PNP warns public vs love scams

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February 12, 2026 | 12:00am

MANILA, Philippines — As Valentine’s Day approaches, authorities yesterday urged the public to be on guard for online love scams, which often leave victims heartbroken and financially drained.

Philippine National Police chief Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. sounded the alarm after the PNP recorded 54 cases of love scams in 2025 and 75 in 2024.

From Jan. 1 to Feb. 5, police recorded five cases of romance scams.

While cases have dropped, Nartatez said the threat posed by scammers remains persistent.

Nartatez said scammers take advantage of people who are longing for love, especially on Valentine’s Day.

“Hindi masama ang magmahal, pero mas mahalaga ang mag-ingat,” he said.

Nartatez said romance scams usually start with online connections where scammers pretend to be foreigners or overseas Filipino workers.

“These people invest time in building emotional attachment, often avoiding video calls, professing love and eventually asking for money or sensitive personal bank information of their targets,” he said.

Among the usual victims are single, widowed or older people and those who are emotionally vulnerable, he said.

Nartatez reminded the public not to send money, intimate photos and their personal information to people they meet online.

“Mabilis ma-in love, laging may emergency sa pera at maraming dahilan kung bakit hindi makaharap: iyan ang mga red flags,” Nartatez said.