AI Romance Scams: How Love is Being Used to Steal Your Money

• Romance Scams
• AI Fraud
• Crypto Scams

Romance scams now use AI to build trust and steal money. Learn how deepfake videos and fake crypto platforms trick Australians into losing everything.

AI Is Changing the Face of Romance Scams

Online dating has long been a hunting ground for scammers, but artificial intelligence is taking these cons to a terrifying new level. Using tools like generative text models and deepfake technology, fraudsters can now run dozens of conversations at once—each tailored, believable, and emotionally manipulative.

How AI Powers the Scam

Scammers no longer need to manually charm victims. With AI, they generate personalised, emotionally resonant messages in multiple languages, keeping the tone and storyline consistent over days, weeks, or even months. Victims believe they’re forming a genuine romantic connection, often with someone they’ve never met in person.

Deepfake video technology makes the deception even more convincing. Using face-swapping tools, scammers can appear live on video calls using stolen or AI-generated footage. These calls are often brief but “real” enough to erase any doubts.

The Ultimate Goal: Emotional and Financial Exploitation

Once trust is established, the scammer’s true intentions emerge. They may ask for money for an emergency, suggest crypto investments, or trick the victim into laundering money on their behalf. By then, the emotional manipulation runs deep—many victims want to believe it’s real, even when the red flags are clear.

Case Study: The 'Pig Butchering' Scam

This scam, named after the process of fattening a pig before slaughter, involves building romantic or emotional intimacy, then luring victims into investing on fake cryptocurrency platforms. The websites look legitimate and may even allow small ‘withdrawals’ to earn trust.

As the victim invests more, the scammer tightens control—encouraging larger deposits, warning of time-sensitive deals, or faking platform errors that require more funds to ‘fix.’ Eventually, the scammer disappears—and so does the platform, taking thousands (or more) with it.

Warning Signs of an AI Romance Scam

• Too perfect too soon: The person seems emotionally available, highly interested, and wants to talk constantly.
• Unusual language patterns: Messages are overly polished or too consistent, with oddly formal phrases.
• Video calls feel scripted: Deepfake technology makes short, awkward video calls seem real—but pay attention to unnatural facial movement or lag.
• Talk of money or investment: They suggest trading platforms or cryptocurrencies, or ask for financial help.
• Rapid emotional bonding: They quickly express love or dependency before even meeting in person.

How to Protect Yourself

• Stay sceptical: If a new online connection becomes intense quickly, pause and question their intentions.
• Never send money: Real love doesn’t require financial proof or emergency payments.
• Do a reverse image search: Check their photos online to see if they’re stolen from someone else.
• Verify video calls: Ask them to do unpredictable movements during the call—wave, write something down, etc.
• Report suspicious activity: Contact Scamwatch and your bank or crypto platform immediately if you think you’ve been targeted.

Stay Informed, Stay Safe

Romance scams aren’t new, but AI is making them faster, smarter, and harder to spot. With deepfake videos and AI-generated conversations, even the most cautious person can be fooled. The best defence is knowledge. Understand the tactics, stay alert, and always think twice before mixing love with money.