By Jackson Godwin. Cybersecurity Analyst & Penetration Tester.

Something About the Video Calls Felt Different

After several weeks of talking, I became comfortable with our routine.

We exchanged messages every day.

We had short video calls every few days.

On the surface, everything seemed normal.

But when I looked back carefully, I realised every call followed almost the same pattern.

She always controlled:

• When the call started.
• How long it lasted.
• When it ended.

The conversations were never spontaneous.

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The Camera Was Always at the Same Angle

During every video call, I noticed something unusual.

The camera never moved very much.

Her face stayed almost perfectly centred.

She rarely turned her head completely to one side.

If I asked her to show me something around the room, she would smile and say:

“Maybe next time.”

At the time, I thought she simply valued her privacy.

Now I know there may have been another reason.

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Small Glitches Started Appearing

As our conversations continued, I noticed tiny visual glitches.

Sometimes:

• Her smile seemed to freeze for a split second.
• The movement of her lips didn’t perfectly match her voice.
• Parts of her hair briefly appeared blurred.
• Her face looked slightly distorted when the internet connection slowed.

Each glitch lasted only a moment.

I blamed the network.

I never considered artificial intelligence.

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She Always Avoided Unexpected Requests

One evening, I decided to do something spontaneous.

I smiled and said,

“Can you wave with both hands?”

She laughed.

Then changed the subject.

Another time I asked,

“Can you turn your camera toward the window for a second?”

Again, she avoided the request.

Instead, she continued talking as though she hadn’t heard me.

Looking back, she seemed comfortable with prepared conversations—but not unexpected actions.

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Then the Investment Opportunity Became Serious

After months of building trust, she introduced an investment platform.

She claimed several friends had already made impressive profits.

She said:

“I’m not asking you to send money to me.”

“You’re investing in yourself.”

Because I believed I had already verified her identity through video calls, I trusted her recommendation.

That trust became my biggest mistake.

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One Conversation Changed Everything

A few days later, I mentioned the relationship to a colleague who worked in cybersecurity.

When I described the strange video calls, he asked me an unexpected question.

“Did you ever notice whether the face looked slightly unnatural during moments of poor internet?”

I immediately remembered the small glitches.

The frozen smile.

The delayed lip movements.

The blurred edges around her face.

He then explained that criminals have begun experimenting with AI-generated or manipulated video in some scams.

Not every unusual video call involves a deepfake—but unusual visual behaviour combined with other warning signs should encourage careful verification.

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I Decided to Test the Next Call

During our next conversation, I politely asked her to do something completely random.

“Can you pick up a spoon and hold it beside your face?”

There was a long pause.

She smiled awkwardly.

Then the video suddenly froze.

A few seconds later, the call disconnected.

She immediately sent a message.

“The internet crashed. Let’s talk later.”

That was the moment I stopped trusting what I saw on the screen.

In the final part of this story, I’ll explain how I uncovered the scam, discuss the warning signs of AI-assisted romance fraud, and share practical ways to verify someone’s identity without relying on appearances alone.

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Continue Reading: The Romance Scammer Who Used Deepfake Videos (Part 3)