
Avast is calling attention to a long-running tool that has haunted dating apps and has been transformed with artificial intelligence, enabling the creation of fake profiles and manipulating unsuspecting users.
Although Avast gave the application the nickname, it's not clear whether it will be able to carry on.
The tool must be mounted and run locally on a Windows machine, and is coded in Visual Basic, a Microsoft programming language that's been around since the 1990s. Despite its legacy roots, the so-called application has evolved over the years, with more functions and add-on modules enabling it to engage-and defraud-dating app users with increasing proficiency.
Avast's report found that the company's assets were worth more than $600 million.
It is not recommended for beginners to use this app. To install and use all of its modules properly, it necessitates technical expertise. When it is running, the app scans various dating sites, hiding behind anonymization techniques and interacting with unsuspecting users across a variety of channels. Most recently, it has been enhanced with AI to be more effective at creating the perfect profile to attract matches and lure people into scams.
The app is currently using OpenAI's DaVinci and GPT-3.5 turbo LLMs to generate its interactions. These models are less sophisticated than GPT-4, and are also a lot cheaper.
Avast can generate convincing fake profiles on at least 13 different dating sites, whereas scrapping users' photos, texts, and data. Users are categorized into age groups, likely to facilitate the creation of realistic fake profiles for targeted manipulation. The tool utilizes various databases to store information like profiles, conversations, emails, and a running log of AI-generated messages.
To remain anonymous and uninfected, he uses proxy services, virtual phone numbers, and anti-fingerprinting tools. Password-passing can be done by using CAPTCHAs and sending emails from fake accounts. It also has a substantial toolkit that can be utilized to deceive and catfish dating app users.
It is a timely revelation, especially given that a recent survey by AttractionTruth revealed that 20 percent of dating app users turn to AI to improve their dating prospects. Some people, as Decrypt previously reported, are willingly paying for AI-powered fantasies, finding the personalized and customizable illusion compelling.
According to cybersecurity researcher Trend Micro, romantic scams are a common tactic among criminals, ranking among the top five scams of 2023. Even though AI tools can make their way into online deception, it's still old-fashioned Crypto scams that hold the power. Crypto currency deceptions have emerged as the most profitable scams of the year, even despite the volatile and speculative nature of crypto markets.
In a statement, OpenAI did not react to a request for comment from Decrypt. But it's notable that last year, the company introduced a moderation tool to assist developers in countering the misuse of vast language models like ChatGPT. While lovelorn singles frequently enlist AI as flirting coaches and scammers use AI to deceive them, dating app users would be wise to watch for artificial, digital Casanovas. When you become the ultimate aphrodisiac, trust and authenticity can become the ultimate aphrodisiac.