Love, Actually? Romance Scams Are Now Part of the Online Dating Experience

New research shows that one in four Americans say they’ve encountered a fake profile or AI-generated bot online

• Between December 1, 2025, and January 22, 2026, McAfee blocked hundreds of thousands of romance‑related malicious URLs, including thousands specifically tied to dating‑app‑themed content.
• McAfee Labs saw fake AI dating bots surge, with some users receiving more than 60 messages in 12 hours - even without a profile photo.
• Younger adults tend to lose smaller amounts (typically under $500), while higher‑dollar losses cluster among men ages 35–44. Overall, 21% of men report losing money compared with 10% of women, and losses above $5,000 were reported only by men.

SAN JOSE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Today, McAfee released its annual Valentine’s Day research, revealing how fake profiles, AI‑assisted chats, QR‑code‑based scams, and financial manipulation have become ingrained in modern online dating. The research found that 1 in 4 Americans has encountered a fake profile or AI‑generated bot, and 35% have spotted AI‑generated or modified photos on dating or social apps. Meanwhile, 53% report being asked for money or financial information, often through QR codes or links sent via text, email, social DMs, or directly within dating platforms.

During the same period, McAfee Labs recorded a notable year‑over‑year decline in dating‑app‑themed malicious URLs, suggesting scammers may be shifting their delivery methods.

The same apps and platforms that help people connect are also increasingly exploited by scammers who prey on trust and emotional vulnerability. Sixteen percent of Americans say they’ve experienced an online dating scam, with men reporting exposure more than twice as often as women. Romance scams are no longer rare; many people encounter deception even when no money changes hands.

From Small Talk to Financial Pressure: How Romance Scams Escalate

Romance scams rarely begin with an obvious red flag. What starts as a friendly conversation can evolve slowly, building emotional familiarity and a feeling of connection. Over time, requests involving QR codes, money, verification codes, cryptocurrency, or payment apps can follow.

McAfee’s research shows how easily trust can form in online dating — even when the connection isn’t with a real person. Nearly one in three people (32%) say it’s possible to develop romantic feelings toward an AI bot, including nearly half of adults under 45, and 9% say they’ve personally experienced romantic feelings for an AI chatbot.

That emotional connection helps explain why romance scams so often start with conversation, not money. Once trust is established, financial pressure can follow. More than half of Americans (53%) say they have been asked to send money or share financial information by someone they met through online dating or social platforms.

“Romance scams don’t begin with money. They begin with trust,” said Abhishek Karnik, Head of Threat Research at McAfee. “When one in four Americans say they’ve encountered a fake profile or AI-generated bot, it’s clear these scams aren’t edge cases. Scammers blend into everyday dating and social platforms, take time to build emotional familiarity, and make the relationship feel real before the scam ever starts."

Jules's Story: $80K Stolen in a Romance Scam

“Initially the conversations were respectful and engaging, which led me to believe getting to know someone online could become something real,” said Jules P., a healthcare professional and single mother. “We talked every day. He learned about my life, my finances, and what I worried about. He didn’t ask for money right away — he built trust first. So when the investment came up, it didn’t feel risky. It felt like help.”

“When everything froze and I realized I had lost more than $80,000, the financial loss was devastating, but the emotional toll was worse. I felt ashamed and completely alone.”

McAfee’s research found that 1 in 7 Americans has lost money to an online dating or romance scam, and nearly one in three scam survivors recover none of their funds.

Consumer Research

• Two in five adults ages 18–24 encounter potential romance scams weekly, compared with 1 in 20 adults age 65+.
• One in three (33%) received a fake “exclusive” or “invite‑only” dating app invitation; 14% signed up and shared personal or payment information.
• Men are 65% more likely than women to encounter romance scams weekly, showing significant gender differences in exposure.

McAfee Labs Research

• In last year’s analysis, malicious Tinder clones accounted for 55% of detections, and this year, when comparing the same set of apps year over year, Tinder still represents roughly half of all malicious app activity.
• McAfee Labs reported tens of thousands of attempts to install malicious mobile apps cloned from popular dating platforms such as Tinder, Bumble, and eHarmony.
• Between December 1, 2025 and January 22, 2026, Plenty of Fish (POF) accounted for 78% of all detected fake dating‑app installations — the highest of any platform in this year’s analysis.
  
  

The Cost for Consumers: Time, Money, and Trust

Romance scams don’t just cost people money — they take a real emotional toll. Nearly one in seven Americans (15%) say they’ve lost money to an online dating or romance scam. In many cases, the amounts are relatively small, often under $500, especially for younger adults. But even smaller losses can sting, and higher-dollar losses do happen, most often among men and adults in their mid-30s to mid-50s.

What lasts longer than the financial hit is the emotional impact. Nearly everyone who has experienced an online dating scam (95%) says it affected them in a meaningful way. Many say they lost trust in people they meet online, felt embarrassed or emotionally distressed, or became far more cautious in how they interact digitally.

Romance scammers are patient and persistent. A message without a link doesn’t mean it’s safe, and QR codes can hide risky redirects behind what looks like a harmless — or even romantic — moment.

What Safer Online Dating Looks Like in the AI Era

McAfee’s enhanced Scam Detector is included with all core McAfee plans and is already available across all 11 geographies, helping protect people from scams that arrive through text, email, and social or video messages. This spring, new updates will make it even easier to spot risk in the moment — including instant QR code safety checks and the ability to quickly check suspicious social messages by uploading screenshots from platforms like Instagram DMs, Messenger, WhatsApp, and Telegram.

McAfee encourages people to take extra care when forming connections online and offers the following tips:

• Be cautious of relationships that move very quickly or avoid video and voice calls
• Never send money, gift cards, or cryptocurrency to someone you have not met in person
• Be skeptical of requests involving QR codes, payments, or verification codes
• Limit how much personal information you share early on
• Use AI-powered scam protection tools that can help flag suspicious messages and scams before they cause harm

Consumer Research Methodology

A McAfee survey focused on online romance scams and behavior was conducted online in January 2026. It included responses from 7,000 adults in Australia, France, Germany, India, Japan, the UK and the U.S.

McAfee Labs Methodology

McAfee Labs analyzed URL and mobile app telemetry collected between December 1, 2025, and January 22, 2026. Researchers examined dating themed URLs and Android mobile apps masquerading as popular dating platforms, comparing trends year over year to identify shifts in scammer behavior.

About McAfee

McAfee Corp. is a global leader in online protection for consumers. Focused on protecting people in an always-online world, McAfee’s solutions adapt to user needs, empowering individuals and families with secure, intuitive tools. For more information, visit www.mcafee.com.