In a shocking tale of modern deception, 77-year-old Nikki MacLeod from Edinburgh, Scotland, fell victim to an AI-powered romance scam, losing £17,000 to a fictional online lover. This story serves as a stark reminder of the dangers lurking in the digital world.
Nikki’s Loneliness and the Beginning of the Scam
After retiring as a lecturer from the University of Edinburgh, Nikki MacLeod’s life revolved around her parents and long-term partner. However, the pandemic brought a series of devastating losses: her parents passed away, and her partner ended their relationship. Feeling isolated, Nikki turned to online chat groups to find companionship.
The Mysterious Stranger: Ala Morgan
Soon, a woman named Ala Morgan entered the chat group, striking up a conversation with Nikki. Ala claimed to work on an oil rig in the North Sea, sharing photos of her rugged life—posing with colleagues on the deck, reading in her cramped quarters, and working hard on the rig. Despite her initial suspicions about Ala’s refusal to video call, Nikki was won over by the photos and videos Ala sent, which seemed to confirm her identity. 
The Escalation of the Relationship
As their online relationship deepened, Ala began to shower Nikki with affectionate messages, and Nikki’s defenses crumbled. Ala started making financial requests, and Nikki, eager to support her newfound love, complied without hesitation.
First Request: Steam Gift Cards
Ala asked Nikki to purchase Steam gift cards so she could access the internet on the rig and continue their conversations. Nikki spent hundreds of pounds on these cards, believing it was a small price to pay for love.
Second Request: Travel Expenses
Next, Ala proposed visiting Nikki in Scotland and asked for help covering her travel costs. Nikki, dreaming of a future together, transferred the money without question.
Third Request: Helicopter Fees
The scam escalated when someone claiming to be from Ala’s HR department contacted Nikki, requesting £2,500 to cover helicopter fees for Ala’s travel. Nikki, still trusting, sent the money.
The Scam Unravels
The truth came to light when Nikki’s bank flagged her transactions as suspicious. Despite recovering £7,000 through her bank and PayPal, Nikki lost £10,000 sent via PayPal’s “friends and family” feature, which is non-refundable.
AI-Powered Deception
Nikki later discovered that Ala was not a real person but an AI creation. The photos, videos, and voice messages were all fabricated using artificial intelligence. Subtle flaws in the videos, such as distorted jawlines and unnatural eye movements, were overlooked due to Nikki’s emotional involvement.
The Aftermath and Warning
Even after the scam was exposed, the fraudsters continued to target Nikki, sending her fake news articles about Ala being imprisoned in Turkey and demanding more money for her release. Nikki now shares her story to warn others about the dangers of AI romance scams.
