PNP warns against AI love scams
The Philippine National Police is warning the public against the rise of artificial intelligence-assisted "love scams."
The PNP said that its Anti-Cybercrime Group (PNP-ACG) is increasing its technological capabilities as scammers now use more sophisticated tools to target Filipinos.
"AI scams are evolving so we really need to step up in terms of improving the investigation skills and operational capability of our personnel," PNP chief Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. said in a statement.
He said that ACG personnel are continually training in AI detection, deepfake analysis, and digital forensics to fight off newer versions of love scams. He added that the PNP is also upgrading cybercrime equipment and investigative tools, and is strengthening coordination with government agencies and civil society groups to speedily take down scam operations.
The Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center and civil society group Scam Watch PH also warned the public about the increasing risk of AI-driven love scams targeting romance-seeking people
They said these schemes exploit emotional vulnerability more than lack of awareness, picking on individuals seeking foreign partners, financially stable professionals, women under pressure to marry, men coping with rejection, and solo parents.
They added that these scammers now create fake AI identities to sustain their emotional manipulation and financial exploitation.
"Before, one of the things we told people to do was to FaceTime or video call the person to make sure they were real and not fake. Now, AI can already make it appear real—even if the face and voice you see are not actually the person you are talking to,” CICC executive director Renato Paraiso told The Philippine Star.
“Think before you click, verify before you trust, and never send money or personal information to someone you have not personally met,” Nartatez added.
