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TLDR
Malwarebytes research shows that 70% of 18 22 year olds have faced an AI driven scam in the past year, well above the general population. AI now powers convincing extortion, impersonation, sextortion and romance scams that blend into...
How it works
Malwarebytes research shows that 70% of 18 22 year olds have faced an AI driven scam in the past year, well above the general population. AI now powers convincing extortion, impersonation, sextortion and romance scams that blend into...
Red flags
- : Messages or calls that look or sound like a known contact but feel off and push you to act fast Romantic or financial requests from someone never met in person, especially when paired with AI generated photos or voices Threats of exposure tied to demands for money, intimate images or login credentials
What to do
- 1: Verify the person's identity through a second channel before sending money, images or credentials Run suspicious profile pictures or videos through reverse image search and AI detection tools Report the scam to the platform and local authorities, and warn your contacts immediately
Source
malwarebytes
Source reviewed by Mythos Forensic Team
https://www.malwarebytes.com/blog/ai/2026/08/love-hate-relationship-the-ai-affair-young-people-love-ai-but-its-breaking-their-trustFAQ
Is AI scams target young users: deepfakes, sextortion and romance fraud on the rise a real scam pattern?
Yes. Treat the message, call, or payment request as suspicious until you verify it through an official channel.
What are the first warning signs?
: Messages or calls that look or sound like a known contact but feel off and push you to act fast Romantic or financial requests from someone never met in person, especially when paired with AI generated photos or voices Threats of exposure tied to demands for money, intimate images or login credentials
What should I do first?
: Verify the person's identity through a second channel before sending money, images or credentials Run suspicious profile pictures or videos through reverse image search and AI detection tools Report the scam to the platform and local authorities, and warn your contacts immediately
Can LegalAudit check my case?
Yes. Start a free chat and paste the message, link, sender, or payment details for triage.