AI-Powered ‘fake Dubai prince’ romance scam cheats victims out of thousands

A growing wave of online romance scams is exploiting the identity of Dubai Crown Prince Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum,

A growing wave of online romance scams is exploiting the identity of Dubai Crown Prince Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, commonly known by his pen name “Fazza”, with fraudsters using artificial intelligence to create convincing video calls and manipulate victims into sending large sums of money.

One victim, identified only as Maria to protect her privacy, said she first encountered the scammer on a dating platform. The conversation later shifted to a messaging application, where the individual posing as the Dubai royal sent her frequent affectionate messages and gradually built what appeared to be a genuine romantic relationship.

Maria, a Filipino domestic worker, said the scammer constantly contacted her throughout the day and night, making her feel emotionally attached. She admitted that the attention and affection made it difficult for her to question the person’s identity.

The deception became even more convincing through WhatsApp video calls. During one of the calls the scammer appeared with a highly realistic image resembling Sheikh Hamdan. Although the lip movements matched the spoken words, the voice did not sound like the prince’s, suggesting the use of advanced artificial intelligence or deepfake technology to create the illusion of a live conversation.

Believing she was communicating with a member of Dubai’s royal family, Maria transferred approximately 100,000 Philippine pesos (around $1,625). The scammer claimed the money was needed to process a marriage certificate and a so-called “royal membership card,” promising that these documents would also help her secure employment in Dubai.

Her doubts only emerged when the scammer proposed meeting her at a hotel and requested an additional 60,000 pesos (about $974) to cover accommodation expenses. After investigating his Facebook profile more closely, Maria discovered that the account appeared to be operating from Nigeria rather than the United Arab Emirates. Realising she had been deceived, she ended all communication, sending a final message condemning the fraudster before blocking him.

Investigators say Maria’s experience is part of a wider international scam network that uses the popularity of Sheikh Hamdan to target victims seeking romance or financial opportunities. Fraudsters frequently copy the prince’s public photographs, poetry and social media content to create fake profiles that appear authentic.

Several Facebook groups impersonating the royal have attracted thousands of followers by encouraging users to continue conversations through WhatsApp or Telegram. Many of these pages feature manipulated but highly realistic images, including fake romantic proposals and messages designed to lure unsuspecting users into private conversations.

Although some social media users warn others that these accounts are fraudulent, many continue to interact with the posts by leaving heart emojis and affectionate comments, highlighting how convincing the scams can appear.

As awareness of the fraud grows, online campaigns have emerged to educate the public. Social media pages and petitions have urged Sheikh Hamdan’s office to increase public awareness about scammers using his identity. Victims have reported being asked to send money for fake marriage certificates, charitable donations and other fabricated expenses, with payments often directed to overseas bank accounts or cryptocurrency wallets, making them difficult for authorities to trace.

The scam reflects a broader global trend of criminals using artificial intelligence to impersonate well-known public figures. Experts warn that advances in AI-powered face-swapping and real-time deepfake technology are making such fraud increasingly sophisticated.

Researchers estimate that consumers worldwide lost hundreds of billions of dollars to scams last year, including romance fraud. Experts caution that as AI technology continues to improve, distinguishing between genuine and fake video conversations will become increasingly difficult, making vigilance and independent verification more important than ever.