In the digital age, Lovelorn Kiwis may unknowingly engage in risky behaviour. The emotional vulnerability of online dating A significant 18 percent of New Zealanders admit that feelings of loneliness lead them to take greater risks in online dating. Many engage with suspicious profiles or dismiss warning signs, hoping for a genuine connection.
In fact, more than half of people on dating apps 54 percent encounter suspicious profiles or messages weekly. The report shows 64 percent more dating scam attacks were blocked in New Zealand in than the year prior, with 21, attacks blocked on average each month. Kiwis are attempting to minimise their risks: 87 percent took some safety measures before meeting someone in person, such as looking up potential matches online, having a video or phone call, or informing friends or family about their plans.
Others go further by sharing their location with trusted contacts. However, even these measures are not enough to counteract the rising tide of deception. Dating apps β A hotbed for deceptive practices A quarter of people on dating apps admit to lying about their age, and 54 percent report encountering age-related deception from others. Nearly one in five people 19 percent have had their photos stolen and misused on fake profiles, potentially exposing them to identity theft and emotional harm.
Only 47 percent of people who currently use dating apps were able to correctly identify whether a profile photo was generated by AI despite 65 percent believing they could. Generational perceptions add another layer to the issue. These contrasting views reflect a need for broader education across all age groups, demonstrating that anyone, regardless of age, can be targeted by and fall victim to increasingly sophisticated scammers.
The ever-present threat of dating scams Dating scams remain an ever-present threat, with 31 percent of people on dating apps targeted and 38 percent of those falling victim. These figures highlight the creativity of fraudsters.
