A professional matchmaker is urging Canadians to be aware of the impact new technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI) are having on the growing incidence of online dating scams.
“There are a lot of AI options now for people to make fake profiles,” Krystal Walter told Global News.
Walter, who runs Krystal Walter Matchmaking in Calgary, Vancouver and Toronto, pointed out that profiles can look and sound so realistic that they can easily trick people into believing they are legitimate.
Scammers start by selecting from a long list of computer-generated photos of the “perfect” man or woman, then add “desirable” qualifications and create a profile from there. Walter said everything from eye and hair color to ethnicity and even “conversational tone” can be included.
He said AI programs can also remove some of the usual “red flags” – such as misspellings and bad grammar – from text, making it harder to spot them as fake. But then again, he said, that’s just what it is.
“This is all computer generated. None of them are real people.”
Romance scams were the second costliest scams in Canada in 2022.
According to Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre more than 1,400 cases were reported last year. The statistics also show that more than 1,000 people suffered a total loss from romance scams that exceeded $59 million.
The center, which collects information on fraud and identity theft, currently has notice on its website that specifically warns of romance scams. It warns people to protect themselves and always avoid sending money or personal information to anyone you haven’t met in person.
Walter has many of the same tips she follows in her own business.
She does the legwork for her clients, vetting both them and any potential suitors, including checking their IDs and even Zoom calls to make sure the person is legit.
Her suggestion for anyone doing any kind of online dating on their own: be extra careful and considerate.
“It’s a great tool to get to know someone, but the best option is to get to know them outside of the app. As fast as you can.”
© 2023 Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.
