The SUN HK : DMW warns OFWs to be wary of online love scams

Stickers on a fake package supposedly sent by an online lover to a HK OFW (File)

The Department of Migrant Workers has warned Filipinos to be careful when engaging people on social media because of an alarming increase in online love scams specifically targeting overseas Filipino workers.

The warning came in the wake of a report that a Filipina OFW in Switzerland was recently defrauded of 40,000 Swiss francs (about P2.5 million) by her online boyfriend.

According to a report filed with DMW, the scammer who pretended to be a rich foreigner, started wooing the Filipina online. After gaining her trust, the man told her he was sending her a gift through post, but later on said he needed money to get customs to release the package.

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The OFW was convinced to send money for the “customs-related issues” after her online lover promised to send her a bigger amount in return by courier.

The Migrant Workers Office in Geneva said, “Kami po ay nakikiusap sa mga kababayan natin na huwag magpalinlang sa mga online romance o love scams. Huwag magpapadala sa matatamis na salita ng mga taong hindi ninyo nakita. Marami na po silang mga nabiktima mula sa iba’t-ibang bansa.”

(We plead with our fellow Filipinos to avoid falling prey to online romance or love scams. Do not fall for the sweet promises of a person you have not even met. They have already victimized a lot of people in different countries).

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Several OFWs in Hong Kong have also reported losing money from such scams, dating back to about 20 years ago, when dating sites started becoming popular.

But love scams nowadays do not only involve false promises of a valuable package being sent but also offers of employment and/or investments.

In the biggest love scam involving an OFW in HK which was reported about a year ago, the victim lost $113,000 she raised from loans that she and her sister had taken out and her life savings, to an online lover she never met in person. (see story here: https://www.sunwebhk.com/2022/09/filipina-dh-loses-113k-in-love-scam.html)

Purported photo of the man who tricked the HK OFW into sending him $113k

The man, who introduced himself as American engineer, told the OFW he had been locked out of his bank account, and needed money urgently to finance some projects. As what happens in such cases, the victim only came to her senses when she ran out of money, and could no longer contact her ardent suitor.

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The DMW urged OFWs not to give any of their hard-earned money and life savings to someone they only met through the internet.

OFWs who lose money to these predators may seek help from the respective MWOs and Philippine Embassy where they are located.

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They may also report suspected online illegal recruitment scams to the DMW Migrant Workers Protection Bureau through their Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/airbranch or email at mwpb@dmw.gov.ph.

They may also be contacted through their hotline: 632 8721-0619.