Don’t get catfished: Police warn vs. romance scams

By Jennifer P. Rendon

Ahead of Valentine’s Day, police urged the public to be extra vigilant when using dating websites, apps and social media, warning that scammers may exploit people looking for love.

The Philippine National Police Regional Anti-Cybercrime Unit in Western Visayas, or RACU-6, particularly warned elderly women, whom police said are likely targets of love or romance scams.

Lt. Col. Richard Adonis Habawel, RACU-6 regional director, said Thursday that romance scams in Western Visayas are not prevalent.

However, he said scammers may still seize opportunities as more elderly people become active on social media.

Habawel said elderly women who are still looking for life partners are the most vulnerable to romance scams.

“These scammers take advantage of their weaknesses and exploit them,” he said.

Habawel said romance scams typically do not happen overnight, with suspects often taking time to befriend their targets and gain their trust before starting the scheme.

“They will propose of buying a property here in the Philippines. Or di kaya, they would pretend of sending gifts or parcels,” he said. “Later on, somebody will call them that they have to pay some taxes and fees before they could the money or parcel.”

Habawel said such actions should be treated as red flags.

“Again, if it’s too good to be true, it probably is,” he added.

As a reminder, Habawel urged the public to act with caution and use sound judgment.

“Huwag marupok. Scammers are using these frailties to catch their targets,” he said.

In 2023, RACU-6 recorded two love scam cases in the region, Habawel said.

He said the two victims from Iloilo province — a 31-year-old businesswoman and a widow in her 40s — allegedly lost PHP 200,000 and PHP 600,000, respectively.

Habawel said the suspects identified themselves as an African American and a Filipino American.

He said the suspects later pursued the women romantically through Facebook.

Habawel said the suspects also sent gifts such as flowers and chocolates that supposedly originated abroad.

He said the suspects then told the victims they would visit the Philippines to meet them.

Habawel said the victims were told the suspects would go to Boracay shortly after arriving in Iloilo and would also look for business opportunities there.

Habawel said the victims were later told the suspects were carrying a large amount of money that was supposedly held at the airport or by the Bureau of Immigration because of the unexplained amount, which the suspects claimed would be used for a wedding and investment.

Habawel said the suspects then asked the victims to send money to settle with authorities for their release.

Authorities have repeatedly warned that romance scams often rely on false identities and are designed to pressure victims into sending money through fabricated emergencies, shipping claims or legal problems.

Habawel said such cases are often difficult to solve because suspects may be unknown to the victims and may be operating from outside the victims’ locality or even outside the country.