A new wave of romance scams is spreading across the internet in the lead-up to Valentine’s Day, with authorities and financial institutions warning Australians to stay alert as increasingly sophisticated tactics combine emotional manipulation with financial fraud.
Romance scams blend manufactured intimacy with theft, often leaving victims financially and psychologically affected.
Last week, Australian police warned more than 5,000 people they may have been targeted in a large-scale romance scam linked to overseas syndicates. The operation allegedly used common dating apps to establish online relationships before tricking victims into purchasing fake cryptocurrency.
Experts say the scammers’ toolkit has evolved significantly in recent years, with artificial intelligence lowering the cost and effort required for impersonation. Convincing profile photos can now be generated quickly, affectionate conversations automated, and identity “proof” fabricated through voice and video technologies.
The warning comes as dating platforms typically experience increased activity in the lead-up to Valentine’s Day.
Romance scams often rely on a predictable sequence of psychological tactics. Scammers typically create highly credible profiles using attractive images – increasingly AI-generated or stolen – alongside plausible personal details.
They then attempt to move conversations off dating platforms onto private channels such as WhatsApp or text messaging, a shift that removes built-in safety protections and can expose additional personal information.
Financial requests usually follow. While some scammers cite urgent emergencies, many operations now evolve into investment fraud schemes that steer victims toward fake profit-making opportunities, often involving cryptocurrency.
Victims may be encouraged to invest “together” or shown screenshots of alleged profits, framing the scam as a shared future rather than a direct request for money.
Artificial intelligence is allowing scammers to scale their operations while maintaining frequent, emotionally engaging conversations with multiple targets.
Video calls, once viewed as an informal identity check, are becoming less reliable as generative AI is easily accessible and capable of producing artificial video or audio designed to imitate a person.
Face-swapping or voice-cloning tool may only need to appear plausible briefly to overcome suspicion, particularly when a victim is already emotionally invested.
Experts say online dating can still be safe if users remain vigilant and take steps to verify identities.
Slowing down the pace of a relationship can help reveal inconsistencies, while keeping conversations on the dating platform longer preserves access to safety features.
Users are also encouraged to confirm a person’s identity across multiple platforms and conduct reverse-image searches to detect stolen or synthetic photos. Treating investment advice or requests for money as a major warning sign is critical.
Authorities also advise against sending intimate images to unverified individuals, as financial scams can quickly pivot to blackmail.
Those who have already transferred funds are urged to act quickly by contacting their bank and reporting the incident to Scamwatch or ReportCyber, as early reporting can reduce losses and assist investigations.
Bank of Queensland (BOQ) has urged Australians to remain cautious as scammers ramp up their activity to target the romantically vulnerable.
“These scams are becoming more sophisticated, with artificially generated fake profiles, deepfake videos and chatbots making fake love look completely real,” said BOQ Head of Fraud Risk Management, Claire Shaw.
“Scammers prey on trust. They build closeness quickly, often pushing victims off dating apps and onto private messaging platforms, then use emotional stories or false emergencies to pressure them into sending money.
“If something feels too good to be true, it probably is.”
According to Scamwatch, romance scams continue to cost Australians millions each year, with criminals using AI-generated profiles, flawless images and chatbot-assisted conversations to lure victims into false relationships before requesting money, cryptocurrency transfers or personal information.
BOQ warned customers to watch for red flags including flawless photos with minimal personal details, rapid emotional intensity or “love bombing”, urgent financial requests, and attempts to coach victims on what to tell their bank or how to disguise payments – behaviour that may indicate grooming into money siphoning.
The bank said it is strengthening protections through measures such as Confirmation of Payee, real-time detection systems and customer alerts to help verify account details and identify unusual behaviour before funds are lost.
“Our message is simple: never send money to someone you haven’t met in person, never share personal or financial information, and always take a moment to stop, check, and protect before transferring funds,” Shaw added.
BOQ is encouraging Queenslanders to share scam prevention advice with friends and family, particularly older Australians who continue to experience some of the highest individual losses.