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A retired psychologist in his 70s has been defrauded of $180,000 after believing he had found his soulmate online. The man, identified as Michael from Queensland, Australia, engaged in a long-distance relationship with 'Melanie,' a nurse he met on a dating app.

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She said she was only about 50 years of age, and getting somebody interested [in me], it was obviously flattering.

Despite initial doubts, Michael was persuaded by Melanie, who provided what appeared to be her passport, identity card, and nurse registration certificate. He admitted his "head said, this can’t be true, but my heart said I don’t want to abandon her." The relationship continued for a year.

Analysis of a final video call revealed the woman was a deepfake with six fingers and distorted AI-generated features. Experts noted anomalies like shifting chair shapes and distorted earrings. Scammers combined the social media profile of an unsuspecting American doctor with voice cloning and face-swapping technology to create the digital illusion.

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My head said, this can’t be true, but my heart said I don’t want to abandon her.

Melanie eventually requested financial assistance, leading Michael to transfer $180,000 to the scammers, even after his bank issued warnings. New South Wales police investigated but concluded the scam originated overseas, with little hope of recovering the money. Reflecting on the ordeal, Michael stated, "I stopped all my internet accounts... the best way is to meet somebody in person, isn’t it?"

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I stopped all my internet accounts ... the best way is to meet somebody in person, isn’t it?