AI Love You This Valentine's Day

Uploaded on 2025-02-12 in TECHNOLOGY-Key Areas-Artificial Intelligence, NEWS-Cybersecurity News, FREE TO VIEW

In a prescient 2013 Hollywood movie 'Her' set in the near future and starring Scarlett Johannsen, a lonely writer develops an unlikely relationship with an operating system designed to meet his every need.

Fast forward to 2025 and new research reveals AI, deepfakes, and emerging relationship scams are changing the game for online daters - from texts to Tinder and beyond.

Now, this survey carried out by leading cybersecurity firm McAfee focused on the topic of romance scams and the impact of these scams on consumers, was conducted online amongst 1,000 adults in the UK, age 18+.

The results are startling:-

Over a third (39%) of Brits have been scammed out of money or pressured to send money or gifts by someone they met online.

More than one in four (27%) have been approached on social media by someone posing as a celebrity or well-known figure.

Amongst those who fell for a “celebrity” scam, almost a third (30%) lost money, over a quarter (22%) had their personal information stolen, and people who lost money reported an average loss of £3,290.

McAfee blocked over 321,500 romance-related scam URLs in just seven weeks, signalling a surge in online dating scams ahead of Valentine’s Day – an average of more than 6,000 scam links per day.

Online dating has never been more popular; almost two thirds (63%) of people say they have used dating apps, social media, or messaging platforms to meet potential partners. Men (26%) are more likely than women (17%) to be actively dating online.

Younger users are the most active online daters, with over two thirds (70%) of people 18-24 using Tinder and platforms like Snapchat (25%) and TikTok (22%) becoming increasingly popular for dating. But with more people looking for love online, there’s also more risk of scams, as scammers are target unsuspecting online love-seekers with fake profiles and AI-driven deceptions.

AI-Powered Fauxmance

“Technology has revolutionised communication by enabling instant connections across the globe, fostering deeper relationships and collaboration regardless of physical distance - but unfortunately, it's also transforming the way scammers operate," said Vonny Gamot, Head of EMEA at McAfee.

“Nearly one in five people (17%) say they or someone they know has been approached by an AI chatbot posing as a real person on a dating app or social media, and an alarming three in four people (74%) believe scammers could easily use AI to fake romantic relationships and manipulate victims financially or emotionally. As AI-powered scams become more convincing, it’s more important than ever for people to stay vigilant and protect themselves online.”

This concern is well-founded founded as almost half (46%) of Brits believe it's possible to develop romantic feelings for an AI chatbot. As technology reshapes relationships in unexpected ways, it also creates new opportunities for fraud.

In one case, a cybersecurity professional in his thirties, thought he had made a real connection with someone he met in a group chat: “We met in a group chat and really hit it off. After exchanging numbers, we started texting and getting to know each other.” That trust was shattered when she asked for money. “Looking back, a lot of her messages were generic and didn’t feel personal...

That’s when it hit me - there was a real chance I wasn’t even talking to a person.” the victim said.

But scammers aren’t just using random AI-generated personas—they’re preying on trust and admiration for famous figures. Concern over deepfake deception in romance scams is rising fast, and for good reason. Over a quarter (27%) of people have been approached on social media by someone pretending to be a celebrity. Among those who fell for a “celebrity” scam, almost a third (30%) lost money, at an average of nearly £3,290 per victim.

Romance scams aren’t just happening on dating apps, they’re also playing out across social media, messaging platforms, and through fraudulent websites designed to mimic legitimate dating services.

Dating apps (74%) are the place people most frequently encounter potential romance scams, followed closely by social media (64%), and text or email scams (56%). This is particularly challenging when scammers go beyond posing as potential partners and create fake dating platforms to steal personal and financial data. McAfee researchers identified nearly 11,000 attempts to download fraudulent dating apps, with Tinder and OKCupid accounting for 84% of dating app impersonations.

The Price Of Love

Beyond fake profiles and AI-driven deception, scammers are targeting people’s wallets. Over a third (39%) of people have either been scammed out of money, valuables, or pressured to send gifts by someone they met online.

Financial scams disguised as romantic relationships, have become increasingly common.

In one such case, a 25-year-old programmer, thought she had found love online: “Before I knew it, we were talking every day, and I truly believed I had found someone I could trust.” That trust was shattered when he asked for money.“I ignored my gut feeling and sent the money. I sent him $1,200, and then he disappeared.”

"When I reported the scam, the police told me his images were AI-generated. He wasn’t even a real person. That was the scariest part - I had trusted someone who never even existed.”

McAfee advises for would-be daters to be extra cautious and offers the following advice:

Question too-good-to-be-true matches – If someone avoids video calls, moves conversations off-platform quickly, or declares love too soon, proceed with caution.

Verify their identity – Reverse image search profile pictures and check social media activity to confirm if they are who they claim to be.

Protect personal information – Scammers use small details like birthdays or pet names to guess passwords and commit identity theft.

Never send money or gifts – No legitimate romantic partner should ever ask for financial assistance.

Ironically, Scarlett Johansson herself has complained of being a victim of AI technology, when in 2024, she said that she was "shocked" and "angered" after OpenAI allegedly recreated her voice without her consent for a new ChatGPT system.

OpenAI said the voice came from another actor who they hired who is speaking in their normal speaking voice, although they declined to share the actor’s name, citing 'privacy concerns'.

Image: Ideogram

You Might Also Read:

FBI Seizes $112m From 'CryptoRom' Criminals:

If you like this website and use the comprehensive 7,000-plus service supplier Directory, you can get unrestricted access, including the exclusive in-depth Directors Report series, by signing up for a Premium Subscription.