A 22-year-old Indian medical student allegedly ran a lucrative online scam using an AI-generated female persona to target conservative American audiences, earning thousands of dollars before his account was taken down, according to a report by WIRED.
Identifying himself as "Sam", the aspiring orthopaedic surgeon said he turned to unconventional methods to fund his medical ambitions after struggling with the costs of licensing exams. Initial attempts such as creating YouTube Shorts and selling study notes failed to generate income.
His breakthrough came after consulting an AI chatbot, which advised him to focus on a niche audience. In January, he created "Emily Hart", a fictional blonde nurse resembling popular Hollywood actors and built a pro-Trump Instagram presence. The account featured AI-generated images paired with provocative, right-leaning captions on religion, immigration and gun rights.
The strategy quickly gained traction, with reels reportedly drawing millions of views and the account crossing 10,000 followers within weeks. Users were directed to subscription platforms, where Sam sold exclusive AI-generated content and MAGA-themed merchandise.
He claimed to spend under an hour daily while earning significant sums, calling it one of the easiest ways to make money online. The account was eventually banned in February.
Sam maintained he had no regrets and denied scamming users, stating they received what they paid for. He has since abandoned the venture and plans to focus on completing his medical studies.