AI Impersonation Scam Costs Woman $81,000 After Fake Steve Burton Videos
Hi, I’m Quinn Parker—your favorite over-caffeinated aunt with more thoughts than a daytime soap opera plot twist—and let me tell you, this one is going to make you drop your latte. You know those fake videos you hear about online? The ones that look real but are actually AI-generated? Well, someone used them to scam a woman out of over $81,000, and it involved none other than General Hospital star Steve Burton. Yep, you read that right.
Abigail Ruvalcaba, a woman with bipolar disorder, was deep in a manic episode when she started receiving AI-generated videos of Steve Burton telling her he loved her, asking for help, and claiming he’d lost property in the California wildfires. According to a police report obtained by Good Morning America, she believed every word. And it cost her—big time.
We’re talking over $81,000 in prepaid gift cards, cash, and even Bitcoin. And if that wasn’t enough, she sold her condo for $350,000 to send more money to the scammer. Her daughter Vivian told KABC she was “sickened” by how far things went and questioned why she didn’t notice the signs sooner. “In her head, there was no scammer,” Vivian said. “She was talking to Steve Burton the entire time.”
Imagine thinking you’re in a real relationship with a celebrity—only to find out it was all a scam. One of the AI-generated videos showed “Steve” in a car, saying, “Hello, Abigail, I love you so much, darling. I had to make this video to make you happy, my love.” Heartwarming? Sure. Real? Absolutely not.
And get this—Burton himself has been dealing with this kind of thing for a while. He told KABC that hundreds of people have reached out to him after falling for similar scams. “I see people come to my appearances and look at me like they’ve had a relationship online for a couple of years,” he said. “I’m like, ‘No. I’m sorry, I don’t know who you are.’ It’s so sad. You see the devastation.”
The actor, who married longtime love Michelle Lundstrom earlier this year, urged fans not to fall for these tricks. “I don’t need your money,” he emphasized. “I would never ask for money.”
Abigail’s family is now dealing with the aftermath. She’s in massive debt and may have to file for bankruptcy. Vivian said her mom is ashamed and carrying the emotional weight of what happened. “She’s ashamed. I know she is,” Vivian said. “To put that stress on me, on herself, on my dad, the entire family, I know it weighs heavy on her.”
This isn’t just a cautionary tale about AI—it’s a reminder of how vulnerable people can be, especially during mental health episodes. And with AI technology getting more sophisticated every day, we all need to be on high alert.
Whew! That was a LOT to process!
Sources: Celebrity Storm and Good Morning America, KABC, E! News
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