TV and radio personality Migs Bustos has called on the Department of Justice (DOJ) to investigate a disturbing new trend: AI-powered love scams.
Bustos, who hosts shows on ABS-CBN, ABS-CBN News Channel, and Teleradyo Serbisyo, personally submitted evidence to the DOJ, including screenshots of online scams that misused his identity and photos.
The scam involves creating fake online personas, often using AI-generated images and deepfakes, to lure victims into romantic relationships. Once trust is established, the scammers manipulate their victims into sending money under various pretenses.
Bustos revealed that a victim in Orlando, Florida, lost a significant amount of $200,000 to such a scam. He expressed concern over the escalating sophistication of these scams, which now involve not only his identity but also those of his family and friends.
DOJ Assistant Secretary Mico Clavano acknowledged the gravity of the issue and assured that the DOJ's Office of Cybercrime would investigate these cases. He urged other victims to come forward and report similar incidents, especially during the holiday season when online scams tend to proliferate.
Clavano emphasized the importance of digital literacy and caution when interacting with strangers online. He advised the public to be vigilant, verify the identities of online contacts, and be wary of requests for financial assistance, especially from people they've never met in person.
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