Jason Momoa becomes latest celebrity face of AI scam, widow loses £500k

By Tolulope Oke

A British grandmother has fallen victim to a shocking £500,000 scam after being duped by a fraudster posing as Hollywood star Jason Momoa, using AI-generated videos to make her believe they were planning their dream home in Hawaii.

The scam began when the widow thought Momoa had responded to her comment on a fan page. The imposter then claimed his fortune was tied up in movie projects and persuaded her to transfer money to fund their “shared dream home.” Gullible and hopeful, she transferred half a million pounds from the sale of her Cambridgeshire house.

After the money was sent, the messages stopped and her “boyfriend” vanished. Cambridgeshire Police described the incident as “far-fetched but true,” adding that it left a vulnerable woman without a home.

Speaking to The Sun, the victim revealed the scam was elaborate. She was even convinced she was communicating with Momoa’s teenage daughter and was told that a marriage certificate was needed to secure the property.

Fraud prevention officer Dave York warned:

“Scammers target those at their lowest ebb, looking to fill a gap in their lives.”

This case is part of a growing trend in the UK and the US, with other victims, including a grandmother in Newcastle, losing tens of thousands of pounds to similar celebrity AI scams over the past five months.