A Filipino domestic worker identified only as Maria lost a year's worth of savings after falling victim to scammers impersonating Dubai's Crown Prince Hamdan bin Mohammed, also known as Fazza. The case highlights how fraudsters cultivate online relationships before swindling victims, with researchers tracing some scams to crime syndicates in Nigeria.
How the Scam Unfolded
Maria met the scammer on a dating site before the conversation moved to a messaging app, where he bombarded her with romantic messages. "He kept on messaging me even when I was sleeping," Maria told AFP, requesting her real name and age be withheld. "It felt like there was a love spell that connected our minds."
In a WhatsApp video call recorded by Maria and seen by AFP, the scammer appeared lifelike as the prince, with words matching lip movements but not the prince's voice. "Hello, beloved," the voice said. "I really appreciate your love and support."
Financial Loss and Suspicion
Maria lost 100,000 pesos ($1,625) for what the scammer claimed were a marriage certificate and a "royal membership card" to help her secure a job in Dubai. Her suspicion arose when he proposed meeting at a hotel and demanded another 60,000 pesos ($974) for the booking. She noticed his Facebook page, since taken down, was based in Nigeria. She cut off communication with a final message: "Go to hell, scammer."
"Many people told me it's good I didn't go crazy after this experience," Maria said.
Broader Scam Ecosystem
The fraud is part of a broader "fake Dubai prince" scam targeting hearts and wallets. Scammers exploit the prince's likeness using his vast online presence, including over 17 million Instagram followers, and sometimes copy his authentic poems. AFP identified multiple Facebook groups impersonating the royal, some with thousands of followers, inviting users to WhatsApp or Telegram chats. Posts included manipulated images of the prince on one knee holding a ring or offering a rose with the caption: "Sweetheart, can I get a 'love you' on WhatsApp?" While some users warned of scams, many responded with hearts and blowing-kiss emojis.
Awareness and Petitions
Awareness groups like Instagram's "Do not fall for fake prince" have emerged. A change.org petition titled "Stop Fazza Scam" called on Sheikh Hamdan's staff to raise awareness, noting scammers use Dubai phone numbers and request "large sums of money, either as donations or marriage certificates, all of which are forged." The petition added that "significant payments are requested in banks in countries other than those of victims, sometimes even in cryptocurrencies, making it harder to trace."
Technology and Global Impact
Dubai authorities did not respond to AFP's request for comment. The prince is not alone in being impersonated; last year, French authorities probed fraudsters posing as Brad Pitt who scammed a woman out of 830,000 euros ($945,000). The Global Anti-Scam Alliance estimates consumers lost $442 billion to scams, including romance fraud, last year.
It is unclear which AI tools were used for the real-time video chats with Maria. The internet offers AI-powered face-swapping and motion-control tools for highly realistic videos. "The technology is improving rapidly, and it is likely that soon real-time video deepfakes will become better and better," said Cornell University's David Rand. "Once this happens, it becomes fundamentally impossible to tell whether any not-in-person conversation is real."
