The scam saw elaborate fake online personas created to build what appeared to be genuine romantic relationships with victims over a long period of time, before eventually requesting money.

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One victim was targeted on Instagram by someone posing as a Danish entrepreneur with the con artists using deepfake technology to make phone calls to the victim using a voice that matched photographs of the fake persona.

James Ashong, 40, of Burney Road in King's Lynn, was sentenced to 27 months in prison after being found to have laundered money connected to the fraud.

His bank account was used to help conceal £30,000 in fraudulent funds. He also spent a portion of the money on high-value designer goods and passed payments through multiple accounts to disguise their origin.

In total, more than £77,000 was confirmed to have been sent overseas as part of the money laundering operation.

The scam used AI deepfake to create online personas that eventually asked for money (Image: Newsquest)

Henry Nimo, 38, from Basingstoke, was also jailed for 27 months at Winchester Crown Court after being found to be a key part of the international network.

He set up a shell company, Henza Ltd, which carried out no legitimate business and was used to launder criminal proceeds.

Between 2020 and 2021, it was used to launder more than £120,000 connected to confirmed romance fraud victims in the UK, with the funds then sent overseas to contacts thought to be operating from Ghana.

Dan Culling, from Hampshire and Isle of Wight police economic crime unit, which led to investigation, said: "Ashong and Nimo, through their connection to a variety of scams and fraudulent activities, have knowingly cheated people out of hundreds of thousands of pounds and deserve to face justice for their crimes.

"Fraud can have a devastating impact on the victim, both financial and personal, and can destroy lives."

© Eastern Daily Press