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NBI raids ‘love scam’ hub in Makati; 100 nabbed

Mark Ernest Villeza - The Philippine Star
NBI raids âlove scamâ hub in Makati; 100 nabbed
According to NBI Director Jaime Santiago, the suspects used AI or artificial intelligence to deceive victims in online romance scams.
PNA / File photo

MANILA, Philippines — Up to 100 Filipinos and a Chinese national were apprehended after the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) raided an alleged “love scam” facility in a condominium building in Makati yesterday.

According to NBI Director Jaime Santiago, the suspects used AI or artificial intelligence to deceive victims in online romance scams.

Santiago, who led the raid, said NBI agents discovered that the scammers used AI-generated conversations and fake profile pictures of attractive women to lure victims into fraudulent cryptocurrency schemes.

“With Valentine’s Day approaching, I urge both men and women to be cautious when using dating apps,” the NBI chief said.

Santiago said the computers showed every stage of the suspects’ interactions, from introductions to convincing victims to invest in cryptocurrency.

The NBI said two floors of the condominium were used in the scheme, with a Chinese national acting as the supervisor of the employees.

An NBI agent noted that the scammers have integrated AI into their deception tactics, moving beyond the traditional romance scams.

The NBI will probe the owner of the condominium to determine how the scam hub was able to operate.

NATIONAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION

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