Hyderabad police warn of AI dating app scams
HYDERABAD: Police have warned of cyber fraud involving fake friendship and dating apps that use artificial intelligence-generated videos of women to lure users.
Short videos circulating on social media platforms invite users with lines such as, “Feeling lonely? No one to talk to? Shall we chat?” They ask viewers to download specific apps, claiming a woman will be available to talk. However, the women shown in these videos are not real but created using artificial intelligence.
App operators promote these videos widely to attract users. Once individuals join, they are drawn into paid interactions under the guise of friendship or dating. Users are charged ₹100 for phone calls and ₹500 for video calls, leading to financial losses.
Charges per minute attract users into paid traps
These apps primarily target single users across age groups. Advertisements for such platforms are widely circulated on social media, especially at night. Operators initially claim that conversations are free, but later introduce charges on a per-minute basis through recharges.
Personal data theft leads to blackmail risks
Police said such online friendship and dating platforms function like online betting scams. Once users engage, their personal data is accessed without their knowledge. This data can later be used for various cybercrimes.
Officials added that video calls with unknown women are often recorded secretly. Fraudsters then threaten to release these recordings on social media if users refuse to pay money. In several cases, victims have paid lakhs of rupees out of fear of reputational damage.
Police have urged the public to remain cautious and avoid downloading or engaging with such apps that use attractive videos to lure users.
