by SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA, CA— A 66-year-old woman from Southern California lost her home and life savings after falling victim to a sophisticated AI deepfake romance scam, authorities and family members said. Abigail Ruvalcaba believed she had formed a romantic relationship with “General Hospital” actor Steve Burton, only to discover that the videos she received were digitally manipulated to impersonate the actor.
How the Scam Unfolded
Ruvalcaba met who she thought was Burton over a year ago on Facebook, where they communicated via messages and video calls. The videos appeared hyperrealistic, using AI-generated deepfakes to replicate Burton’s face and voice.
“I thought I was in love,” Abigail stated. “I thought we were going to have a good life together.”
Unaware that the videos were fabricated, she sent money to the scammer over time. Family members confirmed she transferred more than $81,000 through cash, checks, Zelle, and Bitcoin.
Sale of Home and Life Savings
The scam escalated quickly. The perpetrator persuaded Abigail to sell her family’s condo for $350,000, sending the proceeds to the scammer in just three weeks, according to her daughter, Vivian Ruvalcaba.
“It happened so quickly, within less than three weeks,” Vivian said. “The sale of the home was done. It was over with.”
Because Abigail struggles with bipolar disorder, her daughter says she became particularly vulnerable to emotional manipulation. Vivian recounted confronting her mother about the scam, but Abigail insisted, “That’s his face, that’s his voice, I watch him on television all the time.”
Legal and Financial Challenges
Vivian Ruvalcaba has since set up a GoFundMe page to help with legal expenses, stating that only $45,000 remained on the mortgage before the scam led to the condo’s sale. The new owner later flipped the property, selling it to another buyer.
The family alleges that the new owner offered to sell the condo back for $100,000 more than what they paid, a sum they cannot afford. They are planning to sue the companies involved and hope their attorney can prevent Abigail from being evicted on Sept. 3, 2025.
“When I discovered the scam in February 2025, I immediately contacted everyone involved,” Vivian wrote on GoFundMe. She provided medical letters confirming that her mother lacked the capacity to make financial decisions.
Actor Issues Warning
According to KTLA, Reports of scams using Burton’s likeness prompted the actor himself to warn his followers about the rise of AI deepfake romance scams. Unfortunately for Abigail and her family, the warning came too late.
Abigail described the emotional toll of the ordeal: “I feel stupid, taken. I feel like a dummy. I was in a fantasy world, obviously.”
FBI Advice to Avoid Deepfake Romance Scams
FBI officials urge caution and provide the following tips to protect yourself from AI-generated romance scams:
- Never send money to someone you have only communicated with online or by phone.
- Be cautious if the person seems too perfect or asks to leave a dating platform quickly.
- Watch for attempts to isolate you from friends or family, or requests for sensitive photos or financial information.
- Be wary if the person promises to meet but continuously makes excuses. If you haven’t met after a few months, you have reason to be suspicious.
Raising Awareness
The Ruvalcaba family hopes that sharing Abigail’s story will help others avoid similar scams and prevent financial and emotional devastation. Vivian emphasized the urgency of spreading awareness about AI deepfake fraud and its potential to exploit vulnerable individuals.
“We all miss him. We just can’t believe he’s gone,” Abigail said, reflecting on the emotional loss caused by both the scam and its consequences on her family’s life.
A GoFundMe page has been set up to help Abigail cover legal expenses and potentially reclaim her home.
Stay Informed and Protect Yourself: You can share your thoughts about online scams and fraud prevention and also visit ibwhsmag.com for the latest updates and guidance.
