Artificial intelligence is fueling romance scams. Here’s how

https://www.gulfcoastnewsnow.com/article/ai-romance-scams-deepfake/70315255

Publish Date: 2026-02-12 14:00:00

Here are five key points from the article on online dating scams using AI:

– In 2024, Americans lost over $672 million due to romance scams, with AI making these scams more widespread.

– One in four Americans report encountering fake profiles or AI chatbots, while one in seven lost money through online dating scams, according to McAfee.

– Men are more likely to encounter romance scams, with one in five reporting weekly encounters.

– Scammers build trust through mirroring the victim’s interests and stories, before asking for money through hard-to-recover methods.

– To identify scams, look for changes in writing style, suspicious photos, and unusual behavior in video calls, while prioritizing caution if someone you’ve never met asks for money.