8 profiles of love scammers bared; which one will hurt the most?

An anti-scam watchdog group and the authorities on Monday warned the public of love scams as Valentine's Day draws near.

According to Jun Veneracion's report on "24 Oras," Scam Watch Pilipinas bared eight types of persons who will lure the unsuspecting into romance only to dupe them in the end.

The group said there's among the types of love scammers who will hurt the victim the most.

“Mag-ingat sa inyong puso ‘wag padalos-dalos, may love scam. Pairalin natin ang utak kung scam o hindi,” said Undersecretary Alexander Ramos, Executive Director, Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center. 

(Be careful with your heart, don't rush, and beware of love scams. Let's use our brains, and think if we're being scammed or not.) 

“Wala naman problema pag naghahanap kayo ng ka relasyon sa online. Ang red flag talaga diyan, magiging biktima ka oras na nagbigay ka rin ng pera,” said Police Colonel Jay Guillermo, Philippine National Police - Anti-Cybercrime Group (PNP-ACG) Chief, Cyber Response Unit. 

(There is no problem when you are looking for a relationship online. What’s really a red flag, is the possibility of you becoming a victim once you give them money.)

Scam Watch identified the types of love scammers as the following: 

• The sad gurl/boi who tells his or her sad stories and then asks for money;  
• The seducer who attracts the victim with good looks to take his or her money;
• The investor who poses as a wealthy person to encourage the victim in making an investment;
• The serviceman who pass pretends to be a member of the military to attract and deceive would-be victims;
• The escort who uses seductive profile pictures in their social media accounts to lure his or her victim;
• The blackmailer who will make the victim fall in so deep love that he or she would allow sensitive photos to be taken. These images will then be used for blackmail;
• The predator who are older individuals who target younger victims; and 
• The slow burn who take time to be really patient and caring until the victim falls in love and gives him or her money.

"Ito 'yung pinakamasakit kasi ang nagyayari rito, paiibigin ka talaga," said Jocel De Guzman, co-founder of ScamWatch.

(This hurts the most because what happens is, you be made to really fall in love.) —Sherylin Untalan/NB, GMA Integrated News