People get into online dating with high hopes but a third of people aren’t aware of the dangers like romance scams making them even more vulnerable as Valentine’s Day approaches.
According to new Vodafone research which polled more than 1,000 Australians, one in four (23 per cent) fell victim to a romance scam in 2024.
One in 10 (10 per cent) admitted they had been scammed multiple times in the past year.
“The emotional devastation coupled with financial losses mean romance and dating fraudsters can hurt people twice as much,” says Amelia Limbrick, Customer Security & Investigations Manager at Vodafone.
“The sheer amount of money lost per victim can be so much higher than a quick credit card scam.
“Guard your heart and your wallet this Valentine’s Day and remember that true love doesn’t ask for your bank account number.”
Alarmingly, the research found two in five (42 per cent) of those who were scammed confirmed they’d lost more than $1,000.
The most common type of scam came via phishing emails and text messages with 42 per cent of respondents admitting they’ve being targeted by them in the past months.
But it’s one thing to be on guard against common scams – we now need to be aware of new threats including deepfake technology which has targeted up to 22 per cent of Australians.
The deep fake scams use fake photos, videos and even audio recordings created with AI to impersonate another person.
But despite the apparent realism of the scams, nearly two thirds (64 per cent) of respondents said they would be able to recognise an AI deep fake if they saw one.
The majority of those surveyed (89 per cent) said they were confident they could recognise a scam.
“While people might feel they can spot a scam, we need to stay vigilant. Modern scammers are masters of manipulation,” Mrs Limbrick said.
“They weave elaborate lies and are even using deepfakes to build trust. If something feels too good to be true, it probably is.
“Use codewords to verify who you are speaking to, do your research, and never send money to someone you haven’t met.
“Taking the time to assess potential threats by slowing down and thinking critically before acting can make all the difference in keeping Aussies safe.”
TIPS TO STAY SAFE FROM SCAMS
- Never transfer money to someone you haven’t met. No matter how convincing the person and their story might seem to be, never send them any money
- Agree on a code word. Set up a code word with your family and close friends to use if the time ever comes where you need to ask for money. If the code word isn’t used it’s a sign to confirm the person’s identity.
- Avoid clicking on unsolicited links. Phishing emails are the most common type of scams so avoid clicking on links in emails and text messages. Contact the company directly using official phone numbers from their websites.
- If it’s too good to be true it probably is. The best option is to take time to think things through before acting on messages or calls with enticing offers.
