New research shows that half (50%) of Australians 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.
- 1 in 7 Australians have lost money to an online dating/romance scam, with an average loss of $780. Younger Australians aged 25-34 are more likely to report losing money, while men are more likely to experience higher losses.
Sydney, Australia, — 11 FEBRUARY— 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 half of Australians has encountered a fake profile or AI‑generated bot, and 25% have spotted AI‑generated or modified photos on dating or social apps. Meanwhile, 48% 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. A number that jumps to 70% of adults under 35.
During the same period, McAfee Labs recorded a notable year‑over‑year decline in dating‑app‑themed malicious URLs, suggesting romance scammers may be shifting how they target Aussies.
The same apps and platforms that help people connect are also increasingly exploited by scammers who prey on trust and emotional vulnerability. Fifteen percent of Australians 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 42% of adults under 45, and 7% 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. Nearly half of Australians (48%) 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 Tyler McGee, Head of APJ, at McAfee. “When half of Australians 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."
McAfee’s research found that 1 in 7 Australians has lost money to an online dating or romance scam, and nearly one in three scam survivors recover none of their funds.
Consumer Research
- Nearly a third of adults ages 18–24 encounter potential romance scams weekly, compared with 1 in 10 (12%) adults age 65+.
- One in three (31%) received a fake “exclusive” or “invite‑only” dating app invitation; 13% signed up and shared personal or payment information.
- Men are nearly twice 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 Australians (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 women and adults aged 18-24.
What lasts longer than the financial hit is the emotional impact. Nearly everyone who has experienced an online dating scam (94%) 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 sceptical 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 behaviour 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 analysed 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 behaviour.
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 https://www.mcafee.com/en-au/index.html
