BEWARE OF CUPIDS GONE ROGUE

TOMORROW is Valentine’s Day, the season of love, chocolates, roses and... scammers in Cupid’s disguise.

Interior and Local Government secretary Benjamin Abalos Jr.’s warning to the love-struck and the lonely is like a plot twist in a rom-com where the lead character realizes their perfect match is actually a con artist with a degree in Emotional Manipulation 101. Tonto!

Imagine this: You’re scrolling through your feed, hearts in your eyes, when suddenly, you get a message. It’s from someone who loves the same obscure band you do, enjoys long walks on the beach at sunset just like you, and even shares your peculiar fondness for pineapple on pizza. A match made in digital heaven, right? Be careful. It could be a scammer, armed with nothing but your social media profile and a mission to woo you out of your wits – and possibly your wallet. Haslo!

Love scammers study their targets’ profiles with the intensity of a teenager cramming for exams, pinpointing vulnerabilities. Are you a dog lover? Expect puppy pics. Obsessed with a particular coffee shop? They might just “coincidentally” love it, too. But beware.

According to the Philippine National Police, the data on love scams is as tangled as a bad relationship status on Facebook. They’re mixed in with estafa and swindling cases, making it hard to tell just how many hearts are being broken by fraud rather than unrequited love. Tarso!

So, as Valentine’s Day approaches and you find yourself navigating the choppy waters of online romance, remember: Don’t just click any link sent to you. In the world of love scams, that unsolicited mixtape or gourmet chocolate ad could lead to a lot more heartache than a bad breakup song.

Being careful around those you do not know well might just save you from the most awkward date of all – a meeting with your bank to discuss your mysteriously emptied account.

Don’t say we didn’t warn you.