FBI issues urgent holiday warning: Romance scams spike 40% as "AI Boyfriends" target single women

Published on March 12, 2026
2 minute read

The "Digital" Heartbreaker The FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) has issued a stark warning to single women this holiday season: be on high alert. New data released this week indicates a projected 40% spike in romance scams during December, driven by a terrifying new technology: AI Voice Cloning. Authorities warn that scammers are no longer just typing text messages. They are using deepfake technology to create convincing voice notes and video calls, posing as wealthy professionals working overseas to target users on Hinge, Bumble, and Instagram. The goal? To gain trust quickly before the "holiday emergency" money request hits.