A sophisticated romance scam operation in Taiwan allegedly used fake dating profiles, fabricated relationships and AI voice-cloning technology to extract more than NT$900 million (about US$28.3 million) from victims, according to Taipei prosecutors.
Prosecutors on Sept. 2 indicted 57 people over the alleged scheme, which they said targeted more than 20,000 people and operated since 2022. The case highlights how artificial intelligence is giving traditional “romance” or “pig-butchering” scams a more convincing human voice.
Importantly, the 57 people have been indicted, not convicted. The allegations will be determined through court proceedings.
How the alleged scam worked
According to the Taipei District Prosecutors’ Office, the group was divided into different teams responsible for finding targets, establishing contact, cultivating relationships and extracting additional payments.
Members allegedly created dating-app profiles using photographs and identities presented as women. Once men expressed interest, another team would take over the conversations while pretending to be the women.
The operation allegedly started with relatively small purchases.
Targets were encouraged to buy products such as fish oil, Antrodia cinnamomea and power banks costing roughly NT$1,000 to NT$2,000, supposedly to help the women meet sales targets.
After the group assessed a target’s financial capacity, prosecutors said the requests could escalate to expensive gifts such as smartphones, air purifiers and hair dryers.
The alleged demands later included money for living expenses, medical costs, debts and other personal needs.
AI allegedly helped scammers sound like real women
One of the most striking elements of the investigation was the alleged use of AI voice-changing technology.
Prosecutors said a software engineer developed a system capable of learning and mimicking the voices of 22 female employees. The technology allegedly allowed male members of the operation to make phone calls while sounding like the women whose identities were being used online.
That potentially made the deception far more convincing.
Instead of relying solely on photographs and text messages, scammers could allegedly provide targets with what appeared to be a real woman’s voice — making it harder for victims to recognize that they were communicating with someone else.
The case demonstrates how AI-generated or AI-modified audio can add another layer of credibility to online fraud.
Some victims allegedly met the women in person
The investigation also uncovered an unusual element of the alleged operation.
Prosecutors said women working for the group sometimes met male targets in person, collecting cash, phones and other expensive gifts. The women allegedly returned those items to the organization.
This tactic could make the relationship appear genuine to victims who had already spent considerable time communicating online.
Prosecutors said some victims eventually lost their savings and others were forced into debt as the alleged financial demands increased.
Luxury cars and assets seized
Authorities also seized assets allegedly connected to the operation.
According to prosecutors, searches conducted in May and July resulted in the seizure of luxury vehicles, including Ferrari and McLaren cars, 47 luxury watches, real estate and funds worth about NT$300 million, as well as 67 computers containing AI-related software.
The investigation reportedly concluded with the indictment of all 57 defendants.
Prosecutors are seeking sentences of at least 25 years for the alleged male ringleader and 18 years for his wife, subject to the court’s decision.
Taiwan’s wider scam problem
The case comes as Taiwan faces growing concerns about increasingly sophisticated fraud.
A 2024 Global Anti-Scam Alliance, Gogolook and ScamAdviser survey estimated that Taiwanese respondents had collectively experienced billions of dollars in scam losses, while 65% said they were aware of AI being used to generate dialogue, imitate voices or create images and videos for scams.
The latest case shows why romance scams can be particularly difficult to detect: the deception can develop gradually, with scammers first building trust before asking for increasingly valuable gifts or financial assistance.
What makes this case different
Traditional romance scams often depend on fake photographs, fabricated identities and long online conversations.
This alleged operation went further by combining those tactics with AI voice technology, organized teams and even face-to-face meetings.
That combination raises a much bigger concern for online dating users: hearing someone’s voice or even meeting someone in person may no longer be enough to establish that the relationship is genuine.
As AI tools become cheaper and easier to use, fraudsters may be able to create increasingly convincing identities at scale.
And that leaves a troubling question: if scammers can fake a face, a voice and an entire relationship, how can online daters know who they are really talking to?
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