Woman conned out of life savings by scammers using AI to pose as ‘General Hospital’ star

Has artificial intelligence become so good and so advanced that you can no longer tell what is real and what is fake? One South Los Angeles family thinks we’ve reached that point.

“I’m sickened by it because it went this far,” Vivian Ruvalcaba told 7 On Your Side Investigates. “Why didn’t I know this? Why didn’t I see what was happening? What did I miss?”

Ruvalcaba wishes she had known sooner what her mother, Abigail, was doing online. Abigail had been texting a scammer who was sending her deepfake videos, pretending to be “General Hospital” star Steve Burton.

Burton has played the leading role of “Jason Morgan” since 1991 and is a fan favorite.

Ruvalcaba was able to save one of the videos the scammer sent her mother. 7 On Your Side Investigates showed the video to AI experts, and they agreed the video was likely made with AI software that cloned Burton’s voice and image.

The scammer was able to make a video where a dead ringer for Burton says, “Hello, Abigail. I love you so much, darling. I had to make this video to make you happy, my love.”

After Abigail started receiving the videos on Facebook Messenger in October of last year, she thought the real “General Hospital” star was in love with her.

The scammer moved the conversation over to WhatsApp, where he told Abigail, “I want to live the rest of my life with you,” and, “‘Steve Burton and Abigail Burton’ sounds like a dream come true.”

“In her head, there was no scammer,” Ruvalcaba said. “She was talking to Steve Burton the entire time.”

Ruvalcaba says her mother has suffered from mental illness and Bipolar 1 Disorder for years. She says that’s why, when the scammer posing as the soap star texted her mom that he lost properties in the L.A. fires, Abigail believed it.

Abigail was also fooled with texts like, “The beach house is something we will love, baby.”

Thinking Burton needed money so they could buy a home to share together, Abigail, according to a Los Angeles Police Department incident report, sent the scammer at least $81,304 in gift cards, cash and bitcoin.

“Now she’s in complete debt, and now she’s going to have to file for bankruptcy,” Ruvalcaba said.

Still, it gets worse. Earlier this year, Abigail texted the scammer, “I remember you had suggested to sell this place. I said no. Now I don’t care.”

The scammer replied, “If selling the place is what will give us a fresh start and bring us closer to where we both want to be, then I am behind you.”

Ruvalcaba learned of all of this right in the nick of time.

“Had I not intervened when I did, she was scheduled to send the scammer $70,000 out of that money that was sitting there,” Ruvalcaba said. “She’s ashamed. I know she is, and to put that stress on me, on herself, on my dad, the entire family, I know it weighs heavy on her.”

Unfortunately, the real-life Burton has heard stories like this before.

7 On Your Side Investigates asked the actor how many women he knows of who have been duped by scammers pretending to be him.

“That I know of who have lost money, it’s in the hundreds. It’s in the hundreds,” Burton said.

Burton says on his verified Instagram account, he sees scammers responding to fan comments to lure them to other pages, where they are eventually asked for money.

“First of all, I don’t need your money,” Burton said. “I would never ask for money.”

Eyewitness News also showed him the video that duped Abigail.

“Sounds like my voice for sure, 100%,” the soap star said.

Burton says this style of scam is an epidemic.

“I see people come to my appearances and look at me like they’ve had a relationship online for a couple years, and I’m like, ‘No, I’m sorry. I don’t know who you are,’ and you just see, It’s so sad, you see the devastation,” Burton said.

Ruvalcaba says she is her mother’s power of attorney, and shared their story because they want to alert the public about just how good AI technology is becoming. They also wanted to share their story as a reminder to know what your loved ones are doing online.

She and Abigail have filed a lawsuit to try and reverse the home sale.

Their attorney argues that Abigail cannot tell fact from fiction, so she doesn’t have the mental capacity to execute a contract like a home sale.

The attorney for those who bought the home strongly disagrees that she lacked capacity to contract and says the evidence is clearly on their side. It will all have to be decided in a court of law.

A GoFundMe page has been created to help Abigail and Vivian Ruvalcaba with legal fees. To donate, click here.