Federal police are working with Philippine authorities to identify Australian victims of romance scams after 250 cybercriminals were arrested in Manila last month.
Philippine law enforcement agencies arrested more than 190 foreign nationals and 68 Filipino nationals for alleged immigration offences after searching a scam compound in Pasay City on October 3.
Scammers allegedly targeted men over the age of 35 on social media and dating applications.
Scammers built trust with victims before asking them to invest money in a fraudulent cryptocurrency trading platform, working in shifts to align with Australian time zones.
“A large portion of cybercrime affecting Australians originates offshore, and this action shows how the AFP and its international partners are proactively taking the fight to these syndicates where they operate,” AFP Assistant Commissioner David McLean said.
The AFP activity was launched under Operation Firestorm, set up this year to disrupt offshore organised crime syndicates that deceive Australians through romance, investment or cryptocurrency scams.
“We have gathered valuable intelligence on the structure of these types of scam call centres, how they are targeting Australians and the ways to help identify victims,” McLean said.
“An AFP cryptocurrency expert has given a unique insight into the 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.”
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Philippine authorities also seized more than 300 computer towers, more than 1000 mobile phones and thousands of SIM cards at the scam compound in Manila.
