LAS VEGAS — Officials are warning Las Vegas residents to be vigilant against Valentine’s Day-related scams, including fake flower deliveries and fraudulent gift offers.
AI-driven Valentine’s Day scams are on the rise this year, where scammers are using bots and deepfake technology to create realistic online profiles. Cybersecurity expert Cliff Steinhauer with the National Cybersecurity Alliance explains what this looks like:
“It looks like the real person from the profile,” and adds, “The biggest red flag of all is when money becomes involved. As soon as someone you’re in a relationship with asks for money, help, or an investment, that’s when the scam really takes off.”
In addition to online dating, scammers are posing as flower shops or delivery companies to scam unknowing customers out of money. Last-minute gift shoppers are often the main target. Experts recommend customers reach out to the store directly to verify details before clicking links and making a payment.
What makes these scams often successful is that they exploit emotion. Jennifer Whittaker, Acting Assistant Special Agent in charge at the FBI San Diego Field Office, shares advice on how residents can avoid being scammed:
“What we advise for people is to take a beat, take a breath, take the opportunity to talk to your friends and family, because they’ll be looking at this individual, not through the lens of emotion.”
