Hong Kong police have intercepted over HK$34 million (US$3.37 million) from a scam that used artificial intelligence to lure victims into romance and investment schemes. The scam involved operators posing as wealthy single women, using conversational prompts about luxury experiences. Arrests of 31 individuals were made as police seized notebooks detailing their tactics. The use of AI-generated images made these criminals more convincing, posing significant challenges for law enforcement. Byron Boston, a former police officer, emphasized the complexity this technology adds to investigations. He noted that these scams often involve long-term efforts to build trust with potential victims. The group targeted young people seeking fast financial gains while misrepresenting themselves as accomplished women from Taiwan, Singapore, and Malaysia. The effective collaboration and swift action among law enforcement agencies are crucial to combat these extensive criminal activities, especially as many lack the proper tools to trace stolen cryptocurrency.

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