ABC Star Pulled Into $350K Scam That Left Fan With Nothing
In just a matter of weeks, one devoted fan’s entire world was turned upside down. A relationship she believed was real led to the loss of her life savings, the sale of her home, and the looming possibility of eviction. What began as excitement soon turned into heartbreak, exposing the darker side of technology and the cruel ways criminals manipulate trust.
For longtime viewers of ABC’s General Hospital, the stars of the show feel like family. The soap opera has been airing for more than sixty years, giving audiences daily glimpses into the lives of characters like Luke and Laura Spencer, Sonny Corinthos, and the Quartermaine family.
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Fans have followed them through decades of drama, romance, and betrayals, forming bonds so strong that the actors behind the roles often feel like close companions.
That devotion, however, can also leave fans open to deception in ways they never could have imagined.
Abigail Ruvalcaba was one of those devoted fans. More than a year ago, she received a message that appeared to be from Steve Burton, the actor who has portrayed Jason Morgan for over thirty years. The communication felt special, and as the conversations continued, it blossomed into what she believed was love. “I thought I was in love. I thought we were going to have a good life together,” she said.
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The reality, however, was far from the dream she imagined. According to KTLA5, the videos and messages she thought were coming from Burton were AI-generated, designed to look and sound like him. Once she was emotionally invested in the relationship, the scammer began asking for money.
Believing she was helping someone she cared deeply about, Ruvalcaba sent over $81,000 in cash. “And then checks and Zelle and Bitcoin, it was everything,” she explained.
The scam escalated quickly. After more than a year of slow-building trust, everything unraveled in just three weeks. Convinced by the fake relationship, Ruvalcaba agreed to sell her family’s condo for $350,000 and hand over the proceeds to the scammer. What she thought was a fresh start with someone she loved became the devastating loss of everything she had.
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Her daughter Vivian, who has Power of Attorney due to her mother’s severe bipolar disorder, was horrified when she discovered what had happened. She explained that her mother clung to the AI-generated videos as “proof” the relationship was real, even when faced with evidence to the contrary.
In one message, the scammer promised, “The beach house is something we will love, baby.” Another message offered encouragement about the condo sale: “If selling the place is what will give us a fresh start and bring us closer to where we both want to be, then I am behind you.”
Despite Vivian’s swift actions, the condo was already gone. It had been sold and flipped to a new buyer. When she approached them with her mother’s medical documents, the new owners offered to sell it back for $100,000 more than they had paid. It was a price the family simply could not afford.
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Now, with an eviction scheduled for September 3, the family is fighting desperately to hold onto what little stability they have left.
The ordeal has been made even harder by the knowledge that Steve Burton himself has long warned fans about scams using his name. He has clarified on several occasions that if he ever communicates directly, it would only be through his verified Instagram account. He has also emphasized that neither he nor anyone claiming to represent him would ever ask for money.
Still, with the rise of artificial intelligence, scammers have become more sophisticated than ever, creating convincing video and audio clips to deceive their victims.
Vivian has refused to give up hope. She and her mother are preparing to sue the companies involved in the condo’s sale, arguing that the transaction should be null and void since her mother was not legally capable of making those decisions. Their attorney is working to halt the eviction, and Vivian has also launched a GoFundMe campaign in the hope of raising money to help her mother rebuild after losing everything.
The case has drawn attention not only because of its heartbreaking details, but also because it highlights the dangers of AI scams. The FBI has issued warnings about romance scams in particular, advising people to never send money to someone they have only met online or over the phone. They urge individuals to be cautious if a new online connection pushes to move the conversation off public platforms, avoid sending private photos to strangers, and be wary of excuses about why someone cannot meet in person.
Have you ever been approached by someone pretending to be a celebrity online? Do you think scams like these will become even harder to spot as AI grows more advanced? And how should law enforcement and financial institutions step in to stop them before more families face tragedies like this? Share your thoughts with us in the comments below.
