Florida woman scammed by fake Keanu Reeves in AI-powered romance fraud
What began as a harmless online game spiralled into a high-tech deception that cost one woman her savings—and nearly her identity.
A Florida woman, Dianne Ringstaff, shared her painful story after falling victim to an elaborate online scam involving someone impersonating actor Keanu Reeves. The fraud began innocently when she received a message while playing a mobile game, followed by a video call confirming she was speaking with the Hollywood star.
The impostor cultivated a friendship through calls and messages for two and a half years, eventually gaining her trust. Things took a turn when the scammer began pleading for money, claiming Reeves was being sued and targeted by the FBI, which had supposedly frozen his assets.
Vulnerable after personal losses, Ringstaff was persuaded to help, ultimately taking out a home equity loan and selling her car. She sent around $160,000 in total, convinced she was aiding the beloved actor.
Authorities later informed her that not only had she been scammed, but her bank account had been used to funnel money from other victims as well. Devastated, Ringstaff broke down—but is now determined to reclaim her life and raise awareness.
She is speaking out to warn others about the growing threat of AI-powered ‘romance’ scams, where fraudsters use deepfake videos and cloned voices to impersonate celebrities and gain victims’ trust.
‘Don’t be naive,’ she cautions. ‘Do your research and don’t give out personal information unless you truly know who you’re dealing with.’
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