12% of Latin Americans have already had AI-powered virtual partners. The evolution of digital romance toward virtual pairs presents new cybersecurity challenges, including personal data theft and automated romantic scams. This evolution redefines intimacy in a digital environment where, although there is no physical person, an emotional connection is established that many users perceive as genuine. Cybersecurity risks and romantic scams. The report warns that trust placed in these systems can lead to the exposure of sensitive information. Manjarrez notes that private conversations and intimate habits are stored, often without clarity on their use, which can expose users to leaks that affect their reputation or privacy. In addition to using AI companions, 31% of Latin Americans would use artificial intelligence in traditional dating apps to find their 'ideal match,' which intensifies known risks such as the proliferation of fake profiles. Security recommendations. To mitigate the risks when interacting with artificial intelligence in the romantic sphere, experts suggest: •Limiting information: Avoid sharing financial, emotional data, or intimate content with AI systems. •Verifying platforms: Use exclusively legitimate applications from official stores and check their privacy policies. •Caution with links: Do not open files or links sent by these contacts, even if they promise benefits or prizes. •Keeping interaction within the App: Be wary if the contact tries to move the conversation outside the protected platform. •Technical security: Have updated digital security solutions to proactively detect fraudulent sites. The nature of digital companions. Virtual pairs are characters designed to maintain fluid conversations through text, audio, or interactive avatars. Cybercriminals are taking advantage of the rise of this technology to develop fraudulent platforms supported by chatbots and phishing sites. Users have the possibility to customize traits, names, and personalities, creating systems that 'learn' from individual tastes and offer constant companionship. Tactics include: •Catfishing and identity theft. •Sending malicious files or links. •Extortion and money requests. •Identity theft for fraudulent purposes. Privacy and data protection. María Isabel Manjarrez, a security researcher at Kaspersky, explains in the third person that when using these platforms, personal and emotional information is placed in the hands of technology. Unlike legitimate applications, these 'fake boyfriends' are designed to execute large-scale frauds. In Latin America, 19% of those who seek a partner through technology have already been victims of romantic scams.
