Pinoys warned of Internet love scams

MANILA, Philippines – Filipinos should be wary of people they meet through social media sites and Internet chatrooms, the Philippine embassy in Kuala Lumpur said yesterday.

The embassy’s warning came after it received complaints from victims who were scammed by lovers they met on the Internet.

A Hong Kong-based Filipina told the embassy that she met an alleged Malaysia-based Briton on a social media website who became her fiancé after two months. She sent huge sums of money to the Briton and has not heard from him since, the embassy said.

Two Filipinas were duped by alleged Malaysia-based Translink Express Courier, which asked them to claim parcels, supposedly being held at the customs office, that were sent by their lovers. They wired money to the firm, but did not receive any parcels, according to the embassy.

The embassy also reported that a Malaysian man met a Filipina, who identified herself as Yukico Taro and Kico Taro on social media site Facebook.

The woman – described as “very attractive” – constantly contacted the Malaysian through his Facebook account. The two became close and they did intimate acts through their Web cameras. Unknown to the man, Taro recorded his acts and threatened to upload the video on YouTube if he does not send her money.

The embassy said it has forwarded the cases to the Philippine National Police and the Royal Malaysian Police.

These Internet scams are just a tip of the iceberg, and there may be more that have not been reported, the embassy said. –Pia Lee-Brago (The Philippine Star)