A Brazilian pensioner loses about £7,500 after scammers use AI-generated photos and videos to impersonate singer James Blunt and build a long-running online “relationship.” Multiple outlets report that the victim, described as lonely, interacts with a fake profile that claims to be Blunt. The scam is said to span roughly a year, during which the fraudsters convince her to send money. One report adds that the victim first connects with the impersonator after commenting during a live broadcast by the real singer, after which a separate, fraudulent account appears to engage her as if it were James Blunt.
According to the reporting, the scammers rely on “dubious” or synthetic imagery to make the messages and contact appear authentic, including AI-generated visuals of Blunt speaking to the victim. The accounts presented maintain the premise of an ongoing romance, and the victim ultimately transfers money before realizing she has been scammed. The reports provide consistent details that the impersonation is AI-based and that the financial loss is approximately £7,500.
