Online dating is no longer a niche topic. One in four people in Germany has already gained experience with apps such as Tinder, Bumble or Facebook Dating – and the trend is rising. Many find real relationships through it, some even great love.

But where real feelings arise, fraudsters are not far away. "Romance scams" – i.e. romance scams on the Internet – are among the fastest growing forms of fraud worldwide. The perpetrators work professionally, emotionally manipulatively and often with artificial intelligence.

For MFRadio.de, presenter Tom Weyermann spoke with IT security expert Philipp Plum about why this scam is so dangerous, how it works technically and how you can protect yourself.

Tom:
"Philipp, why is online dating such an Eldorado for fraudsters?"

Philipp Plum:
"Because it's emotional. People are looking for closeness, affirmation, appreciation. This is exactly what fraudsters exploit. They quickly build trust, appear attentive, charming and empathetic. And as soon as an emotional anchor is set, the manipulation begins."

Romance scammers use psychological patterns that are almost always similar:

And then comes the decisive moment: the first request for money, help or personal data.

In the past, perpetrators used stolen photos from social networks. Today, a single AI tool is enough to:

Philipp Plum explains:
"Today, AI can be used to simulate complete identities. Some fraudsters have video chats with a victim for weeks - but with an animated mask that looks like a real person at first glance."

Such scam variants are extremely difficult to detect, even for tech-savvy users.

Most romance scams follow a similar pattern. Particularly striking are:

Images look like they are from a model catalog or extremely retouched.
 Many AI photos have subtle flaws: blurry backgrounds, strange hands, unnatural shadows.

After a few messages, it says: "I've never met anyone like you."

Business trips, foreign missions, military missions – classics.

A case of illness, a lost passport, a blocked account.

Small amounts at first. In the end, often four- or five-digit sums.

According to security experts, people who would actually be far too clever for such tricks are particularly affected.

The reason: It doesn't happen in the head – it happens in the heart.

Philipp Plum explains in an interview:
"These perpetrators are not amateurs. They spend weeks practicing chat dialogues, emotion techniques and conversational skills. They know how to build trust and how to get people to believe them – even when doubts arise."

Scammers alternate between:

This leads to victims becoming emotionally dependent.

Often it's not just about money.

Many betrayed people report:

Tom comments:
"We keep hearing stories of people who are not only financially but also mentally devastated. That's the really tragic thing about it."

Philipp Plum lists the most important protective measures:

No matter how credible someone seems.

No frozen images, no strange changes in light.

Use Google Lens or TinEye to check whether the photo appears anywhere else on the web.

Scammers often adapt their stories spontaneously.

distance is the best shield.

They often see things that you don't notice yourself.

Every tip helps to protect others.

In conclusion, Philipp Plum emphasizes:

"Today we have better tools than ever before to expose fake profiles. AI is not only used by perpetrators, but also by security companies. The decisive thing remains to remain mindful, think logically and not blindly trust anyone."

online dating can work. Many couples have met in this way.
But unfortunately there are also people with bad intentions.

Stay mindful – and don't trust everyone.


Here you can listen to the contribution in our audio library!

Author: Tom Weyermann for MFRadio.de - Up-to-Date
Sources: ESET IT Security Expert Philipp Plum, Online Guide