MANILA, Philippines 鈥� Looking for somebody to love on dating apps or social media in time for Valentine鈥檚 Day?
The Philippine National Police Anti-Cybercrime Group (PNP ACG) says you just might be a target of scammers.
鈥淚t鈥檚 better for us to take care in our online interactions, especially on dating apps or social media platforms,鈥� ACG Spokesperson Lt. Wallen Arancillo said in Filipino during an interview with reporters at Camp Crame on Wednesday.
鈥淟et us remember that these scammers are only using dummy accounts to fool people. If you are victimized or experienced cybercrime, you may come to the ACG,鈥� Arancillo pointed out in Filipino.
READ: Filipinos top targets of online love scams
According to the ACG spokesperson, the scheme usually involves internet users pretending to be foreigners and asking their victims for money to pay off fees to send a package to the latter.
It may also involve users encouraging their victims to invest in cryptocurrency, Arancillo added.
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The ACG recorded 72 cases of 鈥渓ove scams鈥� in 2024 and eight so far in 2025, with the youngest of the victims being 21-years-old and the eldest being 76-years-old.
鈥淏ased on our records in 2024, the biggest amount stolen from a victim was more than P600,000,鈥� Arancillo said in Filipino.