Perth widow Maggie has shared her painful experience of being scammed out of tens of thousands of dollars by a con artist using the name 'Brian', as part of Scam Awareness Week. After moving to Australia from South Africa, Maggie turned to online dating, where she encountered Brian, who initially showered her with affection before soliciting funds under false pretenses. Despite red flags, including manipulated video calls and fabricated documents created with deepfake technology, Maggie continued to send him money to cover various expenses. Meanwhile, two other Western Australians lost over $1.4 million to romance scammers, highlighting a troubling trend in online fraud that has seen losses reach $2.9 million in 2024 alone. Authorities are urging the public to remain vigilant and cautious when engaging with potential partners online, especially when money is involved. As scammers increasingly utilize advanced technology to deceive victims, the importance of meeting in person and verifying identities is underscored.