The weeks leading up to Valentine’s Day bring heightened feelings of love, connection, and hope. Every year, more people turn to dating apps and social media platforms in search of companionship during this period. However, the rise in online interaction also creates opportunities for fraud, as scammers exploit increased shopping, gifting, and dating activity to steal money and personal data. Law enforcement agencies across Africa say these scams are no longer isolated incidents but part of organised digital crime networks. In 2025, an INTERPOL-led operation spanning 14 African countries led to the arrest of 260 suspected cybercriminals linked to romance scams and so-called “sextortion” schemes carried out through social media and online platforms. Investigators identified more than 1,400 victims across countries, including Ghana, Kenya, and Angola, with estimated financial losses of nearly $2.8 million. The figures highlight how emotionally driven scams are increasingly enabled as more people come online. Below are some of the most common technology-driven Valentine’s scams reported across Africa and how users can reduce their risk. 1. Fake profiles using stolen or AI-generated photos In the weeks leading up to Valentine’s Day, scammers often create fake profiles across dating platforms and social media to exploit people looking for romance. Using stolen or AI-generated photos, they appear attractive and trustworthy, then quickly build emotional connections with compliments and personal stories. In 2025, Meta said it deleted over 100,000 accounts from Nigeria, Ghana, Côte D’Ivoire, Benin, Kenya, and Cameroon linked to coordinated romance scam networks, showing how organised these operations are. After grooming victims, scammers introduce crises or opportunities that require money or sensitive information, such as medical emergencies or Valentine’s gifts. AI tools now let them generate realistic photos, fake video calls, and cloned voices, making deception harder to spot. To avoid being a victim, verify online partners through reverse image searches on photos, checking for inconsistencies, and keeping conversations on official platforms. Never share personal details or send money to someone you haven’t met in person or verified their authenticity, no matter how urgent their request. Get The Best African Tech Newsletters In Your Inbox Select your country Nigeria Ghana Kenya South Africa Egypt Morocco Tunisia Algeria Libya Sudan Ethiopia Somalia Djibouti Eritrea Uganda Tanzania Rwanda Burundi Democratic Republic of the Congo Republic of the Congo Central African Republic Chad Cameroon Gabon Equatorial Guinea São Tomé and Príncipe Angola Zambia Zimbabwe Botswana Namibia Lesotho Eswatini Mozambique Madagascar Mauritius Seychelles Comoros Cape Verde Guinea-Bissau Senegal The Gambia Guinea Sierra Leone Liberia Côte d’Ivoire Burkina Faso Mali Niger Benin Togo Other Select your gender Male Female Others TC Daily TC Events TC Scoop Subscribe 2. Fake Valentine’s Day deals In the past few days, have you noticed different companies popping up in your mailbox, blowing up your social media feeds, and grabbing your attention with ads promising heavily discounted prices on Valentine’s Day gifts like flowers, chocolates, and tech gadgets? You click a link, and roses that normally cost ₦20,000 ($14.75) are going for ₦5,000 ($3.69), with messages telling you to “grab yours before the offer ends.” Well, a lot of those deals might not be real. Scammers know people are pressured to buy Valentine’s gifts on a budget, so they set up fake e‑commerce sites or clone real online stores and social media shop pages to lure you in. You pay upfront, but the flowers never arrive, and the scammer disappears with your money. Here’s how to spot when a Valentine’s Day deal is sketchy before you hand over your hard‑earned money. First, pay attention to the website or shop you’re being sent to. Legit deals will have a proper web address that starts with https and a padlock in the browser bar — that’s a signal your info will be encrypted and safer to enter. Scammers love sites with weird URLs, poor design, or no contact details; those are classic signs you might be dealing with a fake shop. Also, watch out for ads or emails that pressure you to act right now or claim there’s “only a few left” at that price; that urgency is often used to get you to click without thinking. Another red flag is how you’re asked to pay. Experts recommend using secure payment methods that offer fraud protection instead of using crypto; Once scammers have your money from those, it’s nearly impossible to get it back. Try to stick to well‑known online stores or verified sellers. If you’re unsure about an offer, type the company’s name directly into your browser and shop from their official site instead of clicking links in ads or messages. Finally, if something looks too good to be true, trust that instinct; more often than not, it really isn’t a real offer. 3. Valentine’s Day giveaway scams Giveaway scams are all over social media this time of year. Scammers pretend that major telecom or e-commerce platforms are giving away 50GB of data or special Valentine’s Day prizes. They tell you to click a link and share it to five or 10 groups, and once your “sharing” is done, the site will turn green, and your prize is ready to claim. Victims are often asked to fill out forms with personal details or pay small “processing” or delivery fees. The goal? Steal your data or collect money. To stay safe, always verify giveaways on the brand’s official social media pages or website. Real promotions don’t ask winners to pay fees, and you shouldn’t have to spam links to unlock a prize. 4. Fake dating app subscription and verification scams Fake dating app subscription and verification scams pop up a lot as Valentine’s Day approaches. Scammers send links claiming you can get discounted premium subscriptions or verify your account on popular dating apps. The links look real, but they redirect you to fake payment pages designed to steal your data. The safest way to avoid this? Only upgrade subscriptions or verify your account through the official dating app or its verified website. Ignore any promotional links sent through
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