An alleged scam call centre in the Philippines has been busted for targeting Australian men over the age of 35 on dating apps and social media, the the Australian federal police say, resulting in the arrest of more than 250 people.
The alleged scammers would work in shifts from a compound to align with Australian times zones, building trust with the men before asking them to invest their money in a fraudulent cryptocurrency trading platform, police alleged.
The AFP says it has identified 50 Australians who were targeted by the call centre so far. But based on intelligence provided by Philippine authorities, police say the number of Australians targeted could be in the thousands.
Philippine law enforcement seized more than 300 computer towers, more than 1,000 mobile phones and thousands of sim cards after they executed a search warrant over suspected immigration violations.
Police later arrested more than 190 foreign nationals and 68 Filipino nationals for alleged immigration offences.
The AFP searched the compound soon after under Operation Firestorm, which works to shut down organised crime syndicates that operate abroad and deceive Australians through romance, investment or cryptocurrency scams.
David McLean, an AFP assistant commissioner, said the search of the call centre was the first time investigators had accessed an alleged scam compound under the operation.
“We have gathered valuable intelligence on the structure of these types of [alleged] scam call centres, how they are targeting Australians and the ways to help identify victims,” McLean said.
“An AFP cryptocurrency expert was given a unique insight into the [alleged] financial and money laundering structures operating within these hubs, and that will be immensely helpful in developing our strategies in combatting this crime impacting Australia.”
In a statement, the AFP warned Australians to remain vigilant against romance scams, and be skeptical of urgent requests for personal information or money. It also urged people to report any suspicious profiles.
“Romance scammers can profess love or strong emotions quickly to manipulate their targets emotionally. Be aware of these signs,” the AFP said in a statement.
“Always verify the identity of the person you’re communicating with online. Request video calls or meetings in person, if possible.
“Trust your instincts. If it seems too good to be true, it probably is.”
