Showing posts with label philippines detectives. Show all posts
Showing posts with label philippines detectives. Show all posts
July 9, 2012
Philippines Romance Scam: Avoid the Risk














Year after year the number of men and women victimized with romance scams rises despite all the information in the media and on the internet regarding the risk. The U.S., Australia, the U.K. and Canada seem to be permanent targets of these scams, as Filipino crooks go after English speaking victims in the developed world, who have money and the possibility to be duped.

Reputable Philippines investigators continue to be overwhelmed with requests to verify and investigate Filipina chat mates, friends, potential business partners, and more. Now that people are aware of the risk, more are turning to professional private investigators to verify relationships, romantic relationships, and individuals and businesses found online. Background checks, local investigation and surveillance services allow clients to verify their new contact, screen the case for fraud, and then make an informed decision whether or not to proceed.

High levels of corruption and very ineffective law enforcement in the Philippines has allowed the crime to balloon out of control, and it is free for fall across most of the country. In most cyber cafes in any town or city, you can find scammers communicating with their victims. Often a scammer will have two or three victims sending money at the same time, and some even have multiple men visit and meet the family in any given year. Their target is your money.

It is true that some stories have a happy ending, and Western men can find true love in Southeast Asia, but sadly the percentage of men being conned is very high. The Philippines, like West Africa, is a poor region and scammers have found in fraud a way to make a living, and support their families. In some cases, they have no problem ruining the family or life of one person in a developed country, because they believe they have no other choice, or that the victim has enough money that it simply doesn’t matter. The fact is, romance scams are serious crime and can ruin a victim emotionally and financially, and scammers are among the worst of criminals. Poverty or no poverty, there is no excuse for their actions, and criminals should be prosecuted.

Philippines detectives warn internet users to be highly skeptical of any new contact in the Philippines. Never send money to anyone you have never met in person, period. Due to the high risk, law enforcement and investigators say a background check is strongly advised. If you are serious about a relationship and are considering marriage, don’t be a fool. Consider a more in depth investigation and even surveillance before marriage or sending money abroad.

In many cases, the hardest part of all this is that foreigner provides his so-called fiancés support and don’t learn the truth until it is too late and thousands of dollars have been lost.

All the best,

S. Birch
© 2012 S. Birch


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June 1, 2012
Philippines Detectives Work Surveillance for Long Distance Relations


Economics have change in ways we never suspected they could since 1929, and the so called developing countries are really having a hard time these days. Families in the modern economies are struggling like those in the developed world.  The world, it seems, has been turned upside down.  In the Philippines, life has always been difficult it seems, at least since Magellan discovered this island nation and forever changed the way the natives have lived and fished on the islands.  These days, many Filipinas look abroad for romance to find a way out, or to improve their lives. With all the fraud, scams and infidelity, Philippines detectives are busy with surveillance.

Every month,  Philippines investigators get many requests from foreigners who want know more about their girlfriends or wives who stay in the Philippines, while the men are working abroad in their home countries.  Men in Canada, the U.S. and Australia often want to know if their local Filipina girlfriends and wives behave and are not linked to unethical behavior or infidelity while the men are on the other side of the world.  Often, romance scams can be about the money, so lovers abroad need to know their girl is the real thing, and they too are not a victim of romance scam.

Unfortunately, given the high poverty and desperate situation in the Philippines, many women turn to drugs, prostitution or internet scams.  It’s no secret that romance scams online, using the local internet café, can lead to a penpal sending you money.  Many locals, perhaps as many as half in any given internet café, are busy chatting with foreigners, and nearly all of those foreigners in turn send money to support their Filipinas girls.  Such relationships should be verified!

Some of the surveillance cases conducted can show alarming evidence and clear proof of fraud, scam, false identity, infidelity, or even the girl having a family aware of the scam.  In other cases, no evidence of any unethical activity will be found, and the client can be assured that his girl is the right one, an honest girl, and sleep better at night after hiring a professional to minimize the risk.  Experts say surveillance is best in the beginning of the relationships once there is money involved, or later in the relationship as soon as you have your doubts that something is not right overseas.

Surveillance can be a risky business, and it’s essential to hire a professional to ensure the service is discreet and confidential, and that the subject not be made aware of any investigation.  Untrained investigators may be cheap, but using such services can often lead to romance disaster.

Philippine PI detectives encourage foreign men to proceed with surveillance whenever they suspect they are being fooled or cheated, or when their gut instinct tells them something is not right.  Also, prior to marriage, it is critical that a comprehensive background check and local investigation be carried out, along with discreet surveillance, to minimize the risk down the road.

All the best,

S. Birch
© 2012 S. Birch


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September 12, 2011
Philippines Detectives Urge Caution on Social Media



The internet has changed the lives of more than two billion people on Earth, for better or for worse. It is a very informative and educational tool, and can be used as a valuable way to connect to new people and businesses, when used properly. On the other hand, it has taken the personal and real out of relationships. Identities can now be electronic, or profiles, and profiles are often exaggerated or entirely fake. It’s by definition made the world a little less real. The days of meaningful postmarked letters and post cards from abroad, anticipated and read by the whole family are long gone, and so are some of the values that came with it. Writing is now done with instant messaging, email and Blackberry, with little thought or care for proper writing or style. It’s an internet world and increasingly people are spending more time with their computers than with real human beings. The long term effects are unclear, but the change is dramatic.

In the Philippines, Philippines investigators say there is real risk in social media outlets such as MySpace, Facebook, Twitter, Friendster, Linkedin and others, and caution is advised. More people are relying on social networks to make new friends, find love, seek employment opportunities, or just to avoid boredom and loneliness. Ironically, by spending time alone behind a computer and behind part of an electronic “community” many feel less isolated from the rest of the world, even if the rest of the world lie just outside, off-line and in real life with physical contact. And, social networks have risk that is contributing to the scam and fraud problem in the Philippines.

The Philippines is not alone. Recent news stories abound of congressmen twittering inappropriate photographs to mistresses, Fortune 500 companies losing millions of dollars through wired money scams, hackers releasing secrets online, and even terrorists and Mexican drug dealers now using social media as a tool to spread their message, which often can have a negative impact on the global society. The cyber world is not always a nice, friendly and safe place. In fact, it is getting more dangerous all the time. Unscrupulous competitors are posting false information about respectable companies online, individuals claim to be companies, and more. Sifting through all the false and misleading information can be a major challenge. But, what has law enforcement most concerned is the sharp increase in internet scams and fraud via social media.

Philippines detectives say the Philippines has become one of the epicenters for fraud activity and scams involving social media. Wymoo® International, a professional private investigation firm with investigators in over 100 countries, says the risk from the Philippines now ranks with renowned countries such as Russia, the Ukraine, Ghana, Nigeria and South Africa. The FBI and U.S. Embassy in Manila receive regular complaints from U.S. citizens who have been scammed online, and in many cases, the scams were initiated using social media websites. Criminals are now taking to the internet to do their dirty work. Romance scams, marriage scams identity theft and business fraud is now being run form the Philippines by criminals that use social media as their hunting ground. Experts say proceed with caution, never reveal your personal data online to someone who has not been verified, and never send money to anyone you have not met in person, and had verified by a professional private investigator with experience and training.

Social media has enabled scammers to hide behind their profiles, creating false identities and relationships, only to gain your trust, then steal your money or identity. Scams in the Philippines are often carried out by young men and women who have limited opportunity, and are seeking a better life anyway possible, even if it means lying and deceiving their online “friends”.

Be skeptical and cautious when using social media sites. Know the risk and be safe.

All the best,

S. Birch
© 2011 S. Birch
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August 20, 2009
Philippines Detectives & Background Checks

  • 8/20/2009
Dating Scams and Infidelity Abound








Philippines dating scams and infidelity cases are at their highest levels in history. In a country world-renowned for its scams, infidelity and exportation of brides, it's hard to believe the situation could get any worse - but, it has. Philippines private detectives are busier than ever with clients from Canada, the U.S., U.K. and Australia all seeking investigation services.

According to the major Embassies in Manila, most foreign citizens file complaints on scams which originate via the internet. Foreign men seeking Philippine brides are facing difficult odds sorting through the scammers in hopes of finding an honest woman. Never before have Embassies and law enforcement received so many complaints regarding romance scams and fraud.

To avoid being a victim, many foriegners are hiring manila or cebu based private investigators. However, many of the local so-called investigators are even scams. Those who do work the case are often unqualified or unreliable. Because of the high rate of scams and fraud, from both relationships and investigators, consumers are advised to seek a professional investigation firm based outside of the Philippines, but one that has expert field investigators in the Philippines. Among the most reputable and experienced remains the U.S. based Philippine PI™, which has a large team of field investigators in the Philippines.

Business and personal relationships in the Philippines should be verified. The alternative can be a costly mistake. Industry experts say a Philippines background check is much like a prudent insurance policy. Philippine scammers remain some of the best and most convincing in the criminal business. Learning the truth early can save clients time, money and heartache.

All the Best,

S. Birch
© 2006-2009 S. Birch
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