Fake Bondi Vet posed staged elaborate AI romance hoax
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A British woman has been defrauded out of $22,800 by scammers who posed as Bondi Vet Chris Brown using AI-generated photos and emotionally manipulative messages in a catfish scam that has left her financially ruined.
Sophisticated scammers bombarded Lisa Nock with messages tricking her into believing she was in a romantic relationship with the internationally famous vet and to hand over her life savings.
The con artist, who appeared to make initial contact through a page that posed as Brown's official Instagram account, soon told her his account had been hacked and he needed help to fund a meet and greet with her in England.
Ms Nock, 44, who shares Brown's love of animals, insists she's no 'fool', but was tricked into believing she was talking to her idol and has been left with psychological distress and in financial ruin from the two-and-a-half year romance hoax.
The voluntary English and drama teacher claims disability benefit after injuries from a car crash left her unable to work.
'At first I asked if he had been hacked and the person replying said 'no' that he knew I was a fan and loved animals,' Ms Nock, from Huddersfield, said.
'I was chuffed that Chris Brown had messaged me, I'm a huge fan and hoped this might be our chance to meet.
'He soon suggested we speak on WhatsApp.
'After a few months I admit I was enamoured. He told me he loved me and wanted us to marry – of course I said no and asked if it was a scam. I called the number to verify but it did not allow incoming calls.
'Then I got a video call with him from another number on encrypted phone messaging platform Telegram where he said 'I hope this now clears your doubts.''
Contact began when the impostor suggested a meet and greet in England costing $4000 in 2022.
She was asked for monthly payments of $400 over two-and-a-half years through bitcoin, team cards and crypto information.
Ms Nock receives $1246 a month in pensions, of which $831 pays rent to her parents and the remaining $400 she paid to the scammers.
She later received a message allegedly from his 'management' saying he had been kidnapped in Australia and needed $40 million.
'I said I didn't have that kind of cash. I cut contact,' she said.
The impostor persisted through AI-generated images and video calls that showed the veterinarian filming in Africa and in TV studios as 'proof'.
'I was vulnerable and wanted to believe we could be friends, we both love animals, I had lost my partner in a car crash a few years ago,' she said.
Ms Nock has filed a criminal complaint against the scammer with UK police.
'I want Chris to know people operating as him are scamming people,' she said.
'I'm paying off a big credit card debt and suffer from depression. I'm no fool, I just fell for the cleverness of AI.'
Chris Brown has been contacted for comment.
Originally published as Scammers posing as Chris Brown tricked woman into handing over $22,800
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