Safe online dating campaign launches ahead of Valentine’s
A new safe online dating campaign has been launched in North Wales in the lead up to Valentine’s Day, amid warnings about the growing use of artificial intelligence in romance scams.
The campaign is being delivered by Get Safe Online, working with the Office of the North Wales Police and Crime Commissioner and North Wales Police, to help people enjoy online dating safely and with confidence.
According to recent research, more than one in four people say they, or someone they know, have been approached by an AI chatbot posing as a real person on a dating app or social media platform. Scammers use these tools to build trust before attempting to extract money or personal information.
Get Safe Online is a service commissioned by the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner and North Wales Police to provide advice and guidance to people across the region.
Tony Neate, chief executive of Get Safe Online, said: “The latest generation of AI tools can hold very convincing conversations with you, not only as webchats, but as voice and video calls, using their expertise in ultra-realistic deepfake technology. It’s virtually impossible to tell them from a real person, especially as you haven’t met or spoken in person before. What’s really important is that if you are considering dating online you read Get Safe Online’s expert advice beforehand.”
North Wales Police and Crime Commissioner, Andy Dunbobbin, said online dating continued to grow in popularity but warned criminals were exploiting the trend.
“Online dating has grown in popularity at an enormous rate in recent years and for many it’s a great way of meeting new people and developing new relationships. But as well as the genuine romance seekers on these sites, there are also romance fraudsters who are heartlessly looking for their next victim. The rise of AI has made the threat from fraud increasingly sophisticated.
“Preventing cyber fraud is a key priority for me as PCC and that’s why it is so important to me to make people aware of the dangers, and to warn them to be on their guard against criminals who take advantage of vulnerable members of our community. I would urge everyone to follow the advice, stay safe online this Valentine’s Day, and ensure the person you are speaking to is actually who they say they are.”
Detective Constable Rachel Roberts, Financial Abuse Safeguarding Officer with North Wales Police, said officers had seen an increase in victims targeted through fake celebrity profiles and fan pages on social media.
“North Wales Police have seen a significant increase in victims who are targeted after connecting with fake celebrity profiles or joining celebrity fan pages on Facebook, TikTok and Instagram. AI is certainly playing a huge part in making these profiles very convincing.
“Victims are led to believe they are in direct contact with well-known public figures and are offered friendship and later, a romantic relationship.
“Victims are then asked to provide money to the suspect for a variety of reasons, whilst being told to keep the relationship secret to avoid the paparazzi finding out. Romance fraud causes deep emotional distress as well as serious financial harm.”
She added that anyone who believes they have been a victim of romance fraud should report it to Report Fraud, the national reporting centre for fraud, to access advice and support.
Get Safe Online has published a series of tips to help people stay safe when dating online, including using reputable platforms, keeping conversations within apps, avoiding sharing personal or financial information, and being cautious of anyone who pressures for secrecy or money.
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