South Los Angeles (KABC) – Artificial intelligence has become so much better and so advanced that we no longer know what is real and what is fake? One South Los Angeles family believes we have reached that point.
“I've come this far, so I'm tired of it,” Vivian Ruvalcaba told seven surveys on your side. “Why didn't I know this? Why didn't I know what was going on? What do I miss?”
Luvalkaba hopes he knew earlier what his mother, Abigail, was doing online. Abigail was texting the con man who was sending her deep-fark videos, pretending to be “General Hospital” star Steve Burton.
I've come this far, so I'm tired of it
Burton has been a major role in “Jason Morgan” since 1991 and is a fan favorite.
Ruvalcaba was able to save one of the videos the scammer sent to his mother. 7 On your side the investigation showed the video to AI experts and they agreed that it was likely that the video was made with AI software that cloned Burton's voice and images.
The con man said that Burton's dead Ringer said, “Hello, Abigail. I love you so much, darling. I had to make this video to make you happy, I had to make my love.”
After Abigail began receiving videos on Facebook Messenger last October, she thought the real “general hospital” star was in love with her.
The con man moved the conversation to WhatsApp, where he told Abigail, “I want to live the rest of my life and the rest of my life.”
“There were no con artists on her head,” Rubalkaba said. “She was talking to Steve Burton the whole time.”
Ruvalkaba says his mother has been suffering from mental illness and bipolar 1 disorder for many years. She says that when a con man pretending to be a soap star texted her mother that he had lost his property in La Fires, Abigail said he believed it.
Abigail was also fooled by texts such as “Beach House is what we love, baby.”
According to a case report from the Los Angeles Police Department, Abigail needed money to buy a house to share together, so Abigail sent at least $81,304 in gift cards, cash and Bitcoin.
“Now she's in full debt and now she'll have to file for bankruptcy,” Luvalkaba said.
Still, that gets worse. Earlier this year, Abigail recalls the con artists, “I remember suggesting I sell this place. I don't care now.”
Now she has full debt and now she needs to file for bankruptcy
The con man replied, “If selling the place gives us a fresh start and brings us closer to where we both want, if I'm behind you.”
Abigail then sold the Harbor City condo for $350,000.
Ruvalcaba learned all this rights at Nick of Time.
“If I didn't intervene when I did, she would send $70,000 to the scammers out of the money she was sitting there,” Luvalkaba said. “She's embarrassing. I know she is and I know that the stress is to myself, my dad, my whole family, I know it will be heavy on her.”
Unfortunately, the actual Burton has heard this before.
7 The investigation on your side asked the actor how many women he knows about who was fooled by the con artist pretending to him.
“It's hundreds of knowing who lost the money. It's hundreds,” Burton said.
Burton says he's seen scammers who respond to fan comments and seduce other pages on their verified Instagram accounts, ultimately being asked for money.
“First of all, I don't need your money,” Burton said. “I never ask for money.”
Eyewitness News also showed him a video of him cheating on Abigail.
“It certainly sounds like my voice, 100%,” said the Soap Star.
Burton says this style of scam is trending.
It certainly sounds like my voice, 100%
“I see me like people have come to my appearance and have been building relationships online for several years. I think, 'No, sorry, I don't know who you are.'
Ruvalcaba shared their story because she says she is the power of her mother's lawyer and wants to warn the public about how better AI technology is. They also wanted to share their stories as reminders to find out what your loved one is doing online.
She and Abigail filed a lawsuit seeking to reverse home sales.
Their lawyers argue that she does not have the mental ability to carry out contracts like homesales, as Abigail cannot tell the facts from fiction.
The lawyers for those who bought the house strongly oppose her lack of contract ability, saying the evidence is clearly on their side. All of that must be decided in court.
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