To some, Valentine’s Day is about romance, for others, it is an opportunity for romance scams. But such dangers, which can include the infamous “honey traps,” aren’t limited to a single day. According to the cybersecurity researchers at Comparitech, nearly 60,000 Americans fell victim to such scams last year.
The good news is that there has been a slight decrease from previous years, while the losses from such scams have also declined. That can be attributed to Americans being more cautious, but a recent wave of online scams – including those where thieves have employed deepfake and other generative AI tools to fool victims – have increased. It was in January that news reports circulated a French woman believed she was sending her life savings to actor Brad Pitt, while she even divorced her husband!
Romance scams increase around Valentine’s Day, warned Roy Zur, co-founder and CEO of Charm Security and a scam prevention expert. He told ClearanceJobs that scammers take advantage of people’s emotions.
“These scams follow a specific pattern – they start with an initial contact, usually through a dating app, social media, or even a random text message,” said Zur. “The scammer pretends to be someone they’re not, often using AI-generated images, deepfakes, or stolen photos to build a believable persona.”
Once the scammer establishes trust, they’ll gradually escalate the relationship yet create a seemingly endless variety of excuses for why they can’t meet in person while moving the conversation to a private platform.
“Over time, they introduce a financial request, usually starting small to make it seem reasonable,” added Zur. “This approach, sometimes referred to as ‘pig butchering,’ [is where] they take money in small increments, using manipulation and deception to deepen their hold on the victim.”
Hacking Human Emotion
As with phishing techniques, romance scams aren’t actually all that high-tech in nature. While new technology – AI – is making it worse, the scams work by targeting human emotions.
“They build trust, create urgency, and exploit the fact that people often act quickly in emotionally charged situations,” explained Zur.
“Cybersecurity is not an IT problem – it’s a human one,” added Erich Kron, security awareness advocate at cybersecurity company KnowBe4.
Yet, as noted, these scams are increasingly powered by AI and deepfakes, which can make it easier than ever for criminals and bad actors to appear legitimate.
“They start a conversation, gain trust, and create excuses for why they can’t meet in person. The goal is to build an emotional connection before eventually asking for money under various pretexts,” said Zur.
For those who hold security clearance and may have access to sensitive or classified information, scammers can also target that data with similar techniques.
“Technology has made these scams far more sophisticated,” Zur continued. “With AI-generated images, video, and voice deepfakes, criminals can impersonate real people in ways that were impossible just a few years ago. The tactics are highly convincing, and because they target human emotions rather than just technical vulnerabilities, they can fool anyone.”
Pause and Verify
Scammers and cybercriminals also employ “time” as a tool. They create a sense of urgency where people let their guard down. That can be making a purchase, providing personnel details, and even sharing something that shouldn’t be shared.
“That’s why it’s important to pause and verify,” said Zur. “If something doesn’t seem right, trust your instincts. Use verification tools, do a reverse image search, and, most importantly, consult with a friend or family member before taking action. Scammers count on people acting alone, so involving others is one of the best ways to prevent fraud.”
Show The Data The Love
Finally, Valentine’s Day – like other holidays and special occasions – is a good time to take a moment to back up data, change passwords, and do the basic cyber diligence that has been put off for another time.
“As you celebrate your relationships, don’t forget to show your data some love, too,” suggested Kron. “Embrace good cybersecurity habits and encourage others to do the same. After all, protecting our data is one of the most caring things we can do for ourselves and those around us.”
Kron further told ClearanceJobs that data, like any good relationship, requires attention, care, and commitment.
“So go ahead, make cybersecurity your Valentine this year,” he added. “Your future self will thank you for it.”
