The foundation representing Princess Leonor, the 20-year-old heir to the Spanish throne, is warning that scammers are using AI-generated videos of the princess posted on fake profile pages to trick social media users and steal their money.
The posts on TikTok feature "Leonor" promising users payouts that can reach thousands of dollars in exchange for a "fee" of a few hundred dollars. Once the "fee" is paid, the scammer typically makes further demands before disappearing.
An investigation by El País newspaper in 2024 found that all the phone numbers used in the scam were from the Dominican Republic. Some videos had been viewed over a million times, the newspaper reported.
The foundation's website warns against the scam, stating: "The Foundation does not have programs offering financial aid, subsidies for projects, lotteries or other financial operations in favor of individual citizens."
Similarly, Princess Leonor does not offer financial aid through the Foundation, and any messages or profiles that claim otherwise are false."
TikTok's rules state that the platform "does not allow accounts that deceive or attempt to manipulate our platform, as well as services that artificially increase engagement... including behavior such as undercover operations or impersonation."
However, El País reported that every time TikTok was reported about the theft of Princess Leonor's identity, which was first discovered in December 2024, it received the same response: "We have determined that the reported content does not violate our regulations."
Leonor is the elder daughter of King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia. Since Felipe became king upon his father's abdication in 2014, Leonor has received the full title of Heiress to the Throne - Princess of Asturias, Princess of Girona, Princess of Viana, Duchess of Montblanc, Countess of Cervera, and Lady of Balaguer.
If she becomes queen, Leonor will be the first female monarch of Spain since Isabella II, who reigned from 1833 to 1868, and is the only queen who has ruled a united Spain in her own right, rather than through marriage.
Leonor has received an international baccalaureate education in Glomorgan, Wales, and is currently completing a three-year military training program to prepare for her role as Commander-in-Chief.
