Singaporean Actor Loses P1.5 Million After Being Scammed by Filipina He Met on a Dating App
LAURENCE PANG – A veteran Singaporean actor fell victim to an online scam after losing almost P1.5 million.
The incident happened when a 78-year-old Singaporean actor met a Filipina named “Mika” on the dating site “PinaLove,” a popular platform connecting foreign men with Filipina girlfriends.
Mika convinced Pang to invest thousands of dollars in becoming a reseller for various products. These transactions were conducted through a fake online business disguised as a legitimate version of the Japanese e-commerce platform, Rakuten.
At first, the scheme appeared genuine, with transactions seeming smooth and sales happening quickly.
However, Pang later realized it was a scam when he could no longer withdraw his supposed earnings. He suspected that the customers were fabricated and the company entirely fake. Attempts to stop his involvement proved futile as his products were reposted without his consent.
Pang managed to video call Mika and capture a screenshot of her real face. He discovered significant discrepancies between her actual appearance and the heavily edited photos she initially shared, confirming the deception.
The Philippine National Police Anti-Cybercrime Group (PNP-ACG) revealed that Pang was targeted by cybercriminals likely operating out of a scam hub in the Philippines. Authorities are now working to trace Mika’s identity through her payment service provider’s details.
The public has been urged to remain cautious when engaging in online relationships, especially those involving financial investments or business proposals. Pang, on his part, is determined to file charges against the perpetrators in hopes of bringing them to justice.
The incident reminds the public to practice vigilance and avoid falling for too-good-to-be-true opportunities, especially in the virtual space.
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What is a love scam?
A love scam, also called a romance scam, happens when someone pretends to be interested in a romantic relationship to trick another person, often for money. These scams usually occur online through dating apps, social media, or even email.