Auckland Man Dies by Suicide After AI Persona Sextortion Scam

Summary

A 41-year-old Auckland man died by suicide in 2024 within hours of communicating online with someone calling herself Donna Chase. Police believe Donna Chase was an AI-generated persona operated by an overseas organised criminal network. After the man exchanged sexual messages and images, the account immediately threatened to send them to his contacts and demanded money through a bank transfer and prepaid Steam gift-card codes. A coroner said the sextortion was the primary relevant factor in his death, while noting that he was already under significant stress from bereavement, a relationship breakup, medical leave and financial problems. He had no significant history of mental-health problems or self-harm, but had sent farewell messages to family that morning. The case was the second sextortion-related suicide to reach New Zealand's Coroners Court that year, following the death of an 18-year-old who was threatened over intimate videos and asked for $5,000. Police and Netsafe advise victims not to pay or send more material, to preserve evidence, block the scammer, report the account, secure their social-media profiles and seek support.