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Citizens use their phones in Quezon City amid the modified enhanced community quarantine on August 16, 2020. Mark Demayo, ABS-CBN News

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<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:950px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/20200816-covid19-quarantine-phones-1535-MD.jpg" style="width:950px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/><span class="fr-inner"><span id="isPasted" style="color:rgb(65, 65, 65);letter-spacing:normal;orphans:2;text-align:left;text-indent:0px;text-transform:none;widows:2;word-spacing:0px;-webkit-text-stroke-width:0px;white-space:normal;background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255);text-decoration-thickness:initial;text-decoration-style:initial;text-decoration-color:initial;display:inline !important;float:none">Citizens use their phones in Quezon City amid the modified enhanced community quarantine on August 16, 2020. <em>Mark Demayo, ABS-CBN News/File.</em></span><em> </em></span></span></span></div><p>MANILA -- Cybersecurity advocacy group Scam Watch Pilipinas on Wednesday sent out a word of caution to hopeless romantics as it cited several kinds of love scams they could fall prey to as Valentine’s Day nears.</p><p>The group said one of the most common scheme is what they described as the &quot;sad boi/sad gurl&quot; scam, or when the person you meet or are dating online keeps borrowing money for different kinds of problems or emergencies. They then end up ghosting you before having the chance to pay you back.</p><p>“They always have an issue, a medical emergency— yung nanay, tatay, yung pusa, may sakit. They will always appeal for pity. Magmamakaawa lagi yan, seeking for understanding. And in the end, hindi pa kayo nagkikita, eto ang pinaka-red flag sa lahat ng love scam, uutang na ng pera,” explained ScamWatch Pilipinas co-lead convenor Jocel De Guzman.</p><div><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/09/18/23/p155-million-lost-due-to-scams-from-jan-to-aug-2023-says-pnp-acg">P155 million lost due to scams from Jan to Aug 2023, says PNP-ACG</a></div><p>De Guzman said other kinds of schemes nowadays involve cybercriminals posing as soldiers or servicemen from parts of Asia or the Middle East seeking financial help, or so-called “seducers” who ask for nude pictures or videos that would then use for blackmail or extortion.</p><p>Another trick is getting the victim to invest large amounts of money, supposedly to secure their future as a couple.</p><p>“Instead of asking you for money, ang gagawin ng mga yan, iinvite kang mag-invest, partnership. Sasabihin niya, for your future. Very effective way na ginagawa ng mga scammer, eto yung (investment sa) crypto games. Pangalawa may tinatawag silang bank trap. It’s a bogus bank account,” added ScamWatch Pilipinas co-lead convenor Art Samaniego Jr.</p><p>The Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center (CICC), which is under the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT), reminds those who fall victim to scams to immediately report what happened via the hotline 1326.</p><p>“Basta within 24 hours at nai-report, mas mataas ang probability ma-track down at ma-identity (ang perpetrator). E magre-report sila a few days after, too late to help them,” said CICC Executive Director Alexander Ramos.</p><p>Some bank representatives said getting a quick notice is also crucial for them.</p><div><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/spotlight/multimedia/video/10/07/23/alamin-4-ms-para-makaiwas-sa-online-scams">Patrol ng Pilipino: Alamin: 4 Ms para makaiwas sa online scams</a></div><p>“Yung sa question kung nare-recover ba yung pera, from our end, what we can do is put a hold on your money. Hindi muna siya lalabas kung nandyan pa. Pero pag nakalabas na, wala na talagang magagawa kaya dapat mabilis na mabilis ang pagreport. Gaano kabilis? Within 1 hour, nasabi niyo na,” said GoTyme Bank Head of Corporate Communications Frederick Blancas.</p><p>While there’s nothing wrong with following your heart in search of “the one” this love month, the CICC and Scam Watch Pilipinas reminded the public to remain rational and to be wary of red flags.</p><div><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/business/12/17/23/ph-eyes-legal-action-vs-social-media-giants-over-online-scams">Philippines eyes legal action vs social media giants over online scams</a></div><p>They advise those that use dating apps and other messaging platforms to look for love to do the necessary background checks on their matches as a precaution:</p><ul style="list-style-type:disc"><li>- check if account has a verified status</li><li>- ask for full name and Google it</li><li>- check other social media profiles</li><li>- reverse image search their photos using TinEye or Google Images</li><li>- ask for their phone number</li><li>- request for a video call</li><li>- get as many information as needed (work, school, etc.)</li></ul><div><br/></div><div><strong>RELATED VIDEO</strong></div><div><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/qObsKOShMcE?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><br/></div>

<p>Scam Watch Pilipinas said one of the most common scheme is what they described as the "sad boi/sad gurl" scam.</p>

Scam Watch Pilipinas said one of the most common scheme is what they described as the "sad boi/sad gurl" scam.

Filipinos warned against ‘love scams’ as Valentine’s Day nears

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Filipinos warned against ‘love scams’ as Valentine’s Day nears

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Published Jan 31, 2024 10:13 PM PHT

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Updated Jan 31, 2024 10:17 PM PHT

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