24K Lost: Iwa Moto an Actress from the Philippines
a Victim of Gadget Scam

Uploader: TikTok User @iam_iwa
Video Link: Watch the video here
Dated on August 17, 2023

Her Summary:

Iwa Moto, an actress from the Philippines, became a victim of a tricky scam involving gadgets. This scam used sneaky tricks like pretending to be someone else and making people feel sorry for them. Iwa Moto lost a lot of money, around 24,000 PHP, because of this clever plan that was all about gadgets.

The trickster acted like a big fan and messaged Iwa Moto on Facebook. They said things like, “Hi Ma’am Iwa! I’m a huge fan of yours. Your talent is amazing, and I feel really happy because of you? I want to send you a gift from my shop. Can you tell me where to send it? Thanks, and God bless you.”

This message was tricky because it made Iwa Moto feel special, and the scammer knew a lot about her. They even used words to make her feel good and talked about God. They had a shop name that sounded real and even mentioned a Christian saying, “By Grace, Through Faith,” to make it seem more real.

As they talked more, Iwa Moto asked why she needed the gift. The scammer had looked at her Instagram and used something she said about feeling good every day. This made Iwa Moto feel uncomfortable, and she wished the scammer would get caught as she remembered how she scammed.

The scammer offered Iwa Moto a discount on an iPhone 14 because she didn’t want the iPad Mini gift. And the scammer kept pretending to be a big fan and said they wanted to meet Iwa Moto. They also said their family was in trouble and asked for money through GCash.

Feeling sorry for them, Iwa Moto decided to help and sent them almost 24,000 PHP.

Then things got worse. The scammer said their family member had died, but they still told Iwa Moto that her “order” was on the way. Iwa Moto started to doubt the scammer. She asked for a way to track her “order,” but the scammer didn’t reply much. They kept posting online like nothing was wrong, even using Iwa Moto’s picture.

The scammer did something really bad. They used screenshots of their chat with Iwa Moto to trick more people into sending money.

Other victims came forward, saying they also got scammed. Some were students who needed gadgets for school or gifts for their family.

All the victims worked together to find out who the scammer was. After a lot of trying, they found a clue that led to a BPI account under the name Mirania M. Lahren, in San Fernando, Pampanga.

Iwa Moto was brave. She talked about how she got tricked and wanted the truth to come out. She found out that Mirania M. Lahren was also a victim and didn’t do the scam. Iwa Moto asked everyone to pray for justice.

In the end, Iwa Moto’s story warns us about scams and how to be careful online. This story teaches us to watch out for tricky people who want to take our money. It’s a lesson in staying safe in a world full of tricks and scams.

The Scammer’s Toolkit: Tricks Unveiled

Scammers, equipped with manipulative skills and deceptive strategies, exploit various psychological vulnerabilities to achieve their nefarious goals. In the case of Iwa Moto, the scammer employed a combination of identity theft, emotional manipulation, and a partner-in-crime approach to orchestrate their fraudulent scheme:

1. Personal Connection and Flattery
   The scammer impersonated a devoted fan, reaching out to Iwa Moto through social media with flattering messages.
   By appealing to her emotions and making her feel special, the scammer gained Iwa Moto’s trust and attention.

2. Intimate Knowledge
   The scammer delved into Iwa Moto’s social media accounts to extract personal information and exploit her preferences and feelings.This manipulation tactic was used to establish rapport and create a sense of familiarity.

3. Creating Urgency and Sympathy
   The scammer fabricated a story about a family crisis, tugging at Iwa Moto’s heartstrings and eliciting empathy.
   The urgency of the situation pressured Iwa Moto into sending financial assistance.

4. Shifting the Focus
   When Iwa Moto began to doubt the legitimacy of the situation, the scammer diverted attention by mentioning the pending gadget “order.”
   This misdirection aimed to maintain the façade of a genuine transaction.

5. Exploiting Trust for Wider Reach
   The scammer used screenshots of their conversation with Iwa Moto to deceive and defraud more individuals, spreading their web of deceit.

6. Collaborative Deception:
   The scammer utilized a second party, Mirania M. Lahren, to launder the ill-gotten funds through a bank account and Gcash.
   This strategy made it harder to trace the origins of the scam.

Empowering Yourself: Practical Exercises for Prevention

Protecting oneself from gadget scams requires both knowledge and proactive engagement. Here are practical exercises to enhance your scam detection skills:

1. Privacy Audit
   Regularly review your social media privacy settings and limit the information visible to the public. Avoid sharing personal details that scammers can exploit.
2. Suspicion Savvy
   Train yourself to question motives and situations that seem unusual or too urgent. Take time to verify claims and consult trusted friends or family.
3. Reverse Image Search
   If someone claims to be a fan or a friend, perform a reverse image search on their profile picture to check for authenticity.
4. Two-Step Verification
   Enable two-step verification on your online accounts to add an extra layer of security against potential hacks.
5. Trusted Contacts
   Establish a network of trusted individuals who can provide a second opinion on suspicious messages or requests.
6. Educational Efforts
   Share your experiences with friends, family, and even colleagues, creating a collective awareness of the tactics scammers use.