The Dark Side of Romantic AI Chatbots and Fake AI Girlfriend Apps

AI girlfriends and companions are becoming increasingly popular, with millions of downloads logged on app stores. These apps use large language models (LLMs) to mimic human empathy and compassion, offering relief to people who are lonely or those who want to practice their social skills online.

Like any popular technology, though, there are risks. These apps are mimicked by malicious actors who use similar interfaces and functionality to con users into spending money.

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Read on to learn about fake AI girlfriend apps and AI chatbot scams, and how to avoid them.

Fake AI Girlfriend Apps Explained

Most AI girlfriend or companion apps have a free and a paid option. The paid option usually offers more in-depth features or might allow you to spend longer on the app. Some might offer in-app purchases, such as outfits or themes.

Fake AI girlfriend apps play on this payment structure to trick unsuspecting users into paying for essentially nothing. Users may encounter apps with high ratings but offer a poor user experience. They have a few messages back and forth, seemingly building a rapport with the AI chatbot. Then they hit a paywall, which asks them to pay for tokens.

They pay for tokens, but within a few messages, they hit the same paywall again. Users pay over and over to maintain their connection with the chatbot. Some apps may also have limited memory, meaning the chatbot does not remember previous conversations. Unlike most “real” AI companion apps, there’s no relationship growth or memory. In deceptive cases, the interaction may appear designed primarily to encourage further purchases rather than provide the companionship users expected. Users cannot “get to know” their AI companions or vice versa, and they often won’t find this out until after they have already spent several dollars trying to get the most out of the app.

AI Chatbot Scams: Red Flags to Watch Out For

Not all AI companion apps are scams, but users should still beware of deceptive payment practices, poor data protections, and other warning signs. Watch out for the following:

Hundreds of five-star reviews in a very short space of time, e.g., one week
Reviews that are worded very similarly or appear to describe a different app
A developer that is unknown or that doesn’t have a website or any contact details
Apps that try to gain access to your camera roll or contacts
Apps with no recent updates, particularly if they also have bugs, security complaints, or outdated privacy information

If you download an app and it asks for permissions that don’t appear necessary considering its advertised features, consider denying the permissions or deleting the app.

Protect Yourself From AI Chatbot Scams

Fake AI girlfriend apps are one example of how AI-related products and services can be used in deceptive schemes. The best advice is to avoid AI companion apps altogether, as they are a privacy risk as well as being accessible to bad actors. AI apps are not well regulated, so there are no guarantees that your “private conversations” are actually private. That data could easily be leaked, leaving you open to extortion.

For more updates on the latest AI-powered cybercrimes, sign up for Scam Detector’s Scam Alerts. Stay informed so you can navigate modern apps with more confidence.

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