A practitioner-oriented article for families confronting an ongoing or imminent romance scam. Covers urgent “stop-the-bleed” steps, criminal/civil remedies, bank and e-wallet actions, protective orders, guardianship, privacy and cybercrime tools, evidence preservation, and templates.

I. First principles (why this is urgent)

Most romance scams escalate from small “tests” to large remittances, loans, crypto buys, or asset pledges.
Speed matters: the earlier you act, the higher the odds of reversing payments, preserving data, and stopping contact.
Philippine law gives you multiple levers—financial, criminal, civil, and protective—but you must use them methodically and document everything.

II. Immediate “stop-the-bleed” checklist (first 24–72 hours)

Freeze the money flow
- Banks/e-wallets/cards: file a fraud/dispute for “goods/services not received” or “authorised under deception,” request transaction recall (InstaPay/PesoNet), chargeback (cards), or account flag (EMIs).
- Crypto: notify the licensed exchange used for the on-ramp; ask to flag the beneficiary and freeze pending transfers where possible; submit TXIDs.
- Auto-debits/post-dated checks: revoke authorization in writing; stop payment on PDCs (avoid B.P. 22 exposure—coordinate with the bank correctly).
Cut communications
- Block scammer accounts across SMS, chat, email, messaging apps.
- Warn relatives to ignore “verification calls” and not to relay funds.
Preserve proof
- Export chat logs, screenshots, payment confirmations, bank/e-wallet statements, crypto TXIDs, phone numbers, handles, and photos/videos sent.
- Keep original files with timestamps; don’t edit images.
Report to authorities (parallel tracks)
- PNP-Anti-Cybercrime Group or NBI-Cybercrime Division: file a complaint (estafa/cyber offenses/sextortion).
- Ask investigators to issue data-preservation requests to platforms (under the Cybercrime framework) and to coordinate with AMLC for suspicious transactions.
Protect devices & accounts
- Change passwords; enable MFA.
- Scan devices for remote-access or stalkerware if the scammer had the chance to install apps.

III. Criminal law levers you can invoke

Estafa (Art. 315, Revised Penal Code): deceit to obtain money/property.
Computer-related fraud/identity theft (Cybercrime law): online deception, account takeovers.
Photo/Video-based blackmail (“sextortion”): Anti-Photo and Video Voyeurism; Safe Spaces Act (online sexual harassment); Grave threats/coercion in the RPC.
Access device fraud: misuse of cards/one-time pins.
Money mules: recipients who knowingly receive/transship proceeds may be liable (anti-fencing/estafa, AML implications).

Why file criminal reports early? It enables data preservation, subpoenas, and AMLC reporting, increasing chances of tracing and freezing flows.

IV. Civil actions & extra-judicial tools

Injunction/TRO (Regional Trial Court): urgently restrain a vulnerable relative from disposing of specified funds/assets where you can show imminent dissipation plus legal interest (e.g., you are an attorney-in-fact, co-owner, or court-appointed guardian ad litem).
Guardianship over an adult: if your relative is incompetent (cognitive decline, mental health condition) or prodigal (habitual waste of estate), petition for guardianship so a guardian manages property and can lawfully block transfers.
Recovery suits: sue local money mules/intermediaries for sum of money/unjust enrichment; use Small Claims for modest amounts (documentary, fast).
Defamation/Privacy: if the scam involves public shaming or data abuse, pursue privacy/civil damages against identifiable local actors.

V. Protective orders (when the “romance” is local or abusive)

VAWC Protection Orders (if the victim is a woman or her child in a dating/cohabiting relationship): restrain contact, block financial abuse, control communications, and protect residence/workplace.
Barangay protection: initial Barangay Protection Orders for urgent relief where facts fit VAWC; otherwise, barangay conciliation aids quick civil settlements against local mules.

VI. Banking, e-money, card & payments playbook

A) Banks / InstaPay / PESONet

File a trace/recall with complete details: amount, timestamp (PH time), reference/trace number, beneficiary name/number.
If funds remain unclaimed/misposted, banks may recall; once settled to the merchant/account, recovery needs consent or court order.

B) Cards (Visa/Mastercard/JCB)

Dispute as “services not provided/merchandise not received” or fraud by deception; attach merchant descriptor, chat proofs & attempts to resolve.

C) E-wallets (licensed EMIs)

Open an in-app dispute; request account freeze of the recipient handle; submit ticket + proof pack.

D) Crypto & VASPs

If a PH-licensed exchange was used, lodge a fraud ticket with TXIDs and KYC info of the recipient if available; ask for freezes on internal wallets and SAR filing.

Always ask for written outcomes (case numbers, acknowledgment). Deadlines on chargebacks/recalls are tight—act within days, not weeks.

VII. Platforms, telcos & privacy

SIM Registration/SMS spam: report sender numbers to the telco and NTC for blocking; request change of SIM or number if targeted.
Social media & messaging apps: report accounts for fraud/sextortion; request data preservation via police.
Data privacy: if the scammer/OLA scraped contacts or publicly shamed the victim, file a privacy complaint; collect URLs and screenshots.

VIII. When the victim resists help (consent, autonomy & lawful interventions)

Adults can make bad decisions. Interventions must respect autonomy unless a legal basis exists to curtail it:
- Guardianship (incompetence/prodigality) to manage property.
- Protection orders (for women in abusive dating/cohabiting relations) to restrain the abuser’s access and economic abuse.
- Injunctions where you have a proprietary/legal interest in the at-risk asset (co-owned home, joint account).
Use supportive decision-making: insist on cool-off periods for transfers; require co-sign countersignature; set bank alerts; migrate funds to time deposits or accounts with dual control (if lawful and consensual).

IX. Evidence strategy (what wins cases)

Payment trail: bank/e-wallet PDFs, card slips, remittance receipts, TXIDs.
Deception record: chat logs, emails, call recordings (be careful with the anti-wiretapping law—record with consent or in permitted contexts).
Identity linkage: phone numbers, usernames, selfies sent, pickup CCTV at remittance outlets, KYC slips of mules.
Harm: amounts lost, loans incurred, emotional distress (for damages).
Keep an indexed binder; courts and issuers decide on documents.

X. Special scenarios

Sextortion: Do not pay. File immediately with PNP/NBI; platforms often take down content fast. Laws criminalize non-consensual disclosure; courts can issue injunctions.
Senior citizens: Pair criminal complaint with guardianship and bank controls; coordinate with CSWDO for psychosocial support.
Cross-border: Focus on issuer/EMI/crypto exchange remedies and local mules; let police trigger international assistance where viable.

XI. Realistic recovery expectations

Full refunds are uncommon once funds reach offshore wallets.
Highest success rates: early recalls/chargebacks, freezes at EMIs/exchanges, and actions against local mules.
Civil/criminal cases deter further loss, preserve evidence, and may support restitution orders.

XII. Ready-to-use templates (short forms)

1) Payment Dispute (Bank/EMI/Card)

Subject: Fraud/Deception Dispute – ₱[amount], Ref [####], [Date/Time] I was induced by online deception/romance scam to transfer funds. The service promised did not exist. Please recall/chargeback/freeze the transaction. Attached are: (1) payment proof, (2) chats, (3) timeline, (4) police intake acknowledgement.

2) Demand to Local Mule/Intermediary

You received ₱[amount] on [date] as part of a fraud. Demand is made for return within 5 days or I will file criminal estafa and a civil action for recovery and damages. Proofs attached.

3) Incident Pack Cover (for PNP-ACG/NBI-CCD)

Victim: [Name, age]. Offense: Online romance fraud/sextortion. Loss: ₱[amount]. Channels: [app/number/handles]. Transactions: [list]. Request: Data preservation, investigation, and coordination for freezes with [bank/EMI/VASP].

XIII. Family action plan (who does what)

Case manager: keeps the timeline, evidence binder, and contacts with bank/police.
Finance lead: handles disputes/recalls, cancels auto-debits, monitors alerts.
Digital lead: secures devices, passwords, MFA, reports accounts.
Legal lead: drafts demand letters, prepares guardianship/PO petitions if needed, coordinates with counsel.

XIV. Do’s & Don’ts

Do act within days, keep everything in writing, and involve law enforcement early. Don’t shame the victim, transfer more “to recover,” or threaten the scammer (it risks escalation or data dumps). Don’t self-“hack” accounts; keep remedies lawful to preserve your case.

XV. Bottom line

Stopping a romance scam is a race against time. Use parallel tracks: freeze or recall funds via banks/EMIs/cards/exchanges, trigger criminal complaints to preserve data and pursue offenders, deploy civil tools (injunctions, guardianship) to protect a vulnerable relative’s assets, and seek protective orders where the relationship is abusive. Document meticulously and move fast—the paper trail and timely notices are your strongest allies.