PUTNAM COUNTY, Fla. — A woman in Putnam County believed she had found love with a Hollywood star. Instead, she lost more than $7,500 and her car, to a sophisticated romance scam. Now, her daughter is sharing her mother’s story with Anthony Austin as a warning to others.

Brandy Steedley says her mother was convinced she was in a relationship with actor Jason Momoa, known for his roles in Aquaman and Game of Thrones. But the man messaging her wasn’t the actor, it was a scammer.

“How much money did your mom lose?” asked Anthony Austin.

“Over $7,500,” Steedley responded. “Plus her car.”

Steedley said the scam started on Facebook and eventually moved to another messaging app. Once the so-called celebrity gained her mom’s trust, the requests for money began, mostly in the form of Bitcoin and CashApp.

Romance scams like this are becoming more common, and more costly, across Florida. According to the Federal Trade Commission, more than 42,000 romance scam reports were filed in 2023 alone, resulting in an estimated $823 million in losses nationwide.

Karen Murillo, advocacy manager for AARP Florida, says many scams now involve wire transfers, gift cards and cryptocurrency. 

“We’ve seen people across the state losing hundreds of thousands of dollars in a single transaction,” Murillo said. “Many of those have been connected with romance scams or confidence scams.”

Technology is helping scammers up their game. What used to be simple email hoaxes now involve convincing photos, fake social media profiles and even AI-generated videos.

“We used to say if they won’t get on video, that’s a surefire sign that it’s a scam,” Murillo explained. “Now, they’re able to clone faces.”

Steedley shared one of the AI-manipulated videos her mom received. In it, a real video of Jason Momoa is paired with a fake voice.

“Hey Diana, I want you to know I’m trying my best on my end to find the money,” the voice says. “Please, I’m hoping when you get your money payment, you can support me in any way… I love you so much.”

In another, the fake voice says, “Hi Diana my love, I’m sending this video to let you know how this $8,000 is frustrating me. I want you to know I love you and I miss you.”

Behind the charm, it was all a calculated con.

“I would suggest to other people out there, pay very close attention to any videos that you get,” Steedley warned. “As soon as they say anything about money, Bitcoin, crypto, or any random app…that’s a red flag.”

So, how can you protect yourself?

Experts say it’s crucial to be cautious online. Limit the personal information you share, verify the identity of anyone you meet digitally and never send money to someone you don’t know well. If you’re keeping the relationship a secret, ask yourself why. Transparency could be the key to stopping a scam before it starts.

For those who suspect they’ve been scammed, experts advise immediately reporting the incident to local law enforcement and the FTC.