Anthropic Reveals AI Dating Scam, 75% of Matches are Bots

Anthropic has released a report on AI abuse, stating that over 20 dating apps utilize Claude for development, claiming users are real people, but about 75% of matched profiles are AI characters. During a two-week observation period in April 2026, these apps operated over 4,700 AI characters, chatting with at least 25,000 different users and sending a total of approximately 2,360,000 messages, primarily affecting users in the United States. The platforms display profiles at a ratio of about 3 AI characters for every 1 real person, with Claude maintaining thousands of conversations simultaneously. Human part-time workers step in when users request video calls, ask for photos, or seek to connect on social media. The system generates three alternative replies for each message for part-time workers to choose from. User chats and matches consume credits, and once depleted, users must purchase in-app virtual currency to recharge. Accounts fully controlled by AI are required not to acknowledge they are bots. To evade app store scrutiny, operators designed a special interface that activates only during the review period, with over 20 apps using different program class names. Related brands include DORA, DONI, ROMI, LUMA, JOVIA, KIRA, GRACECHAT, HAVEN, NALO, and LOVIA. Anthropic has banned the related accounts and provided app identities and review evasion information to Apple and Google.