Romance scams claim 29 victims

MANILA, Philippines — In just two months, 29 people were duped in love scams, losing P2.08 million of their hard-earned money, the Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center reported.

According to the CICC, 29 cases of romance-related fraud were recorded from Jan. 1 to Feb. 10.

Renato Paraiso, CICC executive director, said the victims were duped by scammers through promises of love.

“This demonstrates how impactful social media is to mental well-being. People seeking lifetime companionship are met with false hopes, leaving scars that money cannot fix,” Paraiso said in a statement.

He urged the public to remain vigilant against red flags, such as requests for money for emergencies.