A Southern California woman claims she was scammed for more than $80,000 through fake AI-generated videos of General Hospital star Steve Burton.
Nearly a year ago, Abigail Ruvalcaba said she started communicating online and through video messages with a man she thought was Burton, 55.
“I thought I was in love,” she told KTLA on Wednesday, August 27. “I thought we were going to have a good life together.”
The videos being sent to Abigail, however, were deepfake videos created by an alleged scammer who used AI to steal Burton’s voice and likeness.
“I love you so much darling. I had to make this video to make you happy my love,” one of the AI videos stated via KABC. “I hope this puts a smile on your heart. Know that nothing will ever make me hurt you or lie to you my queen.”
To this day, Abigail still can’t believe how real and authentic the videos appeared to be.
“To me, it looks real, even now. I don’t know anything about AI,” she told KTLA. “I feel stupid, taken. Why is somebody asking me for money? I feel like a dummy. I was in a fantasy world, obviously.”
Abigail’s daughter, Vivian Ruvalcaba, said she discovered the alleged scam nearly four months after it began. Now, she is on a mission to help her mom get justice.
“In October 2024, while battling severe Bipolar 1 Disorder, my mom met a man online who claimed to love her,” Vivian wrote in a GoFundMe launched to provide financial support to Abigail. “Over time, he manipulated her emotionally and financially, scamming her out of $81,000. When she couldn’t give him more, he groomed her into selling her home so she could send him $70,000 more.”
According to Abigail, she sent the alleged scammer money in cash, checks, Zelle and Bitcoin.
After giving away her life savings, Abigail agreed to sell her family’s condo for $350,000.
“[My mom] argued with me, saying, ‘No, how are you telling me this is AI if it sounds like him? That’s his face, that’s his voice, I watch him on television all the time,’” Vivian recalled. “It happened so quickly, within less than three weeks. The sale of the home was done. It was over with.”
In a separate interview with KABC, Vivian wondered what would have happened if she hadn’t stepped in when she did.
“Had I not intervened when I did, she was scheduled to send the scammer $70,000,” Vivian explained. “She’s ashamed and to put that stress on me, on herself, on my dad, the entire family? I know it weighs heavily on her.”
According to ABC News, the Los Angeles Police Department is investigating the Ruvalcaba family’s claims.
As for the real Burton, he assures fans that he never asks viewers for money.
“First of all, I don’t need your money. I would never ask for money,” he told KABC. “I see people come to my appearances and look at me like they’ve had a relationship online for a couple of years. I’m like, ‘No, I’m sorry. I don’t know who you are.’ It’s so sad. You see the devastation.”
Us Weekly has reached out to Burton’s manager for additional comment.
