New modus of online boyfriends

BEWARE of a new scam perpetrated by “online boyfriends” who prey on unsuspecting Filipino women, a visiting Bureau of Immigration official said.

Lawyer Floro C. Balato Jr., acting chief of the BI Port Operations Division, said a Filipino woman recently lost P50,000 after her online boyfriend promised to visit her in the Philippines.

“Meron hong modus operandi na lumalabas… Pagkatapos nililigawan ang ating mga kababayan, kunyari dadating na sa Pilipinas. Magpapakasal na daw,” Balato said in a forum at the Philippine Consulate General on October 18.

“Syempre excited na si ate. Darating na ang kanyang online boyfriend. Minsan talagang maglilinis na ng bahay, magsasabi na sa mga kapitbahay, magkakatay pa yan ng kambing dahil susunduin na sa airport,” he said.

But once the boyfriend supposedly arrived at the airport, the victim got a phone call.

“Pagdating sa airport, biglang tatawagan si ate. ‘Kayo ho ba si Ana? Meron ho bang kayong inaantay na si James Brown?” Balato said.

Once the victim confirmed her identity, the caller would then claim that there was a “problem” at the airport.

“Naku, si James Brown ho ang boypren ninyo nasa airport. May malaking pera na dala US$500,000. Ang laki ng pera. Magpapagawa raw ng bahay at magpapakasal daw kayo,” Balato quoted the caller as saying.

“Kaso hindi niya pwedeng ilabas kasi nahold namin siya dito sa airport. Kaya hindi pwedeng lumabas,” he added.

He said the caller would introduce himself as a Bureau of Immigration official and will ask for P50,000 so that the “online boyfriend” would be allowed to enter the country.

“Hihingan kayo ng P50,000. Idedeposit nyo sa Western Union…Biglang pupunta sa amin si ate sa airport umiiyak kasi nahold yung asawa niya,” Balato said.

“Pag chineck namin yung record, wala pong ganung foreigner na dumating sa Pilipinas. Pag tinanong natin si ate kung nagkita na sila ng boypren niya, hindi pa. At ang totoo niyan, ito ho ay isang sindikato na nambibiktima ng ating mga kababayan,” he said.

Balato urged Filipino domestic helpers in Hong Kong to be wary of men that they meet online.

“So, mag-ingat po kayo sa ganun. Kasi bogus ho ito. Sa malamang, ito ay mga Pilipino din na nambibiktima. So, pag pinadalhan ho kayo ng mga friend request sa Facebook, huwag kayong pabigla-bigla,” he said.

“Isipin ninyo na maraming manloloko sa Internet,” he added.