Valentine’s season used to bring a predictable spike in romance scams: fake dating profiles, emotional manipulation, and requests for urgent financial help. The 2026 version looks far more convincing. Artificial intelligence (AI) now allows scammers to create realistic voices and lifelike video clips, making their stories feel authentic and trustworthy in ways that were impossible just a few years ago.
Small and mid-sized businesses (SMBs) face growing exposure to these scams because employees, executives, and finance teams regularly handle sensitive communications. A deepfake message that sounds like a company leader or a trusted partner can trigger costly mistakes before anyone realizes something is wrong.
Why AI-powered romance scams are harder to spot
Deepfake technology uses AI to generate synthetic audio and video that closely mimics a real person’s voice, facial movements, and mannerisms. Modern tools require only a short sample of recorded speech or publicly available photos to create convincing impersonations.
Criminal groups combine these capabilities with traditional romance-scam tactics. Instead of relying on text messages alone, they now send voice notes, conduct live video calls, or deliver emotional pleas through realistic “recorded” messages. A scammer might pose as a long-distance partner and suddenly claim a business emergency, asking the victim to wire funds immediately.
Reports from cybersecurity researchers show that criminals increasingly use AI-generated content to create believable online identities, including social media accounts filled with fabricated photos, work histories, and personal stories. The result feels far more credible than the poorly written scam emails of the past.
Why businesses are becoming prime targets
Romance scams is no longer a purely personal threat. Increasingly, attackers use emotional manipulation to create financial pressure that spills into the workplace. An employee entangled in an online relationship may be persuaded to keep secrets, act urgently, or “help” during a fabricated crisis — behaviors that mirror common business fraud tactics.
Because employees often use the same devices for personal and professional communications, the boundary between private vulnerability and corporate risk is thin. Once trust and emotional dependence are established, attackers may shift from requesting personal funds to targeting company resources. They also exploit workplace hierarchies, knowing that authority and urgency can override standard controls.
Imagine the following scenario: a realistic deepfake audio message, supposedly from a company owner, convinces a finance manager to process an urgent payment that’s tied to a “personal crisis.” In another case, a scammer uses AI to impersonate a vendor during a video call to request updated banking details. In both situations, the tactics echo romance scams: emotional pressure, secrecy, and appeals to trust.
SMBs face particular risk because they often lack formal verification procedures or dedicated security teams. Limited cybersecurity training also makes it harder for staff to recognize emerging threats that rely on psychological manipulation rather than technical vulnerabilities.
Warning signs that a deepfake scam may be underway
Even the most realistic AI content often leaves subtle clues. Teams should stay alert for patterns such as:
- Sudden requests involving secrecy or urgent financial action
- Messages that discourage verification through normal channels
- Voice recordings that sound slightly robotic or inconsistent in tone
- Video calls with unusual lighting, visual distortions, or audio that doesn’t quite match the speaker’s movements
Unusual emotional intensity can also signal a scam. Attackers frequently attempt to create panic, sympathy, or romantic attachment to push victims into quick decisions.
Practical steps to protect your organization
As romance scams increasingly intersect with workplace fraud, SMBs can reduce risk by combining clear procedures with modern security tools.
Start by establishing strict verification protocols for financial transactions and sensitive requests. Any payment instruction should require confirmation through an independent channel, such as a known phone number or secure messaging platform.
Employee awareness training plays a central role. Staff should understand how romance scams evolve into corporate fraud, including the use of AI-generated voice messages, deepfake video calls, and impersonation tactics. Training should reinforce the importance of pausing, verifying, and escalating unusual requests, even when they appear to come from trusted colleagues, executives, or vendors.
Technology safeguards provide another layer of defense. Advanced email filtering, identity-verification systems, and AI-based threat detection tools can identify suspicious behavior before it leads to financial loss.
Staying ahead of the next wave of scams
Deepfake technology will continue evolving, and attackers are already experimenting with real-time voice cloning and automated video impersonation. Businesses, especially SMBs, that rely solely on human judgment may struggle to keep pace with these rapidly changing tactics.
Partnering with an experienced IT partner can help businesses implement layered security strategies, establish clear response procedures, and stay informed about emerging threats. A proactive approach reduces risk and gives employees confidence when handling sensitive communications.
Concerned about how AI-powered scams could affect your organization? NetQuest’s cybersecurity specialists can assess your current protections and recommend practical solutions tailored to your business environment. Reach out to us today.
