Valentine’s Day romance scams’ 48-hour hook: Deepfakes, fake lovers

It starts, like so many modern love stories, with a ping.

A direct message. A follow. A comment under a post.

Within minutes, you’ve met someone who shares your taste in music, your love of dogs and maybe even your pet’s name.

Within days, you believe you’ve met your soulmate. Within weeks, you could be broke.

As Valentine’s Day approaches, police, banks and cybersecurity firms are warning that romance scams are surging again – faster, slicker and now increasingly fuelled by artificial intelligence.

The Australian Federal Police says romance scams were the third-most-reported scam type in Australia in 2025, with 3432 reports and $28 million in losses recorded by Scamwatch.

But the true damage rarely fits neatly into a spreadsheet.

A recent warning from NAB put the figure much higher.

“Australians lose over $156 million a year to romance scams, and it’s not just people looking for love online who are targeted. These scams can happen to anyone,” the bank warned.

The 48-hour hook

They say time is money.

For romance scammers, the clock starts ticking the second they hit send on a message to a potential victim. Victims are often hooked in as little as 48 hours.

That “48-hour rom-con” isn’t just a catchy label. The AFP says it reflects how industrialised this crime has become: fast-moving, high-volume, ruthlessly efficient.

The pattern is so familiar it reads like a script.

First, a credible profile appears: attractive photos, plausible career, charming banter.

Then, the push comes quickly to move off-platform – to WhatsApp, Telegram, Signal, SMS – somewhere “easier” or “more private”.

“A request or pressure to move a conversation off a dating or social media platform not long after initial contact can be a first red flag,” AFP Detective Superintendent Marie Andersson said.

“Dating and social media platforms often have safety features and detection measures, which scammers want to get away from as soon as possible.

“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.”

From there, the grooming and love-bombing begins.

“Other warning signs include lots of attention or affection, 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,” Det-Supt Andersson said.

Eventually, money enters the conversation.

Sometimes it’s framed as an emergency – medical bills, travel problems, frozen bank accounts. Increasingly, it slides into “investment” territory: crypto, trading platforms or “guaranteed” returns with screenshots of fake profits.

And the scammers are rarely lone wolves.

“Scammers, who mostly work in call centres or boiler rooms overseas, have scripts and playbooks to follow, receive coaching, and operate 24/7 to deploy the best tactics to deceive innocent victims,” Det-Supt Andersson said.

“Their modus operandi is to hook victims quickly, but they are then in it for the long haul, looking to draw the connection out for as long as possible to scam as much money as they can.

“This then creates a ‘double hit’ for their victims who, when the truth eventually emerges, are left to grieve not only the emotional impact of a relationship they believed was real, but also the financial damage, shame, isolation and loss of trust.”

The proof problem

For years, a video call felt like an informal lie detector. If you could see someone talk and respond in real time, it seemed reassuring.

Now, banks say even that comfort blanket is fraying.

New research from CommBank found nearly nine in 10 Australians (89 per cent) were confident they could spot an AI-generated scam. But when tested, they could only correctly distinguish between real and AI-generated images 42 per cent of the time.

And romance is right in the mix. CommBank says 27 per cent of Australians reported witnessing a deepfake scam in the past year, with the most common types including relationship scams (38 per cent).

“The findings reveal a growing gap between confidence and reality – and that gap is exactly what scammers are looking to exploit as they increasingly turn to AI to target everyday Australians and small businesses,” said CommBank’s general manager of group fraud James Roberts.

“The good news is that the steps that keep people safe don’t need to evolve at the same speed as the technology does.

“Deepfakes might be new, but the same tried-and-tested habits – slowing down, checking details and speaking with someone you know and trust, such as a family member, remains your best defence – even against AI-powered scams.”

Mr Roberts added that verification is becoming critical as impersonation gets cheaper and more convincing: “Scammers can fake voices now, so it’s okay to double-check. In fact, it’s smart.”

Your perfect match or a perfect fake?

Australian Banking Association CEO Simon Birmingham has warned that AI is blurring the line between the “too good to be true” and the terrifyingly believable.

“Unfortunately, artificial intelligence has made it easier than ever for criminals to pose as your perfect match,” he said.

“Scammers create flawless photos, deepfake videos or even mimic voices to convince you that someone you’ve never met is the real deal.”

Mr Birmingham said these criminals play on emotions, trust and even loneliness, using highly sophisticated AI tools to deceive victims.

“Romance scams don’t only cause heartbreak, they cause devastating financial consequences, with some victims losing tens or even hundreds of thousands of dollars,” he said.

“If you’re hitting the dating apps in the hope of finding a Valentine, take extra care. 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.

“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.”

Scams that feel normal (until they don’t)

Cyber security firm McAfee says romance scams are no longer rare edge cases – they’re becoming part of the background noise of online life.

Its Valentine’s Day research found half of Australians say they’ve encountered a fake profile or AI-generated bot online, while nearly half (48 per cent) say they have been asked to send money or share financial information by someone they met through online dating or social platforms.

“Romance scams don’t begin with money. They begin with trust,” said Tyler McGee, head of APJ, at McAfee.

“When half of Australians say they’ve encountered a fake profile or AI-generated bot, it’s clear these scams aren’t edge cases.

“Scammers blend into everyday dating and social platforms, take time to build emotional familiarity, and make the relationship feel real before the scam ever starts.”

For many victims, the first person to question the relationship isn’t a friend or family member. It’s their bank. And when the penny drops, the loss is not just financial.

The AFP has detailed case studies showing how quickly romance scams can escalate into life-altering loss.

In one case, a divorced woman in her 50s was convinced to invest in a fake AI application after one month of online conversation, transferring more than $600,000 to an overseas bank, including money borrowed against her mortgage. It is unlikely the funds will be recovered.

In another, a man in his 60s believed he was in a genuine relationship for two years and ultimately lost up to $800,000 after sending money via multiple platforms and taking out a mortgage to purchase a house at the scammer’s urging.

The message from police and banks is blunt: if the romance turns into a financial transaction – even dressed up as “our future” – it’s time to hit pause.

Because behind an online lover’s “good morning beautiful” could be a script and behind every urgent plea for money is someone who never loved you at all.

How to protect yourself: 6 quick checks

• Stay on dating platforms longer (don’t rush to WhatsApp/Telegram).
• Verify photos + identity (reverse-image search; look for a real digital footprint).
• Be cautious on video calls (deepfakes can glitch; blurry/odd syncing can be a tell).
• Never send money/crypto/gift cards to someone you haven’t met in person.
• Talk to someone you trust – secrecy is a major risk factor.
• Act fast if you’ve paid: call your bank and report to police or ReportCyber.