AI Incident Database: Chatbots Allegedly Used in Romance Scams Targeting Nearly One-Third of New Zealand's Dating App Users
A Norton Cyber Safety Insights Report found that nearly one-third of New Zealand dating app users have been targeted by romance scams, with AI chatbots allegedly playing a growing role. The report, based on a January 2025 survey, indicates that 50% of dating app users believed they had interacted with AI-generated messages. Private investigators report cases where victims engage in long-term virtual relationships with fraudsters, often sending money.
AI Incident Database · Incident 954Operator lens (medium): inspect D2 (output validation), D6 (autonomy oversight), D7 (tool permissions).
Event summary
A Norton Cyber Safety Insights Report found that nearly one-third of New Zealand dating app users have been targeted by romance scams, with AI chatbots allegedly playing a growing role. The report, based on a January 2025 survey, indicates that 50% of dating app users believed they had interacted with AI-generated messages. Private investigators report cases where victims engage in long-term virtual relationships with fraudsters, often sending money.
Linked entities
- large-language-model-developers
organisation | 70%
- chatbot-developers
organisation | 70%
- romance-scammers-targeting-new-zealanders
organisation | 70%
- scammers
organisation | 70%
- new-zealand-dating-app-users
organisation | 70%
- romance-scam-victims
organisation | 70%
- financial-fraud-victims
organisation | 70%
Related graph edges
| Edge | Type | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| ent-aiid-large-language-model-developers to ent-psf-d1 | maps to | 60% |
| ent-aiid-large-language-model-developers to ent-psf-d1 | maps to | 60% |
| ent-aiid-large-language-model-developers to ent-psf-d1 | maps to | 60% |
| ent-aiid-large-language-model-developers to ent-psf-d2 | maps to | 60% |
| ent-aiid-large-language-model-developers to ent-psf-d2 | maps to | 60% |
| ent-aiid-large-language-model-developers to ent-psf-d2 | maps to | 60% |
| ent-aiid-large-language-model-developers to ent-psf-d6 | maps to | 60% |
| ent-aiid-large-language-model-developers to ent-psf-d6 | maps to | 60% |
| ent-aiid-large-language-model-developers to ent-psf-d6 | maps to | 60% |
| ent-aiid-large-language-model-developers to ent-psf-d1 | maps to | 60% |
| ent-aiid-large-language-model-developers to ent-psf-d1 | maps to | 60% |
| ent-aiid-large-language-model-developers to ent-psf-d1 | maps to | 60% |