Too real to trust? AI scams are making Gen Z wary of online dating
For many young people, dating apps once felt like the easiest way to meet someone new. A few swipes, a few messages and perhaps the beginning of something meaningful.
But lately, a quiet hesitation has started to grow.
Not because people have stopped believing in love online, but because they are beginning to question whether the person on the other side of the screen is even real.
A warning from Barclays suggests fears surrounding artificial intelligence scams are starting to shape how Generation Z approaches online dating. For a generation that grew up online, the digital world suddenly feels a little less trustworthy.
One of the biggest concerns involves deepfake technology. Using AI tools, scammers can now create convincing videos or images of people who do not actually exist, or manipulate real footage to make it appear authentic.
In the context of online dating, this can become a powerful deception. A scammer might build the image of an attractive partner, slowly develop trust through messages or video calls, and eventually introduce a personal emergency that requires financial help.
By the time money enters the conversation, the emotional connection may already feel genuine.
According to Barclays, nearly half of adults in Generation Z say concerns about AI scams have already influenced the way they approach online dating. More than half now say they prefer meeting potential partners in real life rather than through dating apps.
The anxiety reflects a broader uncertainty about how easily reality can now be manipulated online.
Across households, many people admit they are no longer confident in their ability to identify AI-generated scams. Around two in three households say they would struggle to tell the difference between real and fake content.
Voice cloning, manipulated videos and AI-generated images are among the technologies people feel least confident recognising.
Romance scams are only one part of the picture.
Shopping fraud has also become increasingly sophisticated. Scammers can now use AI to build convincing online stores, complete with polished images, realistic product descriptions and fabricated customer reviews.
In many cases, the products being advertised simply do not exist.
Barclays warns that requests to pay through bank transfers, cryptocurrencies or gift cards should immediately raise suspicion, as these payment methods offer far less protection than credit or debit cards.
Investment scams have also taken on a new dimension in the age of artificial intelligence.
These schemes often begin with a video circulating on social media. A familiar public figure appears on screen enthusiastically promoting a new investment opportunity that promises extraordinary returns.
Except the video is not real.
It may be an AI-generated deepfake designed to lure viewers into transferring money into a fraudulent scheme. Victims are sometimes shown fabricated screenshots and account dashboards suggesting profits are rising rapidly.
Even respected financial figures have been targeted in such scams.
Co-founder Peter Hargreaves of Hargreaves Lansdown and former Fidelity fund manager Anthony Bolton both had their likeness used in fake promotional material by scammers last year.
Head of economic crime Paul Davis at Barclays says the rapid development of AI tools is fuelling uncertainty among consumers of all ages.
He encourages people to take their time, do proper research and question offers that appear unusually generous before making financial decisions.
In a digital landscape where images, voices and even identities can now be manufactured, learning to pause and verify information is becoming an increasingly valuable habit.
