This is the time of year when romance scams increase. Now, officials across the country are sending out the warning, saying artificial intelligence could make these scams harder to beat.
Romance scams are when a scammer uses social media or dating apps to get close to you. Once this new love interest gains your trust…they ask you for money. The FTC says in its latest report, nearly 70,000 people reported a romance scam and lost $1.3 billion in one year alone.
Now, police warn that artificial intelligence may make it harder to spot a scam. Scammers are using AI to create fake photos of themselves and voice memos to send you, to make you think you’re talking to a legit person.
Here are a couple of red flags to watch out for:
- Any type of money talk. If they’re asking for money, especially cryptocurrency, they’re probably a scammer.
- If they’re not willing to do a video call, like on Facetime or Zoom, they might be hiding something!
Click here to read more about romance scams from the FTC and the BBB.
**Have a question for Jeff Rossen? He’s answering your consumer questions every Friday in the new segment “Rossen Responds”. Email your questions to him at RossenResponds@hearst.com.**