AI-Fueled Scams Surge on Dating and Social Media Apps, Europol Warns
Europol officials have raised concerns about the surge in fraudulent activities on dating and social media apps, attributing the rise to the combination of artificial intelligence and ongoing conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East. The agency’s financial crime experts revealed that criminals are leveraging AI-generated scripts to target multiple victims simultaneously, with common schemes involving impersonation of individuals in war zones seeking funds.
Sebastian Bley, head of the Europol economic crime team, highlighted the trend of scammers posing as doctors in conflict zones, requesting funds for alleged urgent situations. Burkhard Mühl, overall head of the financial and economic crime unit at Europol, emphasized the financial impact, stating, “It can involve tens of thousands of euros in one case.”
Europol officials also warned about the rise of “bogus