MANILA, Philippines- Nagbabala si Philippine National Police-Anti-Cybercrime Group (PNP-ACG) director Maj. Gen. Sidney Hernia nitong Huwebes na isa ang pekeng larawan ng maganda at kaakit-akit na babae o lalaki sa social media at dating apps, sa mga elemento ng “Love Scam”.
“Generally, in Romance scams, cybercriminals often create fake identities, posing as foreigners working abroad or in the military. They build trust in romantic relationships before exploiting victims financially,” ani Hernia.
“This scheme involves multiple individuals acting as the foreigner, a Bureau of Customs employee, and a delivery person. They use tactics like claiming to have packages sent to the Philippines held by Customs and asking victims to pay fake fees,” dagdag niya.
Ani Hernia, kinukumbinsi rin ng ilang scammers ang mga biktima na mag-invest sa cryptocurrency subalit kalaunan ay natutuklasang peke ito.
Ito ang naging paalala ng PNP-ACG sa pagbabahaging umakyat ang kaso n ‘Love Scam” mula 94 noong 2022 sa kabuuang 168 noong nakaraang taon.
Inihayag naman ni PNP-ACG Cyber Response Unit chief Col. Jay Guillermo na nakapag-isyu na sila ng information drives upang protektahan ang netizens mula sa nasabing modus operandi.
“To combat cybercrime effectively, we have adopted a proactive approach. We engage in distributing flyers, pamphlets, posting cyber tips on social media, and conducting seminars/lectures, all aimed at elevating community awareness and fortifying collective efforts against cyber threats,” ani Guillermo.
Binigyang-diin naman ni Hernia ang kahalagahan ng pagpapatupad ng DYOR approach, o ang “Do Your Own Research”, at sinabing hinihikayat nito ang mga indibidwal na magsaliksik muna bago magtiwala o mamuhunan sa isang tao o bagay.
“February may be the season of love, but there’s no designated time for Romance/Love Scams. Stay cautious online. Trust your instincts and talk to friends or family if something feels off. Staying informed and being skeptical can help keep you safe from Romance scams,” wika ni Hernia. RNT/SA
