Photos of celebrities, influencers used in online love scam

Photos of social media influencers and celebrities are allegedly used in love scams to prey on foreigners, the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC) said.

According to Emil Sumangil's "24 Oras" report, about 3,000 cell phones were confiscated by authorities inside the cyberscam hub in Pasay City that was raided in August.

Based on the digital forensic examination by PAOCC and an inter-agency task force, the syndicates created fake social media accounts using the photos from social media celebrities and influencers.

“Some of them, influencers and endorsers, pinapalitan lang ang pangalan,” Undersecretary Gilbert Cruz, PAOCC chief, said.

“May folder sila eh ng mga activities ng mga artista, o kaya mga influencer’s, pag sinabi, ano ang ginagawa mo ngayon, Iiapakita nag-gi-gym yung artista kahit hindi sila yun. ‘Pag sinabi naman, ano breakfast mo? Ano ulam mo? May folder sila ng mga pagkain. Pipili siya ro’n, tapos hanggang sa ma-inlove yung tao,” Cruz said.

According to PAOCC, the love scam is a type of modus operandi where the syndicate uses a fake profile to find someone to chat with.

With this, the syndicate will lure the victim and once the trust is gained, he will be asked for money or will be offered to enter into an investment scheme.

“‘Pag naghulog ka na, kinabukasan wala na yun kausap mo,” Cruz said.

PAOCC said it is also investigating where the money is funneled by the syndicate.

“Ang tanong, pagpasok ng pera saan napupunta? So the fruit of the crime must be pursued also, so importante sa amin ang digital forensic examination para malaman namin saan napunta ang pera,” PAOCC spokesperson Winston Casio, said.

The agency advised the public to be careful and vigilant to avoid getting scammed.

“Ang profile ng mga binibiktima nila is 35 above, ‘pag nakita nila medyo emotionally unstable, ang love life mo di maganda, papasukan ka nila. Dapat maingat tayo dun sa mga fine friend natin online,” Cruz advised the public.

Call center agents who were inside the raided building have remained mum. Each receive at least P60,00 per month, PAOCC said.

Meanwhile, the deportation order has also been issued for about 180 foreigners while 20 others are scheduled to be deported this week.

A total of 89 Filipinos and 24 Chinese nationals have been charged with violating the security regulation code in relation to the Cybercrime Prevention Act or Republic Act 10175. They are currently staying at the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP).

“Ang China po once you’re deported from the Philippines and brought there, kinakailangan din silang maimbestigahan, so from here to there they will be jailed for 30 days, pending investigation,” Casio said.—Sherylin Untalan/LDF, GMA Integrated News