India, Feb 10 :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 75% of Indians have encountered fake profiles or photos that look AI-generated on dating websites, apps, or social media. While 46% of Indians have found out they were interacting online with an AI-generated bot or someone with a fake profile and 33% say that they’ve been a victim of catfishing.
The same apps and platforms that help people connect are also increasingly exploited by scammers who prey on trust and emotional vulnerability. 1 in 7 Indians have lost money to an online dating / romance scam, with an average loss of INR 280,650.
The New Face of Dating Scams in India
Dating scams in India have evolved into highly organised, multi-layered operations that often combine emotional manipulation with financial fraud. Scammers now use fake or AI-generated profiles on dating and matrimonial platforms to build trust, often presenting themselves as caring individuals, potential partners, or people involved in charitable causes.
Once a relationship is established, victims may be steered toward bogus stock trading or crypto platforms, manipulated into sending money for fabricated emergencies, or trapped through sextortion using intimate content. In some cases, fake profiles are also used to lure victims to physical locations such as bars or cafes, where they are pressured into paying heavily inflated bills. These scams are reported most frequently by young adults, and can lead to significant financial losses and deep emotional distress.
Consumer Research
34% of adults ages 18–24 encounter potential romance scams weekly
60% received a fake “exclusive” or “invite‑only” dating app invitation; 29% signed up and shared personal or payment information
The 25–34 age group emerges as the epicenter of scam exposure, with nearly half (48%) encountering scams at least weekly—10% more than once a day, 16% daily, and 22% weekly
Global 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 and Bumble amongst others.
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.
“Romance scams succeed because they exploit trust before asking for money”
Pratim Mukherjee, Senior Director of Engineering, McAfee.
“Scammers use fake profiles and AI-driven bots to slowly build trust and make conversations feel real. As these scams become harder to distinguish from genuine interactions, awareness and strong protection tools matter more than ever.”
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 52% of people say it’s possible to develop romantic feelings toward an AI bot, with nearly 19% saying they’ve personally experienced romantic feelings for an AI chatbot.
More than half of Indians (75%) say they have been asked to send money or share financial information by someone they met through online dating or social platforms.
Younger adults are more likely to report losses, with 1 in 3 people aged 25–34 and nearly 1 in 4 aged 18–24 saying they’ve lost some money.
In many cases, the amounts are relatively small, often under ₹45,000. But even smaller losses can sting, and higher losses do occur — including cases over ₹90,000.
What Safer Online Dating Looks Like in the AI Era
To help consumers fight back, McAfee combines education with AI-powered protection, which analyses text, email, and video content to flag potential fakes – including deepfakes – and phishing attempts before they cause harm. As AI-generated media grows more convincing, these tools give people a way to verify what’s real before they click, share, or buy.
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.
