Gatchalian warns vs AI ‘love scams’

MANILA, Philippines — With Valentine’s Day approaching, Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian has urged the public to be vigilant against a sophisticated breed of “love scams” that now leverage artificial intelligence (AI) to defraud and, in severe cases, sexually exploit victims.

Gatchalian issued the warning following a report from the Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center (CICC), which flagged a rising trend of romance-related fraud targeting individuals seeking relationships online.

According to CICC data, the agency received 123 formal complaints in 2025. Authorities noted a pattern where cases spike during romantic seasons, specifically from January to February, as well as in June and October.

Gatchalian linked the persistence of these scams to criminal groups adapting to the government’s crackdown on Philippine offshore gaming operators (POGOs).

“Despite the national ban on POGOs, criminal syndicates continue to exploit loopholes through various schemes, including love scams,” Gatchalian said.

He expressed alarm that the schemes have evolved beyond financial theft.

“It is sad that some of our countrymen are not only being cheated out of their hard-earned money, others are even becoming victims of prostitution,” Gatchalian said.

The CICC said it has identified six scammer profiles: the “sad boy/sad girl” who shares dramatic problems before requesting money; the “seducer” who obtains compromising photos; the “investor” who proposes joint cryptocurrency schemes; the “serviceman” who poses as military personnel overseas; the “escort” who demands upfront payment and the “slow burner” who cultivates long-distance relationships before borrowing money. — Brix Lelis