wire / 2026-08-16-629c
Changsha student used AI face-video deepfakes to bypass payment app facial recognition and steal 50,000 yuan
A university student in Changsha bought a face-forgery kit online and walked it straight into other people's bank accounts. The exploit netted 50,000 yuan and a prison sentence.
The facts
A university student in Changsha, China, used AI-generated dynamic face videos to bypass facial recognition on payment platforms, enabling theft of over 50,000 yuan from victims' bank accounts. The scheme involved purchasing AI face forgery tools online and collaborating with fraud and money laundering groups. The perpetrator was sentenced to prison.