This was happening on hot singles near me sites for years, but it really took off when dating apps came around and social media thirst traps, it's crazy how many people are in on this economy and how much is lost each year, while the small timers are just trying to make an income it gets up to cartel level where people are forced to do this to pay debts
Honestly don't know how this stops, as long as their are people not willing to touch grass, interact with their local community, put the phone done and deal with their loneliness in a more constructive manner, they'll be an endless pipeline of people lining up up to be rugged