Two men have been arrested and a third has been declared wanted in Tirana after allegedly defrauding a 70-year-old exchange-office owner of €100,000 using an AI-generated video call, according to Albanian authorities.

The suspects, identified as Brian Serica and Skerdi Meta, allegedly visited the victim’s business and showed him what appeared to be a live video call with prominent Tirana businessman Bashkim Ulaj, who was reportedly known to conduct currency transactions at the exchange.

According to the preliminary investigation, the person appearing in the video instructed the 70-year-old to hand over the money to the two men, claiming that the funds would be returned within a few hours.

When the money was not returned, the victim contacted Ulaj directly. The businessman denied making the call, prompting the exchange owner to realize that he had allegedly been deceived and report the incident to police.

Investigators subsequently reviewed security-camera footage and examined the circumstances surrounding the transaction. Authorities determined that the apparent video call had been created using artificial intelligence, according to the information reported by Albanian media.

Police arrested Serica and Meta in Tirana, while a third individual allegedly connected to the scheme has been declared wanted.

The case highlights the growing use of AI-generated or manipulated audiovisual content in fraud, allowing criminals to impersonate real people and make fabricated communications appear authentic.

Authorities are continuing the investigation to determine the full extent of the alleged scheme and identify any other individuals who may have been involved.