In a concerted effort to tackle the rising tide of love scams, the Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center (CICC) and Scam Watch Pilipinas have relaunched their awareness campaign. The event took place at the National Cybercrime Hub in Taguig City, where key figures including CICC Executive Director Alexander Ramos and Scam Watch co-convenor Jocel De Guzman gathered to address the issue.
De Guzman highlighted the emotional and financial toll of love scams, noting their tendency to surge around Valentine’s Day. These scams not only break hearts but also serve as a gateway to more severe financial frauds like loan and investment scams. He described the dual impact as a ‘double agony’ for victims.
The campaign revisits several notorious love scam types identified in 2024, including the ‘Sad Boi, Sad Gurl,’ ‘Seducer,’ ‘Investor,’ ‘Servicemen,’ ‘Escort,’ ‘Predator,’ and ‘Slow Burn’ scams. These scams manipulate victims’ emotions to exploit them financially.
De Guzman advised the public to be wary of overly perfect photos on unverified social media accounts and to be cautious of individuals who avoid video calls, refuse to meet in person, or frequently ask for money. Such behaviors are red flags that someone might be running a scam.
CICC’s Ramos urged the public to report any suspicious activities to the hotline 1326. The campaign enjoys support from private sector partners such as Whoscall, Converge ICT, GoTyme, Maya, BPI, and Truth360, demonstrating a united front against these deceptive practices.