A familiar face has been dominating social media platforms and online forums. The woman, identified as Zyan Cabrera, popularly known as Jerriel ‘Cry4zee’ (sometimes spelled Cryazee), has been described as a ‘Pinay Gold Medalist’ involved in a viral scandal. Despite the lack of evidence or actual video, many have been sharing memes featuring Cabrera and making fun of her.
Others have clicked links they believed would lead to the explicit content being discussed. However, what most people missed is that the whole ordeal is just a coordinated online scam designed to exploit curiosity and potentially steal sensitive information. It’s a calculated manipulation of human psychology, and here’s why it works.
The Psychology of Viral Scandals and Phishing Traps
Cabrera’s ‘Pinay Gold Medalist’ viral scandal has been everywhere from Facebook to Telegram. The rapid dissemination was made possible by social media, which enabled users to share content they believed others were discussing.
According to Simon Kingsnorth, a digital marketing expert and author of Digital Marketing Strategy, there are multiple reasons behind the ‘psychology of viral content’. The most likely reason the recent issue spread like wildfire is its powerful narrative and unexpected twists. Cabrera has been labelled as a ‘Pinay gold medalist’ involved in explicit content—a story that defies expectations for a professional athlete and generates enough curiosity to attract immediate engagement.
The timing couldn’t have been better, since it blew up shortly after the 2026 Winter Olympics began. Photos of Cabrera in sportswear appear in various memes, though the snap originated from an innocent TikTok video in which she danced with a young boy. It was easy to make the content viral because it uses bait—a side-by-side photo of a screenshot from her TikTok post next to a blurry or explicit image of a couple in bed—and a hook, which includes hashtags like #goldmedalist. Some add urgency by encouraging others to click the malicious link, making them think they’re the only ones who haven’t watched the video. The power of FOMO (fear of missing out) encourages comments and shares.
A Coordinated Online Scam Strategy
Unfortunately, following the trend isn’t safe. According to reports, the ‘Pinay gold medalist’ viral scandal is a coordinated online scam. The culprits spread malicious links to hack Facebook accounts or steal information, exploiting users’ curiosity about the issue.
When one clicks the link, they’re not directed to a video but to a page similar to a Facebook login screen, where they’re asked to verify their age or log in to watch the video. Once the user enters their email and password, hackers steal their account. In other cases, clicking the link prompts one to download a ‘Video Player Update’ or an app to watch the content. However, instead of a video player, the downloaded file is actually spyware that can steal data from one’s device, LatestLY reported.
Phishing Scam Uses ‘Pinay Gold Medalist’ Hook
Since early February 2026 — coinciding with the Milano Cortina Winter Olympics — scammers…https://t.co/JIDzrWAIKK— Cybersecurity News Digest (@CyberNewsDigest) February 10, 2026
Who Is Zyan Cabrera: The Face of the Scandal
At the centre of this storm is Zyan Cabrera, a young woman whose face has become synonymous with the ‘gold medalist’ persona. She’s a student, not an Olympic gold medalist. There’s no proof that Cabrera is an athlete or involved in the Olympics.
She is active on TikTok and regularly shares videos of herself with her boyfriend, featuring content similar to most users—dancing with her beau to trending songs. It’s unclear whether Cabrera is involved in the scam or a victim too, with culprits using her profile for the scheme.
In short, the ‘Pinay gold medalist’ viral scandal is a scam. Avoid clicking unverified links about the promised ‘leaked’ content or risk having your information stolen by hackers waiting to take advantage of curiosity.
