What happened with the AI scam targeting the XRP community in Las Vegas?

Scammers used AI-generated profiles to target attendees at an XRP conference in Las Vegas. They posed as attractive women on social media to initiate contact and eventually attempt to steal crypto funds through romance scams.

How do these AI-powered crypto scams actually work?

The scam typically starts with friendly messages on platforms like X or Instagram, followed by building trust. Victims are then moved to private messaging apps and persuaded to send crypto or invest in fake platforms.

Why is the XRP community being targeted so often?

The XRP community is large, active, and highly engaged, making it an attractive target. Scammers exploit this openness and the likelihood that members are already familiar with crypto transactions.

What role does AI play in these scams?

AI is used to generate realistic fake identities, including profile photos and sometimes even video interactions. This makes scams more convincing and harder to detect compared to traditional fraud.

Why were conference attendees specifically targeted?

Conference attendees are seen as high-value targets because they’ve already spent money on travel and tickets. This signals they may have more capital and be more engaged in the crypto space.

Has Ripple warned about these types of scams before?

Yes, Ripple has repeatedly warned users about scams, including fake accounts impersonating executives like Brad Garlinghouse and deepfake livestreams flagged by David Schwartz.

Who is most at risk from these crypto scams?

Older investors, particularly those over 60, have suffered the largest losses in recent years. However, anyone active in crypto communities can be targeted, especially those engaging with unknown contacts.

AI scam wave targets XRP community again

Q: How serious is crypto fraud globally right now?

Crypto fraud is a major issue, with the FBI reporting $11.4 billion in losses in 2024. Romance scams alone accounted for over $900 million, showing how effective these social engineering tactics remain.

Written by Heidi Cuthbert Published May. 4 2026Last Updated May. 4 2026

The XRP community has been hit by a new wave of AI-driven scams targeting attendees at a Las Vegas conference, following earlier impersonation incidents involving Brad Garlinghouse.

Fraudsters created fake AI-generated profiles posing as women to contact attendees via social media, attempting to initiate romance scams aimed at stealing crypto funds.

The scheme follows a familiar pattern where scammers build trust before moving conversations to private apps and encouraging victims to transfer funds or invest in fake platforms.

Ripple has repeatedly warned users about rising AI-powered fraud, with David Schwartz previously flagging fake accounts and deepfake livestream scams targeting token holders.

The Las Vegas conference, held at the Paris Las Vegas casino, attracted high-value participants, making it a prime target for attackers seeking financially capable victims.

Globally, crypto scams are escalating, with Hong Kong authorities recently uncovering a $46 million AI-driven fraud ring, while the Federal Bureau of Investigation reported $11.4 billion in crypto fraud losses in 2024.

Romance scams alone accounted for over $900 million in losses, with older investors among the hardest hit as cybercrime continues to scale.

The incident highlights how scammers are increasingly combining AI tools with social engineering, raising concerns that crypto communities will remain vulnerable without stronger safeguards and regulation.

At the time of reporting, XRP price was $1.39.