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