V-Day: Falling in love with someone online? Here's how to avoid getting scammed

As Valentinersquos Day approaches love is in the air ndash and so are scams As millions turn to dating apps social media and messaging platforms to find love a new McAfee India research reveals an alarming rise in AIdriven romance scams fraudulent dating apps and deepfake deception ndash making it harder than ever for hopeful romantics to tell the difference between true love and a digital conThe rise of the AIpowered fauxmanceWhile online dating has become a popular method for meeting potential romantic partners the rise of artificial intelligence AI in this realm has brought about new challenges61 per cent think itrsquos possible for people to develop romantic feelings for an AI chatbot Approximately half 51 per cent reported that they or someone they know have been approached by an AI chatbot posing as a real person on a dating platform or social media This has raised concerns about emotional vulnerabilities with 3837 believing that forming an emotional bond with an AI chatbot increases susceptibility to scamsOnline dating has indeed revolutionised our approach to forging connections with potential partners However our survey highlights that it comes with its own set of challenges 84 per cent of Indians say online dating scams including deepfake audio video and imagery and text and email scam messages have impacted their ability to trust potential matches As we navigate the complexities of the digital age its crucial to remain vigilant and continually educate ourselves about the everevolving online scamsrdquo highlights Pratim Mukherjee senior director of engineering McAfeeThe online romance boomIn todays digital dating scene Indians prefer social media platforms over dating apps or websites to connect with potential romantic partners with Instagram 85 per cent leading followed by Snapchat 46 per cent WhatsApp 55 per cent and Telegram 50 per cent Among dating apps Tinder 61 per cent is the most popular followed by Facebook dating 36 per cent Bumble 33 per cent and Match 23 per cent As more people search for love online the risk of scams rises with scammers using fake profiles and AIdriven deceptions to target unsuspecting online love seekersScammers impersonating famous personalitiesSocial media has become a common platform for scams involving impersonation of celebrities or wellknown figures 42 per cent of individuals reported that they or someone they know has been approached on social media by someone claiming to be a celebrity or a wellknown figure These impersonators often engage targets through fanbased interactions creating a sense of authenticity and trustThe impact of falling for such a ldquocelebrityrdquo scam can be severe Of those who fell for it or knew someone who did 47 per cent experienced financial loss 48 per cent lost personal information leading to potential identity theft and 56 per cent experienced emotional distress Many have faced scams where they were offered fake chances to meet or collaborate romantic interest expensive giveaways and VIP passesOnline romance scamiverseReal vs whatrsquos fake69 per cent of Indians say theyrsquove come across ldquofake profilesrdquo andor photos that look AIgenerated on dating websites or apps or on social media This includes 34 per cent whorsquove seen these on mainstream dating platforms for example Tinder Bumble OkCupid Match Hinge Happn 5437 on social media platforms for example Facebook Instagram X Twitter 21 per cent on specialised dating platforms for example Facebook Dating Bumble 15 per cent on chat forums or communities for example Reddit Quora various gaming platforms and 12 per cent on professional networking platforms like LinkedIn While 34 per cent have had the misfortune of interacting with a scammer disguised as a romantic prospect 28 per cent of individuals found themselves conversing with what they believed was a potential love interest only to later discover it was an AIgenerated botFinancial lossA significant 70 per cent of people have either been scammed out of money valuables other assets or been pressured to buy gifts or send money by someone they met online These scams are not limited to one platform they are prevalent across social media 42 per cent dating apps 19 per cent and text or email 19 per centVictims were scammed or asked for an average of Rs 364939 with 32 per cent unable to recover their losses highlighting the financial risks of online interactions and the need for vigilanceHow to stay safe while looking for love onlineWith online romance scams on the rise McAfee urges daters to be extra cautious and offers the following advice1 Question toogoodtobetrue matches ndash If someone avoids video calls moves conversations offplatform quickly or declares love too soon proceed with caution2 Verify their identity ndash Reverse image search profile pictures and check social media activity to confirm if they are who they claim to be3 Protect personal information ndash Scammers use small details like birthdays or pet names to guess passwords and commit identity theft4 Never send money or gifts ndash No legitimate romantic partner should ever ask for financial assistance5 Use online protection tools ndash Tools like McAfee Scam Protection can detect and block suspicious messages phishing attempts and AIgenerated fraud in real time