Police try to identify Aussie romance scam victims following a scam centre raid in Manila

Authorities are trying to identify Australians who fell victim to romance scams following the raid of a scam centre in Manila. Law enforcement agencies arrested 250 alleged cyber criminals during the raid, which was initiated by Australian Federal Police (AFP). The AFP worked with Philippine authorities to execute a search warrant for suspected immigration violations at the scam centre in Pasay City last month. More than 190 foreign nationals and 68 Filipinos were arrested for alleged immigration offences during the raid, with police also seizing more than 300 computers, 1000 mobile phones and thousands of sim cards. AFP officers and local partners searched the scam compound for information about Australian scam victims. Police allege Australian men aged over 35 years were targeted on social media and dating applications. The scammers communicated with victims to build their trust before asking them to invest money in a fraudulent cryptocurrency trading platform. The alleged scammers worked shifts to align with Australian time zones. AFP launched the raid under Operation Firestorm to disrupt offshore organised crime syndicates that deceived Australians through romance, investment or cryptocurrency scams. AFP technical and cryptocurrency experts were now working with the Philippines Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC) and National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) to gather information. The crimefighters are trying to find out who was targeted and what methods the scammers used to extract cash from victims. AFP Assistant Commissioner David McLean said it was the first time investigators accessed a scam centre compound. “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,” he said. “We commend the PAOCC and NBI for their work in identifying this boiler room and taking swift action to shut it down. “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. “An AFP cryptocurrency expert was given a unique insight into the financial and money laundering structures operating within these hubs. “That will be immensely helpful in developing our strategies in combatting this crime impacting Australia.”