With the increase in the number of users on dating platforms, the current scenario reveals the risks involved, since scammers are also exploiting people's search for love and companionship to carry out sophisticated romantic scams.
A new survey byNorton, the cybersecurity brand of the Gen™ (NASDAQ: GEN), carried out with Brazilians, it outlines a snapshot of users' habits and the risks of digital love. According to the survey, almost four in ten (37%) Brazilians are currently using a dating app and many spend an average of almost 9 hours (8,69) per week on these apps. Among those who use dating apps, one in five Brazilians (21%) claim to have been targeted by a scam
Iskander Sanchez-Rola, Norton’s Innovation Director explains that romantic scams are also known as online dating scams. "This type of scam happens when a person is deceived into believing they are in a romantic relationship with someone they met online", but in fact your other half is a cybercriminal. In this case, he uses a fake identity to gain enough trust from the victim and ask for their personal information or money. Thus, the cybercriminal can commit fraud or gain financial advantages, alert
Among Brazilians (21%) who reported having been targeted by cybercriminals, 85% were victims of a scam, being the most prevalent
- 41% of Brazilians have already been victims of romantic scams. A romantic scam is when a person is deceived into thinking they are in a relationship with someone they met online, but that, in fact, it is about a scammer using a false identity to gain the victim's trust and ask for money from her
- 29% of Brazilians have been victims of Catfishing. It is the act of the scammer posing as another person online, using photos and information about her or a fictitious identity. In some cases, thecatfishersthey can steal someone's identity, including your name, photos and birthday data.
- 27% of Brazilians have been victims of Sugar Daddy/Sugar Baby scams. In this type of romantic scam, the scammer pretends to be a wealthy individual who wants to send money to a younger person, in exchange for online company. After gaining your trust, the cybercriminal asks for an initial fee or personal information before sending your allowance.
- 23% of Brazilians have been victims of photo scams. The scammers seek to convince their target to send personal information, in exchange for intimate photos
- 16% of Brazilians have been victims of fake dating sitesThey are fraudulent dating sites that claim to be legitimate, but in fact they are full of scammers. These sites are created to mine information
- 15% of Brazilians have been victims of military romance scams. The scammer pretends to be a military officer, probably highlighted. He builds a relationship of trust using jargon and military titles and, next, asks for money to cover expenses, like flights back home, for example
- 15% were victims of sextortion scams. This type of scam is particularly insidious, involving threats of disclosing private or compromising information, unless a ransom is paid, generally in cryptocurrencies. These scams start with phishing emails and exploit human emotions such as fear and shame.
- 13% of Brazilians have been victims of malware scams. In this case, the recipient interacts with a scammer who sends him a website that looks legitimate; however, it is a page that includes malware.
- 12% of Brazilians were victims of fraud related to illnesses or medical scamsThese scams involve fraudsters pretending to offer treatments or claiming to suffer from fake illnesses, to steal money or personal information. This can include selling false cures, falsifying medical conditions to request donations or impersonating health insurance agents to gain access to confidential data
- 9% of Brazilians have been victims of code verification scams. The scammers send a fake verification code via email or text message, pretending to be a dating app or website. After clicking on it, personal information is requested, including credit card numbers.
In addition: 8% of Brazilians have been victims of inheritance scams; 7% were victims of visa or immigration scams; and 7% were also victims of cryptocurrency or investment scams
The security of dating apps
Norton's survey also analyzed the behavior and perceptions of Brazilians regarding the security of applications, when seeking a relationship in the digital universe
Almost seven out of ten (67%) of respondents who use apps said they had encountered suspicious profiles or messages at least once a week, what leads many Brazilians to seek to ensure their safety before any in-person meeting.
More than a third of current online dating users (36%) in Brazil chat with someone on a dating app for a week or less, before they are willing to meet in person. However, most Brazilians (94%) take the following precautions, how
- Search for the person on social media or the internet (57%)
- Make a video call with the person(48%)
- Message the person outside of the app or dating platform (42%)
- Tell a friend or family member about the meeting plans, before carrying it out (40%)
- Share your location with a family member or friend, before the meeting (38%)
- Make a phone call with the person (32%).
To avoid being a victim of scams, Iskander Sanchez-Rola recommends that "dating app users stay alert to signs of fraud and take proactive measures to protect their personal information. Furthermore, it is essential to always maintain a healthy level of skepticism, avoiding sharing sensitive data and never sending money to strangers
Research methodology
The study was conducted online in Brazil by Dynata on behalf of Gen from December 5 to 19, 2024, between 1.002 adults aged 18 years or older.
