One in five Brazilian dating app users report being targeted by cybercriminals, according to Norton

With the increase in the number of users on relationship platforms, the current scenario reveals the risks involved, as scammers are also exploring people's search for love and company to apply sophisticated romantic scams. 

A new survey of Norton, the cybersecurity brand of Gen(NASDAQ: GEN), performed with Brazilians, traces an x ray of users' habits and the risks of digital love. According to the survey, almost four out of ten (37%) of Brazilians are using a dating app currently and many spend on average almost 9 hours (8.69) per week in these apps. Among those who use dating apps, one in five Brazilians (21%) claim to have been the target of a scam.

Iskander Sanchez-Rola, Director of Innovation at Norton explains that romantic scams are also known as online dating scams. “This type of scam happens when a person is tricked into believing that they are in a romantic relationship with someone they met on the internet, but that in fact their other half is a cybercriminal.In this case, he uses a false identity to gain the victim's sufficient trust and ask for their personal information or money. Thus, the cybercriminal can scam or gain financial advantages”, warns.

Among Brazilians (21%) who reported being targeted by cybercriminals85% were victims of a coup, the most prevalent being:

• 41% of Brazilians have already been victims of romantic scams. A romantic scam is when the person is tricked into thinking they are in a relationship with someone they met on the internet, but that they are actually a scammer using a fake identity to gain the victim's trust and ask for money from them.
• 29% of Brazilians were victims of Catfishing. It is the act of the scammer to impersonate another person online, using photos and information about them or a fictitious identity catfishers they can steal someone's identity, including their name, photos, and birthday data. 
• 27% of Brazilians were victims of Sugar Daddy/Sugar Baby scams. In this type of romantic scam, the scammer impersonates a wealthy individual who wishes to send money to a younger person in exchange for online companionship.After gaining their trust, the cybercriminal asks for an initial fee or personal information before sending their allowance. 
• 23% of Brazilians were victims of photo scamsscammers seek to convince their target to send personal information in exchange for intimate photos.
• 16% of Brazilians have been victims of fake dating sites. These are scam dating sites that claim to be legitimate, but are actually full of scammers.These sites are created to mine information.
• 15% of Brazilians were victims of military romance coups. The scammer impersonates a military man, probably detached.He creates a relationship of trust using jargon and military titles and then asks for money to cover expenses, such as flights back home, for example.
• 15% were victims of sextortion scamsthis type of scam is particularly insidious, involving threats of disclosure of private or compromising information unless a ransom is paid, usually in cryptocurrencies. These scams start with phishing emails and exploit human emotions such as fear and shame. 
• 13% of Brazilians have been victims of malware scams. In this case, the recipient interacts with a scammer who sends him a website that looks legitimate; however, it is a page that includes malware. 
• 12% of Brazilians were victims of fraud related to diseases or medical scams. These scams involve scammers pretending to offer treatments or claiming to suffer from false illnesses, stealing money or personal information.This may include selling fake cures, falsifying medical conditions to solicit donations, or impersonating health insurance agents to gain access to sensitive data.
• 9% of Brazilians were victims of code verification scams. Scammers send a fake verification code by email or text message, pretending to be a dating app or website. After clicking on it, personal information is requested, including credit card number. 

In addition: 8% of Brazilians were victims of inheritance scams; 7% were victims of visa or immigration scams; and 7% were also victims of cryptocurrency or investment scams.

The security of dating apps

The Norton survey also analyzed the behavior and perceptions of Brazilians regarding the security of applications, when seeking a relationship in the digital universe.

Almost seven out of ten (67%) of app users surveyed said they had encountered suspicious profiles or messages at least once a week, which leads many Brazilians to seek to ensure their safety before any face-to-face meeting. 

More than one-third of current online dating users (36%) in Brazil talk to someone on a dating app for a week or less, before they are willing to meet in person. However, most Brazilians (94%) take the following precautions, such as:

• Search for the person on social networks or the internet (57%)
• Make a video call with the person (48%)
• Message the person outside the dating app or platform (42%)
• Tell a friend or family member about the meeting plans before you make it (40%)
• Share your location with a family member or friend before the meeting (38%)
• Make a phone call with the person (32%).

To avoid falling victim to scams, Iskander Sanchez-Rola recommends that “ users of dating apps remain alert to signs of fraud and take proactive measures to protect their personal information.In addition, it is critical to always maintain a healthy level of skepticism, avoiding sharing sensitive data and never sending money to unknown”.

Research methodology

The study was conducted online in Brazil by Dynata on behalf of Gen from December 5 to 19, 2024, among 1,002 adults aged 18 and older.