Impersonated and stole $600,<> with artificial intelligence

A fraudster in China used artificial intelligence technology to change his appearance and impersonate a businessman's friend who snatched more than half a million euros from him, authorities said.

The victim, Guo, whose surname was only mentioned, explains that in April he received a video call from someone who sounded similar in shape and voice to a relative.

But the person he was talking to was actually a fraudster who "used artificial intelligence technology to modify his facial features," according to a story published Monday by media affiliated with Fuzhou (east) authorities.

The fraudster claimed that another friend desperately needed a sum of money. He succeeded in persuading Guo to transfer 4.3 million yuan (about $614,89) from his company's bank account.

The news quoted the businessman as saying, "During the video call, I was sure I knew the face and voice of the person calling me, so I was reassured."

After Guo transferred the money, he sent a letter to his friend, who had been impersonated.

The businessman realized the mistake he made after the reaction of his friend, so he called the police, who ordered the bank to stop the transfer, and managed to recover 3.4 million yuan ($485.44,<>), according to the news.

The identity of the person responsible for the scam has not yet been determined.