A social media scheme using artificial intelligence to trick people out of money has claimed victims in Palm Beach County.
David Scarola is a Palm Beach Gardens-based professional photographer who has been in the craft for 13 years. He uses social media to promote his photos, but was recently locked out of both his personal and professional Facebook accounts.
“My Facebook identity has been overtaken, it’s invasive,” Scarola said.
WPTVScarola reached out to WPTV for help with a scheme that made his friends victims. The Facebook hackers used AI to pose as Scarola posting a fake ad on his page selling a car that does not exist.
“I have six people that I know who have given money,” Scarola said.
He estimates his friends have lost a total of $4,500 from the post. One of the victims sent $800 to the hacker in hopes of buying the car for his teenage son.
Shawn Aubrey, a friend of Scarola’s, spoke to WPTV about his experience with the hacker. The hacker messaged Aubrey on Facebook telling her that he’s having trouble with the Facebook account and needs to send a code to three people.