Love month and the rising threat of online love scams

February is supposed to be the gentlest month of the year.

- IGNACIO R. BUNYE

Hearts decorate storefronts, restaurants fill up with couples, and even the most stoic among us soften a little. But while many celebrate love, others exploit it. And this Love Month, the Philippine National Police has issued a timely warning: love scams are on the rise.

These schemes are not new, but they have evolved. Scammers now operate with polished profiles, convincing narratives, and an uncanny ability to sense emotional vulnerability. They do not begin with demands. They begin with affection.

How the scam unfolds

It often starts innocently: a friend request, a polite greeting, a flattering message. The scammer builds rapport quickly—too quickly. Within days, the conversation shifts from casual to intimate. Compliments flow. Promises follow. The illusion of a “soulmate” takes shape.

Then comes the turning point:

• an emergency that needs money,