50-year-old woman loses $450,000 to AI-generated romance scam on TikTok and KakaoTalk involving Squid Game actor impersonation

Summary

A woman in her 50s in South Korea lost approximately 500 million won (S$450,000) in a romance scam involving AI-generated photos of "Squid Game" actor Lee Jung-jae. The scam began in April 2025 when she received a message on TikTok from someone claiming to be the actor. The impersonator moved the conversation to KakaoTalk and sent AI-generated selfies and a forged driver’s licence to appear credible. Over six months, the scammer manipulated the victim into transferring money under various pretexts, including arranging a private meeting with Lee. The Gyeongnam Provincial Police Agency is investigating the case and has identified possible links to cybercrime rings in Cambodia. Lee Jung-jae’s agency confirmed it is cooperating with authorities and warned fans not to respond to unsolicited requests for money.