammer tactics.’

The fraud victim had been single for more than 20 years when she came across the man pretending to be US colonel ‘Mike Murdy.’ on the dating site, Tinder, earlier this year. He claimed he was 61 years of age and was being sent on one last mission to Cuba before his retirement.

The AI videos that were created referenced the victim’s name and referred to her recent online conversations with Murdy.

Murdy started sending gifts to the victim through the post including a ornamental flower with silver and gold leaves as well as a card saying that he loved her.

The scammer created a video convincing her to pay money from her Halifax bank account last month to have the briefcase delivered. After a few failed attempts the silver briefcase arrived and then he insisted on another £10,000 being sent to get the code.

The locked briefcase was accompanied by a letter claiming to be from Fort Knox in America warning the victim not to accidentally bang it and to keep it in a cool place of the contents could be destroyed.

When the code didn’t arrive the victim eventually managed to open the briefcase and was confronted with a wad of blank paper.

When she confronted Murdy he claimed it was a test of their love but the woman realised she had been conned.

She said: ‘It’s been heartbreaking. I haven’t told anyone what happened. I’m too embarrassed.

‘It’s really scary to think the fraudsters have just created these videos. I’ve never been conned like this in my life.’

National Fraud Helpline, not only helps fraud victims recover money on a no win, no fee basis, but is also campaigning for better scam prevention. It has set up a website- www.nationalfraudhelpline.co.uk –with all the latest scam warnings.

On top of this it has joined forces with leading AI firm Time Machine Capital Squared to create anti-fraud technology innovation.

Simon White, managing partner of Time Machine Capital Squared, said: ‘We are witnessing the beginning of an arms race to create technology that can help AI being adopted by fraudsters.’

National Fraud Helpline has written to Halifax asking the bank to return the money under new rules introduced in October, this year, that requires payment service providers to reimburse victims of ‘authorised push payment’ fraud, where people are duped into transferring money to criminals.

A Halifax spokesman said: ‘Helping to protect customers from fraud is our priority and we have a great deal of sympathy for [the victim] of this crime.’ The bank is currently reviewing the claim and expects to have a decision this week.