NAVOTAS City Rep. Tobias “Toby” Tiangco on Friday warned the public against the so-called “love scams” as he cited a study that a big number of digital fraud attempts originated from the Philippines.
Tiangco, chairman of the House Committee on Information and Communications Technology, urged netizens to be more vigilant and not be easily fooled by unscrupulous groups or individuals engaging in such illegal activities.
“Stay vigilant and report suspicious messages and activities to the anti-scam hotline 1326,” said Tiangco in a statement sent to The Manila Times.
The former mayor-turned-lawmaker cited a study from a global information and insights company showing that during the first half of the year, 18 percent of suspected digital fraud attempts, using online forums and dating sites, have originated from the Philippines.
He lamented the fact that scammers exploit the most personal and basic aspirations of people — to be loved and be in a committed relationship.
“Let us protect Filipinos from the financial, emotional, and psychological damage these scams cause,” he called on the concerned government agencies.
According to the Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center, love scams exploit victims by creating fake identities to build trust, then using the illusion of a relationship to manipulate, extort, or steal from them.
“Let us not fall for this kind of modus operandi. We should not too easily trust someone, especially through online communication,” said Tiangco, reiterating his warning.
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