Researchers have trained computers to spot social media users who pose as somebody else - a practice known as catfishing.
They say their algorithms can identify users who lie about their gender, with more than 90% accuracy.
Most dating website users say they have encountered at least one fake profile, according to consumer group Which?
And the number of people defrauded by dating scams reached a record high in 2016.
Analysing data from 5,000 verified public profiles manually checked by employees on adult content site Pornhub, the algorithms learned how men and women of different ages interacted with others, how they commented on posts and their style of writing.
That allowed them to trawl the rest of the website in search of those lying about their gender and their age.
Fake profiles are common on dating sites, and can be used to defraud
Testing ground
The study suggested almost 40% of the site's users lied about their age and 25% lied about their gender, with women more likely to deceive than men.
Dr Walid Magdy, of the University of Edinburgh's School of Informatics, said: "Adult websites are populated by users who claim to be other than who they are, so these are a perfect testing ground for techniques that identify catfishes."
"What was interesting was that it seems that for many the reason for lying was to get more friends and subscribers."
Dr Magdy said the algorithms, developed by computer scientists at Edinburgh University, in collaboration with Lancaster University, Queen Mary University, London and King's College, London, could "lead to useful tools to flag dishonest users and keep social networks of all kinds safe".
"It has many applications such as people who fake accounts on Twitter for political reasons or for children who fake accounts to access adult websites," he said.
The study will be presented at a conference in Australia on the future of social networks.
Latest Stories
-
Ken Ashigbey, Joyce Aryee and others grace MTN’s Festival of 9 Lessons and Carols
1 hour -
Obuasi Cricket Academy celebrates excellence at end-of-year awards night
2 hours -
WASSCE: Scanning of objective answer sheets to start tonight – WAEC
2 hours -
Education Minister hasn’t prioritised WAEC – Nortsu-Kotoe
3 hours -
Bawumia meets Manifesto Committee members to express appreciation
3 hours -
To chocolate, Ghana’s pride by Bioko
4 hours -
Chartered Institute of Bankers, Ghana, confers Honorary Fellow status on Victor Yaw Asante
4 hours -
BoG marks end of year with Thanksgiving Service
4 hours -
Ghana’s Next Sports Minister: The Debate Begins
4 hours -
Election 2024: NPP advised to be mindful of the reasons being ascribed to their election lost
5 hours -
GNFS urges Ghanaians to prevent fires during yuletide
5 hours -
Report tobacco users who smoke publicly – FDA advises
5 hours -
Abdallah Ali-Nakyea elevated to Associate Professor at UG School of Law
6 hours -
Kick2build commissions 5 libraries in Klo Agogo, donates school supplies
6 hours -
Slim and Fit Ghana donates to kids at Motherly Love Orphanage in Kwabenya
6 hours