Kaspersky has issued a warning to Filipinos regarding the seasonal surge in online romance scams.

Recent advisories from the Philippine National Police (PNP) indicate a rise in reported cases where fraudsters initiate contact through social media or dating platforms before eventually requesting money from victims.

According to Kaspersky, these scams have grown in sophistication by incorporating social engineering with technical tools to appear more convincing.

Fraudsters typically build rapport over several weeks or months using stolen photographs and fabricated life stories.

Additionally, there is a rise in bogus Valentine’s Day gift websites that mimic legitimate retailers to harvest payment details or lure users into phishing traps.

These sites exploit the seasonal demand for items like flowers and chocolates by promising unrealistic discounts.

Choon Hong Chee, Head of Consumer Channel (APAC) at Kaspersky, explained that these tactics prey on the human desire for trust and connection.

He stated that:

“During love month, scammers know that people are more open to forming new relationships, which makes emotional manipulation an effective tactic to trick victims into sending money or revealing personal data”.

To stay secure, Kaspersky advises Filipinos to verify website URLs and domain names before making any purchases.

Individuals should never send money, gift cards, or cryptocurrency to anyone they have not met in person, regardless of the story provided.

Experts also recommend remaining alert to requests to move conversations from dating apps to private messaging, as isolation is often a precursor to manipulation.

Finally, users are encouraged to strengthen their digital defences by using strong, unique passwords and enabling multi-factor authentication.

Featured image by Freepik.