BoC chief warns vs ongoing 'Love Scam' targeting Pinays
Bureau of Customs (BoC) Commissioner Ariel Nepomuceno warned the public on Monday against the persistent "Love Scam" scheme, revealing that the agency continues to receive over 70 reports monthly from Filipinas victimized by cybercriminals impersonating customs officials.
Nepomuceno cited that while elderly citizens were previously the primary targets, recent cases show an increasing number of women in their 30s and 40s falling victim to the online romance scheme.
Under the fraud scheme, perpetrators build fake relationships with victims through social media platforms and online dating applications. Suspects often gain trust by sending initial gifts, such as flowers or small parcels, before claiming to send luxury items or jewelry.
"After a few days or weeks, the suspect will send the victim expensive gifts, such as jewelry, and then claim there is a problem at customs that requires $1,000 or more to release the shipment," Nepomuceno said during an interview in Makati City.
"Since the victim believes she is in a legitimate relationship, she transfers the money to the account provided," he added.
Scammers frequently pressure victims to send money repeatedly under the pretense that customs is holding the package. Fraudsters use fabricated websites, fake tracking details, and altered images to deceive victims into believing the shipments exist.
In extreme cases, financial losses have reached millions of pesos.
Nepomuceno recalled an incident where an 80-year-old woman lost P9 million in bank transfers to an online scammer posing as billionaire Elon Musk, refusing to accept that the relationship was fraudulent despite intervention from her family and customs officials.
The agency stressed that legitimate customs duties and taxes are paid directly to authorized agent banks or recognized government collection portals, never through personal bank accounts or mobile wallet services such as GCash.
The BoC urged the public to withhold personal information and avoid sending money to individuals met exclusively online. Citizens can verify package tracking details and customs inquiries by contacting BoC official channels at boc.cares@customs.gov.ph or visiting the nearest customs office.