Ahead of Valentine’s Day, the Philippine National Police (PNP) has warned about romance scams, where criminals exploit emotions and trust to steal money or personal information. Cybersecurity company Kaspersky confirms these scams are becoming more sophisticated, using social engineering and technology to appear convincing.
“Romance scams succeed because cybercriminals prey on the human desire for connection and trust,” Choon Hong Chee, head of Consumer Channel, APAC at Kaspersky, said in a media advisory. “During love month, people are more open to forming new relationships, which makes emotional manipulation an effective tactic.”
Scammers often build rapport over weeks or months, using stolen photos, fabricated stories, and carefully crafted messages. Kaspersky also noted an increase in fake holiday gift offers, where websites mimic legitimate retailers to steal payment details.
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To help Filipinos protect themselves, Kaspersky recommends the following precautions:
- Check online sources carefully: Verify website URLs and official links before making purchases or sharing information.
- Keep money and personal data private: Never send cash, gift cards, cryptocurrency, or banking details to someone you haven’t met in person.
- Stay on secure platforms: Be cautious if a romantic contact asks to move from a dating site to private messaging apps.
- Avoid suspicious links and downloads: These can lead to phishing pages or malware.
- Be alert to fake offers: Discounted gifts, chocolates, or flowers in emails may be scams.
- Use strong cybersecurity tools: Reliable security software can block malicious links and protect online transactions.
- Strengthen digital defenses: Use strong, unique passwords and enable multi-factor authentication.
By following these steps, Filipinos can enjoy the love month safely while reducing the risk of falling victim to emotionally manipulative or financially harmful scams.
