Authorities Arrest Woman for Scamming Foreign National
FEMALE SCAMMER – The authorities arrested a young woman after allegedly scamming an American national in Cebu.
A love scam, also called a romance scam is when a scammer pretends to have romantic feelings for someone in order to trick them into sending money, sharing personal information, or doing favors.
The scammer never plans to meet in person. They only want to keep the victim hopeful and willing to send more money.
A 24-year-old woman was arrested by the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) Cebu District Office after allegedly scamming an American national out of more than P300,000.
On the evening of Sunday, April 27, 2025, the suspect was caught during an entrapment operation at a coffee shop in Mandaue City.
According to the NBI, the victim, an American citizen, reached out to authorities after realizing he had been repeatedly tricked into sending money by someone he believed to be his girlfriend.
In another post, a woman scammed by lady pretending to be regional director at SM, steals P25,000
Their relationship reportedly started through an online dating app. Over time, the woman managed to convince the victim to send her large amounts of money. It was only later that the foreigner found out she was already in a relationship with a Filipino man.
The suspect even allegedly tried to ask for an additional P14 million, supposedly to purchase a condominium unit in Cebu. Feeling suspicious, the victim decided to cooperate with the authorities to set up an operation that led to her capture.
The NBI continues to investigate the case while reminding the public to be extra careful when engaging with people online, especially when it comes to financial matters.
Online romance scams have become more common in recent years, where scammers take advantage of emotions to steal money from unsuspecting victims. The incident remind everyone to stay cautious and always verify the people they meet on the internet.
Authorities are also reviewing if the suspect has been involved in similar scams with other foreign nationals.
The internet users expressed their reactions to the incident:
