AI is being used by scammers to fabricate dating profiles and trick lonely people into falling into risky traps, making it difficult for many to distinguish what is true.#Minnesota #News #St. Paul, Minnesota #Crime
Online dating is being dominated by MNAI, and it’s not only for coming up with catchy pick-up lines anymore, St. Paul. Scammers are profiting from the trend of Minnesotans using artificial intelligence to get dating advice by deceiving users with phony profiles, conversations produced by AI, and convincing images that are hard to discover.
More than half (55%) of online daters encounter suspect profiles on a weekly basis, according to a Norton survey, which is part of Gen’s consumer Cyber Safety brand. Approximately 40% of respondents claimed to have fallen victim to frauds while using dating apps. What’s even more concerning, though? According to 60% of online daters, they have unknowingly engaged in AI-generated talks.
AI: Love Coach or Scam Artist?
Many people now employ generative AI as their personal dating assistant. According to 64% of daters, they would be open to having AI compose their pick-up lines. 60% would use AI as a dating counselor, and 63% would use it to assist in creating their profiles. However, while AI might increase the confidence of shy singles, it is also assisting scammers in creating realistic identities that trick victims into falling for their tricks.
The fact that most people are unable to distinguish between false and real is among the most concerning features. Just 46% of test takers were able to correctly identify an AI-generated image. Meanwhile, 27% of respondents said they have witnessed their own images being improperly used on other profiles without their consent.
According to Leyla Bilge, Director of Scam Research at Norton, it’s vital to understand both the advantages of AI and the ways that bad actors might manipulate it as it becomes increasingly integrated into how people interact and portray themselves online.
Online dating has made it easier than ever to interact with people, but it has also given scammers more chances to take advantage of people.
Scammers Are Winning
According to the Norton Cyber Safety Insights Report, fraudsters have already targeted 40% of existing dating app users. Even worse, 41% of the targeted individuals became victims. Additionally, the number of dating frauds blocked in the United States last year was up 64% from the previous year.
Users most frequently report romance scams (34%), sugar daddy or sugar baby schemes (32%), sextortion scams (31%), and catfishing (55%).
Lonely consumers are often the target of scammers because they are more susceptible to manipulation. According to Norton’s survey, 79% of participants said they felt lonely, and 20% acknowledged that this made them make riskier decisions online.
Spotting the Red Flags
Avoiding video or phone calls, discrepancies between a person’s profile and their messages, and attempts to swiftly intensify emotional bonds or obtain personal information are all examples of classic scam tactics, Bilge cautioned.
Early in a chat, daters are encouraged to refrain from disclosing private information such as their home address or financial details. Before meeting someone in person, Norton advises users to utilize phone calls or video chats to authenticate their identification and to perform a reverse image search to validate profile photographs.
In an attempt to win victims’ trust, scammers may sometimes use love bombing, which involves lavishing them with presents or flattering remarks. As an alternative, they can abruptly request money while claiming an emergency.
AI Detection Tools Could Save Victims
Norton suggests Norton Genie, a free AI-powered tool that can identify harmful texts, emails, or dubious online links, for people who aren’t sure if they’re being scammed.
Users must remain vigilant and use all available resources to prevent becoming entangled in a scammer’s web as online dating becomes more complicated.
Associated Topics: Tech, Lifestyle, and Scams
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