By South China Morning Post | Created at 2025-02-02 07:06:18 | Updated at 2025-02-02 10:41:14
3 hours ago
The case of a Singaporean actor who fell victim to a love scam has reignited concerns over the persistence of such fraud operations in the Philippines, including those linked to now-banned offshore gaming firms, with experts warning that they are continuing to evolve despite official crackdowns.
Veteran actor Laurence Pang, 78, recounted his ordeal on the popular Philippine public-affairs show “Raffy Tulfo in Action” on January 17, detailing how a woman he met online persuaded him to invest in counterfeit goods sold via a fake e-commerce platform.
Pang said he encountered “Mika” on PinaLove, a dating app popular among foreigners seeking Filipino partners, and was captivated by her charm, which later convinced him to sink thousands of US dollars into what he believed would be a profitable reselling business.
The actor said he only realised later that he was being asked to sell counterfeit products on a fake version of Rakuten, the popular Japanese trade platform.
“Being an old man, when a young lady says ‘I like you …’ Stupid, you know,” Pang confessed on air.
Mika instructed Pang to transfer money into her account and set up cryptocurrency wallets, promising refunds and a 10 per cent commission per sale. He said he grew suspicious when orders flooded in but found the system would not allow him to withdraw money as long as there were unfulfilled orders.
