Jeepney Press / Karen Sanchez

DONDAKE by Karen Sanchez

LOVE SCAM

How are you in this new normal-- which is a totally "abnormal" way of living so far? How was your valentine? Well, I am hoping that everyone is okay and living as normal despite this current situation all over the world where everyone is getting scammed one way or the other.

Scam is a deceptive scheme or trick used to cheat someone out of something.

Scammers take advantage of people looking for romantic partners and pretend to be prospective companion. They are professionals in terms of manipulating people and you can hardly determine or recognize that they are.

We can be victimized easily because they use emotional words like love. And we, as fools easily believe it.

I want to share with you a few examples on how scammers do and why many of the people around the world were scammed.

1. Covid19 Scam

People are using this pandemic situation to collect money for the covid19 patients or places which Corona virus are at high risk.

2. Buying and Selling

Scammers prey on consumers or businesses that are buying or selling products or services that not all of their transactions are legitimate like gold, diamonds etc.

3. Dating and Romance

Scammers are taking advantage of people looking for romantic partners often via social media, dating apps websites by pretending to be prospective companion. They play on emotional triggers to get you. They will promise everything just to make you believe them. They will tell you sweet honey sugary words for you to provide money, gifts, personal details or even sex. Their social media accounts will be deactivated, sim cards, phone or cell phone numbers changed and cannot be reached. They are lost and cannot be found. In short, you are scammed!

4. Fake Charities

Scammers impersonate genuine charities to collect donations or contact you claiming to collect money because of the natural disasters, calamities or major events and give to the victims but in reality, it goes to their own pockets and investments.

5. Investments

Sometimes we are looking for fast way to make money and scammers invented all sorts of fake money-making opportunities to prey on enthusiasm and get hold of your cash.

6. Jobs and Employment

As of today, many of us have lost our jobs, businesses have been closed and many scammers have tricked people into handling their money by offering a "guaranteed way to make fast money or a high paying job for little effort.

There are many more ways how scammers or cheaters do. It just like how many times we fall in love with the wrong people. We give everything we could. We love them whole heartedly, but in the end, we are still back to zero and again, longing for love and happiness, praying for our "forever." Despite the heartaches or broken hearts and failures, we don't stop searching for what we want in our lives. We try again and again. Some people continue to fail. A few may be successful, but broken hearted.

Lucky are those who found their partners, and those who are giving without doubt and without expecting something in return. Blessed are those who did not suffer that much to have what they dreamt of and to those who did not experienced this "love scam."

Again, every thing that happened in this world has a good reason, and only our Lord God knows what’s the best for us. We pray for the fast recovery of the world in YHWH's name.

HAWAK-KAMAY

ni Karen Sanchez

Sa oras na ako ay nalulumbay At ang buhay ko na ito ay nanamlay Nais kong maramdaman ang hawak-kamay Mula sa taong nagmamahal sa ‘kin ng tunay

Sa magulo at masalimuot na daigdig At sa bawat kulog, pagyanig at nginig Takot at pangamba ramdam sa dibdib Sa isang hawak-kamay alab ang nananaig

Pag nawawalan na ako ng pag-asa At para bang ako ay nanghihina na Kapag hawak ng kamay mo'y ramdam ko pa Nagkakaroon ako ng tiwalang lumaban pa

Sa panahong ngayon may pandemya Hindi lahat ay pwede hawakan ang kamay nila Ngunit maramdaman lamang na sila'y di nag-iisa Maiibsan hirap at lungkot na nadadarama

Karen Sanchez / Jeepney Press