Online emotional scams are on the rise, with scammers exploiting victims' emotions to persuade them into fake relationships and then steal their money.
As Valentine's Day approaches, dating app users become more active, making the likelihood of being exposed to these scams greater than ever.
Scammers use popular dating apps to find their victims, then persuade them to buy fake cryptocurrency or invest in bogus projects.
How does emotional manipulation work?
These processes rely on certain recurring psychological tricks, most notably:
Creating a fake profile: The scammer appears attractive and trustworthy on the dating app, often with AI-generated or stolen photos, accompanied by convincing personal information.
Moving the conversation outside the app: The scammer pressures the victim to move to WhatsApp or Telegram under the pretext of privacy or convenience. This step reduces security and reveals more personal information about the victim.
Financial or investment requests: After building trust, the scammer begins requesting money under various pretexts (travel problems, family emergencies, or banking issues), or through fictitious investments, often in cryptocurrencies. This is presented as a shared profit opportunity rather than a direct request for money, making the scam more convincing.
The impact of artificial intelligence
Artificial intelligence has increased the power of these operations, enabling fraudsters to:
Automatically create profile pictures and emotional conversations.
Generating fake video and audio clips (Deepfake) to convince the victim that a real person exists.
Managing multiple conversations with different victims efficiently and with minimal effort.
Even video calls are no longer guaranteed to be secure, as fraudsters can easily fake them using simple tools to clone voice or face.
How do you protect yourself?
To deal safely with emotional manipulation, the following tips can be followed:
Take your time before getting involved in the relationship: Give yourself time to notice any inconsistencies or suspicious behavior.
Stay on the original platform: Don't switch too quickly to other apps, this is a warning sign.
Verify identity: Use reverse image search and make sure the person is present on multiple platforms.
Beware of requests for money or investment: Any invitation to trade cryptocurrencies or make financial investments before meeting the person in person should be treated as an immediate warning.
Avoid sending intimate personal photos: they could quickly turn into financial blackmail.
Report fraud quickly: Contact the bank and inform the relevant authorities to minimize losses and help dismantle criminal networks.
It's worth noting that emotional scammers are adept at appearing trustworthy, so don't rely on your feelings alone. Thorough verification, patience, and protecting your personal information are your best defenses.
The report was prepared by Tony Gunn, Professor of Information Technology and Director of the Centre for Research and Improvement of Artificial Intelligence (AIRO), Torrens University, Australia.
