Manila: Senator Sherwin Gatchalian on Sunday announced that he has filed Senate Resolution No. 1317 to investigate the proliferation of love scams and other online frauds previously perpetrated by Philippine offshore gaming operators (POGOs), which are currently banned in the country. Gatchalian emphasized the need to re-evaluate and strengthen policies banning POGOs and reassess the use of cryptocurrencies in the Philippines. According to Philippines News Agency, Gatchalian stated that relevant government agencies must collaborate with international partners to develop and implement effective interventions aimed at curtailing rampant online love scams and tracking down and prosecuting scammers across borders. The Philippine National Police Anti-Cybercrime Group (PNP-ACG) reported eight cases of online love scams in January of this year and 72 cases last year. Furthermore, the Australian Federal Police reported that approximately 5,000 Australians fell victim to a love scam center operating in the Philippine s, losing around AUD 24 million to scammers targeting mainly male Australian nationals aged 35 to 80 via online dating applications. Gatchalian highlighted the need to re-evaluate and strengthen the existing ban on POGOs for stricter monitoring and enforcement measures, as these operators originally perpetrated love scams. He noted that scammers often employ sophisticated tactics, such as creating fake online identities and using social engineering techniques to exploit victims' vulnerabilities. He further explained that these fraudulent activities are often linked to organized cybercriminals, including illegal online gaming operators and cryptocurrency transactions, which provide perpetrators with untraceable means of transferring and laundering illicit funds. Perpetrators typically target victims across borders using online platforms, creating a global network where scammers can exploit individuals from various countries due to the difficulty in tracking them across different jurisdictions. Gatchalian al so pointed out that the use of cryptocurrencies in these scams warrants further examination, as it poses a significant challenge to regulators and law enforcement due to the cross-border nature of these transactions and their concealability.