Filipina Dating Scams
Introduction
As with most parts of the internet, filipina dating sites can attract scammers looking to exploit people's hopes and dreams. And you will need to be cautious - especially when you first start using them.
Most scams can be avoided simply by checking a person on a webcam (with audio) to make sure that they match the person in the profile, and by checking their IP address to make sure that they are in the country that they say they are in, and by being cautious about untraceable people - ie people who just use internet cafes and mobile phones, and won't give any verifiable home or employer addresses where you could send letters. Audio is as important as video - because unlike video - the audio can't be faked in a conversation.
Always remember that anything which seems too good to be true, probably isn't true. So if you're a sixty year-old man, you should ask yourself why that hot 26 year-old girl is in love with you. Or if you're a large lady with 6 kids, then you should ask yourself why that handsome businessman picked you from all the other girls online - especially when he looses his wallet on a business trip to Nigeria, and asks you to help.
Lottery Scams
Lottery scams involve someone asking you for money in order to release a much larger amount of money which they say is waiting for you - but isn't. There are lot's of variations of this scam, and they are mostly of African origin. Cargo scams (see below) could be considered as a variation of the lottery scam.
Viruses
Dating sites can be used to spread harmful viruses onto your computer. So beware of anyone who asks you to click on suspicious links just after you've met them - perhaps to view some photos. And make sure that you have a firewall and anti-virus protection on your computer.
Scams on Women
Freight / Cargo Scams
These are extremely common at the moment. The man, usually an African using a white man's photo, convinces you that he's going to marry you and decides to send a consignment of expensive gifts (including laptops, jewelery, iphones etc) - or so he says. And you will be sent convincing fake freight documents - perhaps even a photo of the parcel with your name and address on it. But when it is said to have arrived you will be asked to pay the import duty which will probably be quite high. And you will be flustered into making a quick decision. And he will say that he spent $1000s on the gifts, and make you feel that you need to pay it. But once you've paid it you will find there is no cargo, and that the man has disappeared. Typically Africans make strange mistakes with their use of names and addresses etc, and their spelling and use of english. Even it looks legitimate it's always best to ask the sender to pay or loan the money for the import duty. And under no circumstances should pay anything without checking the package and it's contents - especially if you haven't known the sender for long. Here's an example of a typical african cargo scam which was sent to us by a member of this site:-
Hello
honey,
I have made the deposit of the
package to the SECURITY CARGO NETWORK UK just few hours ago, so the package will
be sent to you directly Via Security Cargo Network. the package will be
delivered to you safely in your house.
PLEASE honey, NOTE HERE: The Company will deliver the package to you as
a consignment. I did not disclose the contentto the security company, i only registered it as PERSONAL EFFECT. This reason is
to reduce their charges, therefore, you must not disclose the content of the
consignment to the company, Okay?
I have attached the airway bill
below and also the final package of the package for easy recognition, hopefully
the box will be delivered to you within 48hours, it shall arrive on Monday as i
was told in their office, so you can have it printed out in color in case they
may demand for it at the receiving point. The
company has their branch office in Malaysia , so the package will first
arrive at their branch office in Malaysia, from
Malaysia they will proceed to your destination in Singapore according to what they told
me.
babe, It cost me
here #1,200 pounds
for all the taxes, vats and delivery charges, but i was told that there will be
some local charges
that you will be required to settle there, please ensure that it is
settled immediately you are contacted i give them your phone number and email
address, on the arrival of the consignment, in order not to have any delay in
claiming the package. I was told that it's a custom stamp duty
fee
Honey, the content of the package are 1 (one)
laptop, pairs of shoes, clothes, wrist watches, 2blackberry
mobile phones, 1 hand bag, Set of jewellery, ,1 (one) set of make-up,
body spry and a surprise
Yours good friend and husband to be.
Maxwell
Anthony.
E-mail: hydzquinanola@yahoo. com
This is to notify you that we have been mandated to deliver a consignment to you, from your husband Mr. Maxwell Anthony of
the stated address herein ######### Manchester , m27 ######. London, United Kingdom, which
he registered with your credentials as the final beneficiary to deliver to you at your door step in SINGAPORE.
Hence, you are hereby requested to make the necessary arrangement for proper identification of your claim.
(1) Send to us A COPY OF YOUR PASSPORT / DRIVER'S LICENSE OR ANY OF YOUR I D (VALID TO DATE) for proper identification.
Please it is very important to us, to avoid delivering to the wrong person.
(2) You are required to pay $250(SSD) TWO HUNDRED AND FIFTY DOLLARS, being the cost
of Custom Stamp Duty Fee, as your husband Mr. Maxwell Anthony has paid for other charges before conveyance.
This amount must be paid to enable us deliver your consignment to your address promptly.
Please do get back to us for the details of where the payment charges should be made.
You are expected to comply with us ASAP, as the modality of the delivery of your consignment has been completed.
Give this requirement the urgent attention it deserves. Await your urgent response in order to proceed your transaction.
Regards,
LADY VI VAN.V (MS).
Foreign Operational Head. (SCNA)
CONTACT AGENT
SECURITY CARGO NETWORK ASIA (SCNA)
Note the USE Of CAPTIALS
The above also illustrates a common trait of African scammers which is the use of capital letters. For reasons unknown, these scammers often write either all in capitals, or with seemingly randon mixes of capitals and none-capitals. If someone posts a profile in capitals there is more than a 95% chance that it's an african scammer.
Note the use 'ok'
The above also shows another common trait of some of African scammers which is the use of 'ok' almost as a sort of punctuation at the end of a phrase or sentance.
Job Scams
Job scams are very common - especially for nanny jobs. The scammers know that many filipina girls are eager to work abroad to help their families. And they will offer bogus jobs, and ask for some money in advance for a visa or something like that. Here's an example of a typical african nanny scam:-
I am Dr.Peter Morris,i am 43 Years Old, From Vienna Austria,I am CEO of Multimedia Consultant in Austria and I don't usually stays home unless during weekends. I will like you to know that i have just a kid which name is Michael.his 5 years old.I want a female caregiver/nanny who will be take care of my kid because i always left him with my guarder at home after lost his Mother. And I have an apartment room for him, so would be taking care of him in my house.
Passport Scams
Someone pretends to be a young male from the US or Europe, perhaps a student or someone just starting out as a writer - i.e. someone with no money, but with some future prospects. He says he loves you so much that he would come and marry you straight away if he only had the air fare. He just asks for a little money at first, and makes it sound like a great investment. But then he keeps comming back for more and more money.
Malaysia
Lots of scams are now associated with Malaysia. It's home to many African students partly because it's a muslim country with english as the defacto administrative language. And scamming seems to be a favourite hobby of African muslim students. So Malaysia should always be regarded with as much caution as Nigeria or other African countries. They mainly target women - and will usually go for OFW or those with signs of wealth, often they will go for older women or those with children.
Army Personnel
Some scammers will claim to be in the army as it gives them a variety of excuses, including excuses for not having a cam, not being in a certain country, or not having access to money.
Pre-recorded Video
Many scammers now have the capability to play pre-recorded video through yahoo. The video is of someone else. And so they have to make excuses about not having a mic, and they will not be able to respond to any requests to stand, smile, or wave etc. You may also notice that the person isn't looking down at the keyboard in sync with their typing, and that there is an interuption every 10 minutes or so when the recording has to be restarted and replayed. Be wary of those without microphones.
IP Masking / Proxy Servers
Many scammers use proxy servers to hide their true IP address and hence their true location. You can check for this here:- IP Lookup and Proxy Server Check Under 'services' you should normally see 'non detected'.
Scams on Men
Identity Theft
Indentity theft is a growing and serious problem, and you need to be alert to anyone showing undue interest in your personal details.
Money Scams
For the most part, filipina scammers are low-level scammers looking for small amounts of money. They might ask for money for a webcam, or money to hire a private room with a webcam - and then disappear with the money. There are some high-level scammers too, and you will need to be on your guard. Money for a bogus annulment is a common scam, it could also be money for bogus medical treatment, flood or typhoon damage etc. Some of the worst scams can take place after you hit the tarmac in Manila, and you could wake up on your first morning and find that your girlfriend has disappeared together with all your money and valuables.
In order help you avoid being scammed, we would recommend that you avoid the following:-
1). Avoid anyone who you can never see or hear on cam.
2). Avoid anyone who asks for money before you know them properly, or anyone who seems to keep needing money for one thing after another. A good marriage-minded Filipina will never ask for money.
3). Avoid anyone who is very evasive or inconsistent about her details - like her address, employer, or her full name. And don't go to meet anyone unless you are sure you know who they are.
4). Avoid anyone who has ever been a mistress, a hostess, a GRO, or a bar worker etc.
5). Avoid excessive age gaps.
6). Avoid anyone with unexpected African connections - especially to Nigeria, Ghana, or Benin - including anyone who says they are working there or just visiting.
7). Avoid anyone just flirts with you, and avoids serious conversations.
8). Avoid anyone who seems to be painting a highly contrived or unusual situation to you - that's typical of African scammers.
