After losing her husband of 46 years, Perth widow Maggie Ayres turned to online dating sites.
She learned the hard way that romance scammers are no longer just hiding behind keyboards but using deepfake technology to sell their lies through video calls.
When a man calling himself “Bryan” reached out, Ayres had no idea she would eventually fall victim, being left with a broken heart and an empty wallet.
“I found that his kindness and patience grew on me, making me feel safe, appreciated and loved,” she told reporters today.
He built her trust through messages and video calls.
“He called a few times on a video call but it always had to be scheduled up front,” Ayres said.
Her new love claimed to be in charge of an oil rig.
Eventually, he convinced her to loan him …