DATING APPS DATUM

RESEARCHERS have developed AI algorithm that can detect fake profiles on popular dating apps.

Scientists have developed an algorithm that can spot dating scams.

A team of researchers trained AI software to ''think like humans'' when looking for fake dating profiles.

While the algorithm has only been deployed in  a research setting, it could one day be used to protect users on popular dating services like Tinder and Match.com

The study was conducted by a group of researchers from the University of Warwick and published this week.

Researchers first trained the algorithm by supplying it with profiles that were already deemed fake.

From this, AI was able to detect recurring elements between the profiles that might indicate it as being fake.

For example, the fake profiles might share the same phone number or IP address, as well as include stolen material, such as someone else's photo or user bio.

Additionally many of the fake profiles used similar  'stylistic' patterns of persuasive, messaging,'' not unlike the repeated language you might see across spam emails.

After scanning all  the fake profiles, the algorithm applied its knowledge to profiles submitted to online dating services and come to a conclusion on the probability of each profile being fake.

In total, only one percent of the profiles it flagged as fake were genuine, according to the University of Warwick.

The report doesn't say how successful it was at flagging genuine profiles or how many profiles it reviewed overall.

Still, the researchers say it bodes well for bringing the software to actual dating apps.

''The aim is to further enhance the technique and enable it to start being taken up by dating services within the next couple of years, helping them to prevent profiles being posted of scammers, the University of Warwick explained.

They believe the algorithm is sorely needed in an industry where romance scams are on the rise.

Last Tuesday, the  Federal Trade Commission  issued a notice saying that  ''romance scams,''   or scenarios where scammers trick love-lusting Internet users  into sending them money, costs victims an astonishing $143 million in  2018.

That's up from $33 million the previous year and making it the mostly cost type of consumer fraud reported to the  FTC.

''Online dating fraud is very common, often unreported crime that causes huge distress.''