2026 Romance Scam Alert: How AI and Deepfakes Are Hijacking Valentine’s Day
On the latest episode of the Titans of Technology podcast, host John Gormally—Marketing Coordinator for Coeus Consulting—pulls back the curtain on the multi-billion dollar romance scam industry.
Why 2026 is the “Dark Age” of Digital Romance
The days of spotting a scammer via broken English or grainy photos are over. In 2026, the “Digital Romance Sham” is powered by industrial-scale AI. Criminal syndicates now use Generative AI to maintain emotionally resonant, linguistically perfect conversations for months, building a level of trust that was previously impossible for bots.
In this episode, John Gormally breaks down the four critical threats facing online daters today:
1. Real-Time Deepfake Video Calls
Scammers now use “AI Rooms” to facilitate live face-swapping during video calls. When you ask to see your partner’s face to “verify” they are real, they look exactly like their profile picture. John provides practical Deepfake detection tips, such as watching for unnatural blinking patterns or “glitches” when the person moves their hand across their face.
2. The Rise of AI Voice Cloning
With only three seconds of audio, a predator can clone a voice to sound exactly like a specific person or even a celebrity. These vishing (voice phishing) attacks add a layer of intimacy that makes the scam feel undeniably real.
3. “Pig Butchering” and Crypto Fraud
The phenomenon of Pig Butchering (Sha Zhu Pan) has evolved. Scammers no longer ask for small wire transfers. Instead, they “fatten up” the victim with emotional intimacy before steering them toward fraudulent cryptocurrency investment platforms. By the time the victim tries to withdraw their “profits,” their life savings are gone.
4. Social Engineering on Professional Networks
It’s not just Tinder or Bumble anymore. Scammers are increasingly active on LinkedIn, using professional personas to bypass your natural defenses.
Cybersecurity for Dating: John Gormally’s 3 Golden Rules
During the podcast, John shares the Coeus Consulting framework for protecting your personal data and finances:
- Financial Requests are a Dead End: If an online romantic interest mentions crypto, gift cards, or urgent medical bills, the relationship is a scam. Period.
- Verify via Secondary Channels: If you suspect a deepfake, ask the caller to perform a specific action, like turning their head 90 degrees or waving a hand in front of their eyes to break the AI rendering.
- Audit Your Digital Footprint: Scammers scrape social media to tailor their manipulation. Keep your profiles private and be wary of anyone who seems “too perfect” for your specific interests.
Don’t let a digital predator exploit your heart this Valentine’s Day.
About the Author
John Gormally is the marketing coordinator for Coeus Consulting. John brings 28 years of experience in marketing, sales, and engineering across several technology domains, including cybersecurity, cloud, managed services, and digital marketing.
About Coeus Consulting
Coeus Consulting is the premier IT consulting firm powered by AI for managed IT, cybersecurity, compliance, and cloud solutions. We proudly serve the small to medium business community across the Southwest powered by our Codex framework.