Romance scams increase during Valentine's Day. These days, with the help of AI, scammers have become so sophisticated that it's increasingly difficult to distinguish between genuine and fake users.

It's important to be alert to avoid online romance scams.

Valentine's Day is approaching. If you're planning an online date, be wary of romance scams. Cybersecurity experts say that during this time of love, scammers are using AI to lure people into scams in the name of romance and relationships. AI has not only increased its numbers, but people are also finding it increasingly difficult to distinguish between real and fake. 

This is how AI is being used in romance scams.

With the help of AI, scammers now send messages tailored to the target's tone and interests. There are many text-generation tools available that can accurately copy your language and emotions, making chatting appear natural and responsive. Voice cloning is also posing a significant problem. In this, a short audio sample can be used to recreate a person's voice and then use it for sending voice notes or calling. Similarly, deepfake videos have also emerged as a major threat.

How to identify a romance scam?

Cybersecurity experts say romance scams follow a similar pattern. They begin with friendly messages or dating apps. The recipient typically claims to be living in another city for a job. Their profiles appear perfect, and a friendship quickly develops with emotional messages. When asked to meet, they often avoid the opportunity, and eventually, the conversation veers toward money and investments.

How to avoid such scams?

• If someone is showing haste in developing friendship, then be cautious and do not get influenced by their emotional talks.
• Meet the person in front and verify his/her identity.
• If someone asks you to meet on a video call, ask them to turn their head completely or wave a hand in front of their face during the call. These methods can help identify if the video is a deepfake.
• Do not send money to anyone you have not met in person.