How Deepfakes Are Transforming dating apps – and why we must act now.

A significant portion of dating app users have encountered or been deceived by deepfake romance scams. Recent data from Censuswide UK of February 2025 shows that three quarters of UK dating app users suspect they have seen deepfake profiles, with 19% having been misled directly. 

This alarming situation creates a call for action like never before. Millions of people use dating apps to find partners. Malicious actors and criminals use AI powered creator tools to make and generate realistic deepfake images and videos of an individual, using the manipulated media to create a profile on dating apps to misrepresent and defraud. Deepfake profiles not only threaten the monetary loss a person may face due to the trust they place in an emotional or romantic partner but also increase lack of trust in the dating apps. This situation not only requires vigilance from regular users of dating apps but also scrutiny from the companies developing and overseeing operations of these apps, as in the long term increasing lack of trust in the apps may lead to significant loss of business.

Deepfake Dating App Scams

Deepfake dating scams are making their way to the news increasingly and ever more people are not only aware now of its existence but also intimidated by the threat. Users of dating apps are severely concerned about the presence of fake profiles with AI-generated photos on dating apps. 

According to recent data by Censuswide UK, 86% of singles in the UK are “very concerned” about the future of the internet and society due to deepfakes. Meanwhile, 81% users feel that dating apps are “not doing enough” to protect them from AI content.

This feeling of insecurity among the users is highly likely to lead to drop in the numbers of users as more people will stop using the app as the word spreads about the threat and lack of countermeasures by platform.

Moreover, the mere presence of deepfakes on these apps is impacting user behavior directly, 43% of users say that “they would use dating apps less if AI content was prevalent and 11% considered stopping altogether”. 

This “AI Content” on dating apps is mainly verified profiles made by malicious actors who bypass the apps verification system using a live deepfake video and later upload deepfake images on the created profile, in result effectively impersonating someone for the purpose of scam. This happens with lack of effective verification tools integrated by platforms or when an already implemented facial verification system of an app is severely lacking technologically and fails to effectively detect the deepfake attacks.

This shift in user emotions regarding dating apps is a direct threat to the business of apps, which can lead to millions if not billions in losses for dating app companies. 

The need to develop effective detection strategies and integrating detection tools is also at an all time high. This comes from the fact that 79% victims of deepfake dating apps scams “were overconfident in their ability to detect” and believed they could identify a deepfake profile if encountered(Censuswide UK). These numbers highlight how necessary it has become for companies owning dating apps to integrate countermeasures in their app. 

Monetary Losses Resulting from Deepfake Romance Scams:

Apart from several damages caused by deepfake scams including but not limited to emotional damage, mental health, trust issues, a rising and far more impacting damage is the loss of a significant amount of finances. Romance scams, often substantiated by deepfake technology have resulted in astonishing financial losses. According to data provided by ActionFraud UK, in the last five years alone, an estimated £410 million was lost to romance scams in the UK.

Some high-profile examples from recent times include:

• A French woman was led to believe she was dating popular actor Brad Pitt and was scammed out of 830,000 Euros.
• According to the US Federal Trade Commission, romance scams led to over $1.14 billion in losses for US consumers in 2023, with the average loss per victim being around $2,000.
• As per a report by CNN, AI-powered romance scams defrauded victims in Hong Kong, Taiwan, Singapore and India of $46 million.

Deloitte’s Center for Financial Services predicts that Gen AI scams, including deepfakes used in romance scams are projected to reach $40 billion by 2027, from $12.3 Billion in 2023, a compound annual growth rate of 32%. 

These facts, figures and examples raise an urgent call to action for prevention and detection strategies, tools and techniques.

Detection , Prevention & Solution: 

The rise of these scams is alarming but there’s still a hint of hope. Platforms can employ advanced deepfake detection technology to create safer digital spaces where real connections prevail. AI-powered detection tools don’t just scan for fake or manipulated media but also act as a shield, protecting users from deception before it can cause harm. AI-powered detection tools can help platforms:

• Verify identification during the initial onboarding when a user is creating a profile. Liveness detection feature of AI Detection tools, such as the one provided by FACIA can help apps verify if a person is real or a deepfake.
• Authenticating access through Facial biometrics is also an additional layer of security which can be deployed every time a person log-in to their profile. This helps protect not only from deepfake attacks but also from profile hacking attacks.
• Deepfake detection tools which use Artificial Intelligence and have the capability of detecting the latest threats posed by deepfakes can be integrated into apps for effective detection and deletion of already existing deepfake profiles. 

Additionally, detection tools matter not only for consumer protection but also for platform protection. Dating app companies can deploy several effective strategies to this extent such as having a proactive approach to the problem, implementing AI detection tools which work silently at the backend, spotting and removing fake profiles before they get a chance to manipulate unsuspecting users.

Integrating AI powered detection tools will help dating app companies regain the lost trust of consumers and comply with already enforced and proposed regulations surrounding deepfakes globally, non-compliance of which can cause severe reputational and monetary losses in the shape of fines and penalties. 

At the epicentre of it all, deepfake detection isn’t just about technology but more about people and community wellbeing. Integrating effective AI powered detection solutions, dating apps can promote genuine connections and in result enjoy the fruit of increased business, increased user trust and reliance. 

Conclusion:

The threat of deepfake dating app scams and the resulting harms are an astonishing reality. Specific global regulations and laws are still playing catch up with the growth of fraud but some jurisdictions such as the UK, EU and some US states are working proactively to introduce legislation. 

Platforms and dating app companies risk great liability in terms of user dissatisfaction and loss of business if proactive countermeasures are not taken beforehand and at the backend for early detection and effective removal of deepfake profiles. 

FACIA offers advanced AI technology , facial biometric verification, liveness detection and age estimation. By using the technology offered by FACIA, dating apps can scale confidently while also building trust, blocking fraud and boosting engagement. FACIA empowers businesses to protect their platforms and users from deepfake attacks ensuring:

• Effective detection of fake profiles and deepfake scams before they can harm the platform.
• Frictionless & ultra-secure verification experience for genuine users.
• Inclusive & bias mitigating results for fairness and diversity. 

 Moreover, using FACIA’s offsite deepfake detection service, already created deepfake profiles and content can be effectively flagged and removed. Its compliance with core principles of bias mitigation and extremely low False Rejection/False Acceptance rates make it ideal for deepfake detection and prevention.