<div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Aussies are losing millions to </span><a href="http://www.9news.com.au/romance" rel="" target="" title="romance"><span>romance</span></a><span> scams each year as sophisticated deepfake </span><a href="http://www.9news.com.au/artificial-intelligence" rel="" target="" title="AI technology"><span>AI technology</span></a><span> and age-old emotional manipulation and victim-baiting tactics collide.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>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.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>According to the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC), 1330 Aussies lost more than $28.6 million to romance scams last year, up more than 20 per cent on the year before.</span></div></div><div><div id="adspot-mobile-medium"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/love-scams-on-dating-apps-woman-turns-scam-buster-after-mum-falls-victim/26b34b15-ce9f-43ef-b139-81d0f79d8dc4" rel="" target="" title="Kylee had no idea about love scams before her mum was a victim. Now, she busts them"><strong><span>Kylee had no idea about love scams before her mum was a victim. Now, she busts them</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The scams can last for weeks or even years, with some Aussies losing hundreds of thousands of dollars.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>In one case, a man in his 60s was in what he believed was a relationship with a person online for two years.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>He sent the scammer money, and even took out a mortgage for a house before eventually reporting the situation to police.</span></div></div><div><div class="OUTBRAIN" data-reactroot="" data-src="//www.9news.com.au/national/romance-scam-ai-intimacy-romance-scams-more-sophisticated-than-ever-technology-news/3136643f-ebd1-40cf-bd5a-f29887f33bbc" data-widget-id="AR_5"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>By that point, he'd lost almost $800,000.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Police have notified authorities in the Philippines and suspect it was a money mule account.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Detective Superintendent Marie Andersson said a request to move the conversation off a dating app or social media account into a private messaging service was often the first red flag.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"Reason being is dating and social media platforms often have safety features and detection measures, which scammers want to get away from as soon as possible.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"Once a scammer has moved the conversation to a different platform, the victim is also isolated, meaning it can be easier to prey on their vulnerability, optimism and emotional investment to stop them walking away.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"Other warning signs include lots of attention or affection (love-bombing), oversharing of personal or emotional stories, having reasons why they can't meet in person or video chat, and encouraging victims to keep their interactions private from family and friends, often under the guise that these other parties wouldn't understand."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>LIVE UPDATES: </span></strong><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/isaac-herzog-visit-live-updates-sydney-protests-latest-news-headlines/ac0c2b2f-cd41-4a0a-abdf-ea20837c5cc3" target="_blank"><strong><span>NSW Premier defends police after 'incendiary' mass protest</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>In another case, a divorced woman in her 50s met a man on a chat group who convinced her he was interested in a relationship, claimed to be rich and sent her fake ID photos and videos.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>After a month, he convinced her to invest in a fake AI application and in one week, she transferred more than $600,000 to an overseas bank.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>She later reported the matter to ReportCyber and her bank but authorities believe it's unlikely the funds will be recovered.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>A study last year by cybersecurity company Gen found nearly half of people studied (44 per cent) would use AI for help building a dating profile, 41 per cent would use AI for therapy after heartbreak and more than a third (37 per cent) would consider letting AI go on a virtual date on their behalf.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>A whopping 45 per cent of people studied would even consider dating an AI chatbot.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>According to Dean Williams, a senior systems engineer at cyber safety and virus protection brand Norton, our loneliness is making us vulnerable.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"We're seeing AI step into very human spaces by listening, comforting and advising," Williams said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"That can feel incredibly real.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"But loneliness can also lower our guard, and that's when scammers move in.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"AI-powered tools can feel supportive, attentive and personalised... but the same technology is also making scams more convincing, emotional manipulation more subtle, and fake identities harder to spot.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"It's never been more important to slow down, question what you're seeing, and protect your personal information."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Australian Banking Association CEO Simon Birmingham said advances in AI were helping banks fight scams, while at the same time making them more sophisticated.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"Banks are fighting back, using AI and other technologies to detect and shut down scams before they reach customers, however your own vigilance remains the most powerful protection.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"If it feels too perfect or something feels a little off, trust your instincts and double check, it could save you a lot of money."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><h3><strong><span>Tips to avoid romance scams</span></strong></h3></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><ul><li><span>Be wary of very professional and flawless-looking photos, as well as inconsistent details on profiles.</span></li><li><span>Vague and repetitive answers could indicate you're chatting to a bot.</span></li><li><span>Try to verify the person by checking their social media presence or reverse-image searching photos.</span></li><li><span>Be sceptical of fast-moving relationships, especially if someone tries to quickly move the conversation onto a messaging platform.</span></li><li><span>Never send money or cryptocurrency to someone you have not met in person.</span></li><li><span>Pause before acting on urgent requests such as claims of medical emergencies or investment opportunities.</span></li><li><span>If something feels off, trust your instincts and don't progress any further.</span></li></ul></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span></span></div></div>