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Social media is full of often innocuous images, but beware, they can hide real traps. An emotional photo, whether it shows a child holding a drawing or a woman alone in a bucolic landscape, can conceal a reality: it is generated by artificial intelligence and represents what is called a « boomer trap. » Aimed at less sophisticated internet users, these fake images serve as bait to identify vulnerable people. This usually results in contact initiated by scammers, nicknamed « brouteurs, » often from French-speaking West Africa. They manipulate their prey by playing on emotions to achieve their goal: to extract money. The use of advanced technologies, such as AI, even makes it possible to simulate voices to make the interaction more credible. This phenomenon, although warned of by giants like Meta, is still largely underestimated. Figures show that thousands of people are fooled every year, but many victims remain silent, overwhelmed by shame and fear of speaking out.In the digital age, the use of artificial intelligence has taken center stage, including in unsavory areas such as romance scams. These scams often begin with emotional images posted on social media, intended to deceive users, particularly « baby boomers. » These images, although fake, are designed to trap people who are not fully versed in internet etiquette and extract money from them through increasingly sophisticated schemes. The origins and operation of « baby boomer traps » « Boomer traps » often manifest themselves through moving images shared on social media: a touching photo of a child next to a drawing, or a young woman expressing deep loneliness in a bucolic setting. These images, although they may seem innocuous, are created with artificial intelligence to appear credible and encourage users to interact. This is often where the trap is set. By commenting on or liking these posts, Internet users expose themselves to being targeted by individuals with malicious intentions.The role of « grazers » in the scams
A « grazer » is the name given to the scammer behind these schemes. These individuals, often from French-speaking West Africa, exploit their victims’ feelings with the sole objective of extracting money from them. Once a potential victim reacts to a post, the scammer can initiate a conversation via a friend request, pretending to be someone else to build trust. The use of artificial intelligence tools, such as creating fake voices for phone calls, is commonplace to make the relationship more credible in the eyes of the victim.
An increasingly widespread deception algorithm
This type of scam is not an isolated phenomenon. Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, has warned of the growing use of AI in these romance scams. This technology makes it possible to create content that, although falsified, is appealing due to its apparent authenticity. The case of the fake Brad Pitt, in which a victim was defrauded of over €800,000, is a striking example. Over the past three years, nearly 9,000 complaints have been filed in France, illustrating the extent of a phenomenon that likely remains underestimated.The impact on victims and the authorities’ response Given the proliferation of these scams, it is imperative to understand the psychological and financial impact on victims. Many feel shame after being tricked, which can deter them from taking legal action. This contributes to an underestimation of official figures for the phenomenon. Authorities are trying to raise awareness and implement measures to identify and neutralize these scams. However, the increasingly sophisticated nature of the attacks makes this challenge particularly difficult.
