Sophisticated 'Deepfake' AI Making Romance Scams More Convincing than Ever

Sophisticated 'deepfake' AI making romance scams more convincing than ever

Aussies are losing millions to romance scams each year as sophisticated deepfake AI technology and age-old emotional manipulation and victim-baiting tactics collide.According to the Australian Federal Police, scammers want you hooked fast - potentially in the first 48 hours - and will then attempt to drag out the connection as long as possible to extract as much money as they can.According to the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (…

Romance scams on the rise and Valentine's Day is near, warns ACCC

Romance scams online are costing Australians millions, the latest Scamwatch figures reveal. Photo: Michelle Kroll. Last year, more than $28.6 million was lost by Australians seeking love online, up more than 20 per cent from the year before. The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission’s National Anti-Scam Centre (Scamwatch) has released its latest statistics, showing an increase in reported romance scams and accumulated losses in 2025. Th…