Dr Ismini Vasileiou has appeared on ITV news to warn that AI‑driven romance scams are rising fast – while also becoming harder for victims to spot.

Speaking after ITV highlighted the case of musician Becky Baldwin, whose face and voice were cloned using artificial intelligence to defraud a fan, EMCSC founder and director Dr Vasileiou stressed that romance fraud is no longer limited to fake profiles and text messages. 

The news package, aired on Wednesday 12 February, described how criminals are now using deepfake tools to generate highly convincing videos and audio that appear to show real people asking for money or sharing personal details.

Dr Vaslieou said that scams of this kind are on the rise as a result of advances in AI.

“It’s not about intelligence but professional manipulation. Scammers are able to adjust more quickly and consistently to attract their potential victims,” said Dr Vasileiou.

Deepfake tools allow scammers to produce videos which build ‘relationships’ that feel authentic over weeks or months before any financial request is made, making victims more likely to ignore their doubts. 

Dr Vasileiou, Associate Professor at Leicester’s De Montfort University, urged online daters to be extremely cautious when someone they have never met in person asks for money, cryptocurrency or gifts, however genuine the situation appears. 

She advised people to slow down, cross‑check stories with friends or family, and use independent channels to verify identities where possible – for example, by arranging video calls on trusted platforms and watching for signs of manipulation or reluctance to meet.

“If they mention any money interactions or any crypto, stop and think. If your instinct says something isn’t right, share it with your colleagues, your friends, someone you really trust,” she said.

While platforms and policymakers are beginning to respond with new safety measures and deepfake‑detection tools, Dr Vasileiou emphasised that individual awareness remains critical.

She added: “If someone you only know online is asking for money, treat it as a serious warning sign – even if the face and voice on the screen look just like someone you think you can trust.”