The Scam Watch Pilipinas together with the Cybercrime Investigation, Coordinating Center (CICC), and other private partners has launched #UnmatchPH 2025—an awareness campaign aimed at fighting love scams as Valentine’s Day approaches.
Scam Watch Pilipinas, the national citizen volunteer arm of the government dedicated to combating online scams, highlighted that love scams often serve as a gateway for other types of scams, as shared by its Co-convenor Jocel De Guzman.
“Love scams become a gateway to all kinds of scams, such as loan scams and investment scams,” he explained.
“What makes love scams particularly painful is the double agony—breaking someone’s heart while also stealing their money,” he added.
CICC Executive Director Usec. Alexander Ramos urged the public to report any scams they encounter by calling 1326, the government hotline dedicated to assisting scam victims.
“Always report these scams to 1326, especially as Valentine’s Day approaches, when a rise in love scams is expected,” Ramos emphasized.
Meanwhile, several private institutions, including Whoscall, Converge ICT, GoTyme, Maya, BPI, and Truth360, attended the launch event to show their support for the campaign.
The campaign also reintroduced various types of love scams that were first introduced in 2024, including “Sad Boi, Sad Gurl,” “The Seducer,” “The Investor,” “The Servicemen,” “The Escort,” “The Predator,” and “The Slow Burn.”
These profiles represent the most common tactics scammers use when executing their love scam schemes online.
Furthermore, De Guzman unveiled six ways to spot a love scammer.
“First, if the photos of the person you’re talking to online seem too perfect to be true, if they lack a verification symbol, or if they don’t have any social media accounts,” De Guzman explained.
“Another red flag is if the person consistently refuses video calls, avoids meeting in person, and—perhaps the most common warning sign—starts asking for money. This could include requests for personal funds, investments, or even loans,” he added.
