AI Romance Scams Are Breaking Hearts and Bank Accounts in Canada
AI romance scams are surging in Canada, with fraudsters using deepfakes and chatbots to exploit trust, leaving victims heartbroken and broke.
AI Scams
✍️By Debbie Balfour | WBN News | October 1, 2025 | Click HERE for your FREE Subscription to WBN News and/or to be a Contributor.
Romance scams have long preyed on loneliness and trust, but in Canada, Artificial Intelligence is taking this crime to a chilling new level. Fraudsters are now deploying AI chatbots, deepfake photos, and even cloned voices to sustain long-term digital relationships, designed not for love, but for financial exploitation.
The Evolution of the Romance Scam
Traditional romance fraud relied on stolen stock photos and clumsy scripts. Today, AI allows criminals to maintain personalized conversations around the clock. Chatbots generate heartfelt messages, while AI photo generators create realistic dating profiles with faces that don’t exist. Victims, often unaware, form genuine emotional attachments with a person who is nothing more than lines of code.
Who’s Being Targeted?
Canadians across all age groups are at risk, but seniors and recent divorcees are especially vulnerable. The Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre reports romance scams as one of the costliest fraud types in the country, with losses exceeding $50 million annually. With AI tools lowering barriers for scammers, those numbers are expected to climb.
Deepfake Love, A Dangerous Illusion
Some victims have reported video calls where fraudsters used deepfake technology to appear as attractive, trustworthy individuals. Others received audio messages in “their partner’s voice,” cloned from short clips. These illusions build trust, making requests for money feel like genuine acts of care, whether for a supposed emergency, travel costs, or even “investment opportunities.”
Red Flags to Watch For
- Too perfect, too fast: Rapid declarations of love after short online contact.
- Avoidance of in-person meetings: Excuses pile up when asked to meet face-to-face.
- Requests for secrecy: Warnings not to tell friends or family.
- Financial appeals: Emergencies, medical needs, or business opportunities requiring your help.
Protecting Your Heart and Wallet
Canadians should stay skeptical of online relationships that move quickly or involve money. Reverse-image searches, video call verification, and checking profiles across multiple platforms can expose fakes. The Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre urges anyone suspicious to report activity early to stop scams from spreading further.
AI may be rewriting the rules of dating, but it’s also arming fraudsters with powerful deception tools. Protecting yourself in today’s digital world requires balancing openness with caution, because when love is manufactured by AI, the cost can be heartbreak and financial ruin.
Debbie Balfour | Real Estate Investing Success Coach + Podcast Host
📍 Website: www.DebbieBalfour.com
📧 Email: Debbie@DebbieBalfour.com
🔗 LinkedIn: Debbie Balfour
▶️ YouTube Channel: youtube.com/@DebbieBalfour
Join the FREE Facebook Group: Let's Talk Real Estate Investing
TAGS: #AI Scams #Romance Fraud #Deepfake Scams #Canadian Seniors #Cyber Security #Online Dating #WBN AI Edition #WBN News Langley #WBN News Abbotsford #WBN News Okanagan #Debbie Balfour
Sources:
- Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre – National statistics on romance scams
- RCMP Fraud Awareness – Reports on online relationship fraud cases
- Global News Canada – Coverage of victims losing money to AI romance fraud
- Financial and Consumer Services Commission (FCNB) – Warnings on AI and deepfake scams
- Better Business Bureau (Canada) – Guidance on safe online dating
Members Discussion