With Valentine’s Day around the corner, the Philippine National Police Anti-Cybercrime Group (PNP-ACG) is doubling down against the rising threat of artificial intelligence (AI)-assisted love scams.
“The PNP is continuously strengthening its cybercrime units by enhancing our technical capabilities, specialized training, and inter-agency coordination. 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 General Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. said on Tuesday.
Personnel of the PNP-ACG are undergoing continuous training on AI detection, deepfake analysis, and digital forensics to deter emerging forms of love scams amid the rise of AI.
The PNP is also pushing for the upgrading of cybercrime equipment and investigative tools, while coordination with other government agencies and civil society groups is being intensified to allow faster information sharing and quicker takedown of scam operations.
Earlier, the Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center (CICC) and civil society group Scam Watch PH cautioned the public about the rising danger of AI-driven love scams targeting individuals looking for romantic relationships.
Authorities said these schemes prey on emotional vulnerability rather than a lack of awareness, with common targets including those seeking foreign partners, financially secure professionals, women under pressure to marry, men dealing with rejection, and single parents.
They explained that scammers now use AI to build fake identities and maintain emotional manipulation, making their operations more coordinated and believable before eventually moving to financial exploitation.
Six prevalent love scam profiles in the country include the “Sad Boi/Sad Gurl,” “Seducer,” “Investor,” “Serviceman,” “Escort,” and “Slow Burn,” each employing distinct methods to gain trust and solicit money.
“Our main message to the public is to be vigilant and not blindly trust people you meet online. Even if a photo, voice, or video appears to be real, it could be created by AI and used to deceive,” Nartatez said.
“We urge everyone: think before you click, verify before you trust, and never send money or personal information to someone you have not personally met,” he concluded.
