Fake Dubai Crown Prince Scams Use Deepfake Tech to Defraud Victims Worldwide

A sophisticated scam exploiting advanced artificial intelligence deepfake technology is rapidly spreading globally, with fraudsters impersonating Dubai's Crown Prince Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed, also known as Fazza. According to an AFP investigation, scammers use real-time deepfake tools to create highly convincing video calls, perfectly syncing lip movements and facial expressions, though the voice often does not match the Crown Prince's.

One victim, a Filipino woman who wished to remain anonymous, recounted how she believed she met the prince through a dating site. Their communication quickly moved to messaging apps where she received constant messages and felt a "mystical connection." She was eventually persuaded to pay around 100,000 Philippine pesos (several thousand shekels) for forged documents, including a fake marriage certificate and a royal membership card. Suspicion arose when further payments were demanded, and she discovered the account was linked to Nigeria.

This case is not isolated. The investigation revealed a broad network of Facebook groups and fake accounts impersonating the prince, some with thousands of followers. Victims are directed to private chats on WhatsApp or Telegram where the actual fraud occurs. A prior OCCRP investigation exposed a Nigerian man, Nzube Henry Ikeji, who scammed a Romanian businesswoman out of over $2.5 million; he was arrested in Nigeria in March.

Experts warn this is only the beginning of a troubling trend. David Rand from Cornell University told AFP that as technology advances, distinguishing real from fake video calls will soon become nearly impossible. The Global Anti-Scam Alliance (GASA) reports that in 2025 alone, victims worldwide lost approximately $442 billion to various scams, including romance and relationship frauds.

Despite the severity of these findings, Dubai authorities have yet to issue an official response to the reports.