Are you texting and chatting with AI or a live Human?

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Online dating is difficult!  There a many opinions on what it should look like, where you should play, how to protect yourself and a host of other options.

‍In the following paragraphs we explain how to use AI TruthTeller® so you can have more safety in online dating.  We will show how to ferret out the liars, cheats and deceptions. 

‍What follows is an article posted to a web site about dating, warning signs and how to stay safe as the backdrop.  Follow along and see how we use AI TruthTeller to avoid deception and outsmart bad actors within each of the 11 Warnings.  All of my comments are in italics:‍ ‍

For starters, we pasted the entire article (over 4,000 words) into AI TruthTeller and discovered - the dating advice presented in this article is AI generated.  Funny isn’t it, taking dating advice from a computer… but before we digress let’s move on:

‍Online Dating Scams: 11 Warning Signs and How to Outsmart Them: Looking for Love Shouldn’t Mean Risking Your Identity or Your Savings

Online dating has changed the way people meet.   {According to the research[1] 39% of couples met online as far back as 2017 and it’s much higher today.  On a personal note, my wife and I met online.  She swiped right and I responded.}

Millions of singles now use dating apps[2]{one in three U.S. adults} and websites every day to build friendships, find long-term relationships, or simply meet new people. Technology has made connecting easier than ever before, allowing conversations to begin across cities, countries, and even continents.

Unfortunately, the same technology that makes online dating convenient also makes it easier for scammers to deceive unsuspecting victims[3] , [4]{yep, 70,000 people lost $1.3 billion}.

‍Romance scams have become one of the fastest-growing forms of online fraud[5] / [6]{Certainly true in dollars reported as lost but it’s hard to say based on quantifiable research trends.  In either case, the losses are real and the likelihood you will encounter an online scammer is over 50%.  It may be that scammers are simply hunting bigger targets.  As my daughter would say – they only go after people with stupid money.  Not that the people are stupid, but they have so much money, they don’t take care of it anymore.  They are careless with their money}.

‍Criminals no longer rely on poorly written emails or obvious fake identities (e.g. Lord Sutan Abubakar de 1st , Lord Sumuel S. Numoma, Lord Nelson Rolihlahla Mandella). Here is one email example:

‍“Hello Dear,

‍How are you doing.My name is DR. AVA SMITH from United States. I am a French and American national (dual) living in the U.S and sometimes in the U.K for the Purpose of Work.

‍I hope you consider my friend request and consider me worth to be your friend. I will share some of my pics and more details about my self when I get your response.

With love

Dr. Ava

‍Original email from Dec 2022, with server details, can be found here at scammer.info”

‍https://scammer.info/t/hi-dear-dr-ava-smith-with-love-of-course-romance-scam-email-the-dr-will-scam-you-now/114623

‍AI TruthTeller easily identifies this email as written by AI, alerting you to a higher probability of deception.

Today’s scammers use convincing stories, stolen photographs[7], artificial intelligence, deepfake technology, professionally written messages, and even AI-generated voices to create relationships that appear completely genuine.

‍As mentioned in the ABC News Chicago story, doing a reverse image search on Google is great first step.  Using AI TruthTeller to assess and detect deception is also a necessary step.  Scammers are evolving their business into industrial operations with scale and the use of technology.  Example, it’s not difficult to scrape images from the web.  These can be used to build a database, track usage of the image and always present a “fresh” picture for the scam factory.  Each one of these images could also be fed into an AI engine for alteration presenting a new and truly unique image.  Reverse search will only go so far and will become increasingly ineffective as AI technology improves and scammers embrace AI and scale up shops that ramp up the scam process.

‍https://www.fbi.gov/video-repository/fbi-salt-lake-city-romance-scam-victim-tells-her-story-02112022.mp4/view

‍{Watch the video and notice the background shows lengthy text messages from the scammer to the victim.  This is where you identify and trap the scam before they hook you, before you get emotionally attached.  AI TruthTeller raises the red flag on deception, identifying AI early on so you can make a better decision and disengage.}

‍Many victims are intelligent, cautious people who never imagined they could become targets. Romance scammers succeed not because their victims are careless, but because they understand human psychology. They know how to build trust, create emotional attachment, manufacture urgency, and exploit loneliness before asking for money or personal information.

Click through on the human psychology link and see some of the research on how AI is more persuasive than humans. This is meaningful and should be noted by everyone involved in online dating. Romance scammers can use AI to persuade targets to believe the scam they are spinning and they can do it with minimal information. Just think what they can do with what’s posted in a Facebook profile.

‍The financial losses are staggering, but the emotional damage can be even greater. Victims often experience embarrassment, broken trust, anxiety, and emotional trauma long after the scam has ended. (I recently became aware of a woman who lost over $500,000 in a romance scam.  In a separate instance a couple lost more than $75,000 in a fake FBI sting operation.)

‍Fortunately, there are warning signs that appear repeatedly across most dating scams. Learn to recognize these red flags dramatically reduce your chances of becoming a victim.

‍This guide explains eleven of the most common warning signs, why scammers use them, and practical steps you can take to protect yourself while still enjoying online dating.

‍‍Why Online Dating Scams Are Becoming More Sophisticated

‍Years ago, spotting a romance scam was often relatively easy. Messages were filled with grammatical errors, profile pictures looked suspicious, and requests for money came almost immediately. Today’s scams are different. Artificial intelligence has dramatically lowered the barrier for criminals. They can now:

‍·       Create highly realistic profile photos.

·       Write fluent, personalized conversations.

·       Translate messages into nearly any language.

·       Generate convincing life stories.

·       Clone voices.

‍·       Produce realistic video and audio.

·       Operate dozens of fake identities simultaneously.

Some criminal organizations even manage romance scams as full-time businesses. Different individuals may handle profile creation, daily conversations, financial requests, and technical support. The person you’ve been speaking with for weeks may not even be the same individual who joins a video call.

This is a fact.  One of the women I know of met with three different men, each one at a different time.  It was a team effort online, over the phone, in person and in coaching her through the process.  Significant financial loss occurred.

‍The industrialization of online deception means users need to rely less on instinct and more on objective verification.

‍Instinct is not enough.  Objective verification is only part of the puzzle.  Everyone needs technology tools today that enhance your human abilities, even while giving you final say on decisions.  Avoiding deception is not a hands-off, leave it to technology kind of experience.  Technology and people need to work together.

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Warning Sign #1: Their Profile Seems Almost Too Perfect

‍One of the first clues often appears before the first conversation even begins. Scammers understand exactly what attracts attention. Their profile may feature:

‍·       Exceptionally attractive photographs « validate these with AI TruthTeller

·       Luxury travel destinations

·       High-paying professions

·       Interesting hobbies

·       Perfect lighting

·       Professional-quality portraits « validate these with AI TruthTeller

·       Inspirational biographies « validate these with AI TruthTeller

·       Seemingly flawless lifestyles « validate these with AI TruthTeller

While attractive people certainly exist, scammers intentionally create profiles designed to appeal to the widest possible audience.

Many now use AI-generated images that don’t belong to any real person. Others steal photographs from social media, modeling portfolios, military personnel, or business professionals.

‍The result is a profile that appears authentic but cannot be traced to an actual individual.

What You Should Do

Don’t automatically assume an attractive profile is fake. Instead:

‍·       Perform a reverse image search. « this story shows why a reverse search is useful. The man in the story has had his image used in multiple fake social media accounts. View and read it here:

‍·       Examine whether every photo appears professionally staged.

·       Look for inconsistencies in backgrounds, clothing, or locations.

·       Ask questions about places shown in the photographs.

·       Be cautious if every image appears unusually polished.

Modern AI images have become extremely convincing, so image verification should be one step—not your only step—in evaluating authenticity.

AI TruthTeller® includes multiple tools to avoid deception on the “too perfect profile”: AI image detection, AI text detection and the Facebook Scam Scan.  We assess perfect lighting, exceptional photographs, professional portraits, inspirational writing in biographies and mismatches in geography and many more.

Warning Sign #2: They Develop Strong Feelings Extremely Quickly

‍Healthy relationships take time. Scammers know they don’t have that luxury.‍ Instead, they accelerate emotional intimacy.‍ Within days—or sometimes hours—you may hear statements like:

‍·       “I’ve never met anyone like you.” « validate the conversation with AI TruthTeller

·       “I think we’re soulmates.” « validate the conversation with AI TruthTeller

·       “I already feel like I know you.” « validate the conversation with AI TruthTeller

·       “You’re exactly what I’ve been searching for.” « validate the conversation with AI TruthTeller

·       “I think I’m falling in love.” « validate the conversation with AI TruthTeller

‍At first, these messages can feel flattering.‍ Psychologically, rapid affection creates emotional momentum. Once someone begins imagining a future together, they become less likely to question inconsistencies.‍ This technique is commonly known as love bombing. Love bombing overwhelms victims with:

·       Constant compliments « validate the conversation with AI TruthTeller

·       Continuous messaging « validate the conversation with AI TruthTeller

·       Emotional vulnerability

·       Future planning

·       Daily check-ins

·       Romantic promises « validate the conversation with AI TruthTeller

The goal isn’t romance, it’s dependency. Once emotional investment forms, logical skepticism often declines.

What You Should Do

Healthy relationships develop through shared experiences over time. Be cautious when someone:

‍·       Declares love unusually early.

·       Talks about marriage before meeting.

·       Refers to you as a soulmate almost immediately.

·       Pushes for exclusivity within days.

·       Discourages you from talking with other people.

Real intimacy grows naturally. Artificial intimacy is often engineered.

Four days and you’re hooked! This is a factory worker, acting as a so called butcher, handling up to 100 different prospects/victims in a single work shift. https://www.rd.com/article/ai-romance-scam-four-days/

How does AI TruthTeller help?  Words matter and AI generated text can be detected.  The longer the conversation, the better.  The Chrome Extension of AI TruthTeller has the unique ability to assess text over multiple chat sessions.  Turn on the “Observe” mode for easy detection of single conversational sessions; use the copy and paste function to assess conversation transpire over  over multiple sessions, hours, days, weeks or months.  Patterns emerge and detection happens! 

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Warning Sign #3: They Always Have a Reason They Can’t Meet

‍Perhaps the biggest red flag in online dating is an endless series of excuses for avoiding an in-person meeting—or even a live video conversation. Scammers commonly claim they are:

‍·       Working overseas

·       Serving in the military

·       On an oil rig

·       Traveling internationally

·       Doctors on humanitarian missions

·       Engineers on temporary assignment

·       Contractors in remote locations

·       Diplomats

·       International business executives

These stories accomplish two things. First, they explain why meeting isn’t currently possible.

‍Second, they create an aura of credibility and importance. When meeting eventually becomes possible, another emergency suddenly appears.‍ Common excuses include:

‍·       Flight cancellations (ask for the airline and flight number. You can help find an alternate carrier. If their not interested, this is a clue, their intentions are not good)

·       Lost passports

·       Family emergencies

·       Medical crises

·       Customs delays

·       Military deployment

·       Business obligations

‍·       Internet problems

Weeks become months. Months become years.

AI TruthTeller can help when conversations extend over weeks and months.  IF you are using a consistent platform for communication, you can copy and paste extensive conversations.  These long form conversations are way different than a few brief text messages or chat sessions.  They include everything you’ve talked about shared.  This level of detail helps protect you and gives AI TruthTeller lot of text to assess, analyze and detect artificial intelligence.  Today’s scammers are scaling up.  It is become big business and industrialized.  They are using AI to scam dozens and hundreds of people at the same time.  AI TruthTeller can help you detect this type of scam operation.

Yet the relationship somehow never progresses beyond messaging.

The Video Call Trap

‍Some scammers now agree to video calls. However, these calls may be:

‍·       Extremely brief

·       Poor quality

·       Pre-recorded clips

·       AI-generated Deepfakes

·       Carefully staged conversations

·       Limited by convenient “technical issues”

A single video call should not automatically convince someone that the individual is genuine. Consistency matters far more than one carefully controlled interaction.

What You Should Do

‍If someone continually postpones meeting despite expressing serious romantic interest, ask yourself a simple question:

If they genuinely wanted a relationship, what would realistically prevent them from making concrete plans after several months?

Legitimate obstacles can occur. Endless obstacles usually indicate something else.

Why Verification Matters More Than Ever

‍One of the biggest challenges today is that appearances alone are no longer reliable indicators of authenticity.‍ Photographs can be generated.‍ Voices can be cloned. ‍Videos can be manipulated.‍ Messages can be written by AI.

‍That doesn’t mean every online interaction is fraudulent. It simply means users should place greater emphasis on verifying identity through multiple independent signals rather than relying solely on emotion or first impressions.

The safest approach combines healthy skepticism with practical verification. Ask questions that require personal knowledge, look for consistency over time, verify details through independent sources when appropriate, and avoid making important decisions based only on digital interactions.

Be careful with in–person meetings.  In this story reported by Reuters, an elderly man was enticed to meet someone to travel to New York City.  He never came home alive.

https://www.reuters.com/investigates/special-report/meta-ai-chatbot-death/

‍In contrast, I know a man who met a woman online, who was in a far off city.  She was a complete and total stranger to him.  He arranged to meet her for dinner in her home town.  Before flying off to the distant city, he made phone calls to people in the area including family members; he checked public records and did searches on social media sites.  He looked for connections based on the Six Degrees of Separation theory (any two people on earth are connected by no more than five people in-between).  He discovered his sister was close friends with one of her (the date) close friends.  His niece, also in the area, had been to large group camping events with her.  Lastly, when they first met, it was in a popular and very public restaurant and his sister went with him.  Too much caution?  Or just the right amount?  You can decide, but for the Chef in the Reuters story it would have been wise to have another person with him.

‍‍[1] Meeting online is now the most popular way that couples meet.  Stanford University, Humanities and Social Sciences; published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences; 20 August 2019. Disintermediating your friends: How online dating in the United States displaces other ways of meeting | PNAS

[2] One in three U.S. adults admit to having used online dating apps, and that’s across all adults.  For those under 30, in the 18-29 years range, it is 53%. Source: Pew Research Center, 2 February 2023 https://www.pewresearch.org/internet/2023/02/02/from-looking-for-love-to-swiping-the-field-online-dating-in-the-u-s/

[3] Over 50% of users of online dating apps say they have come across scammers of one kind or another.  Source Pew Research Center, 2 February 2023.  Equally as disturbing, from the same survey, 72% of men who recently used dating apps report encountering scammers.

[4] Fortunately not everyone gets duped, even when they meet a scammer.  However, 70,000 people is a big number and $1.3 billion in losses is a lot.  No doubt this number is smaller than actual losses. I mean, who wants to talk about how they were duped by a scammer. Source: https://www.ftc.gov/news-events/news/press-releases/2023/02/new-ftc-data-reveals-top-lies-told-romance-scammers

[5] And the winners are – a) Help! I’m in jail! B) Let me show you how to invest c) I’m in the military far, far away and need help d) Dude! Help me make this critical delivery, etc, etc. Source: https://www.ftc.gov/news-events/news/press-releases/2023/02/new-ftc-data-reveals-top-lies-told-romance-scammers

[6] Bigger losses from fewer reported scams. Source: The Trajectory of Romance Scams in the U.S.  https://arxiv.org/abs/2405.03828

[7] This is all too common!  Here is one such instance, thoroughly covered by ABC News, Chicago https://abc7chicago.com/post/man-says-romance-scammers-have-been-using-picture-attract-women-15-years/18148265/ ‍