On Valentine’s Day, authorities from Australia and the Philippines took decisive measures aimed at protecting potential victims from falling prey to online romance scams. The Australian Federal Police launched an initiative alongside Filipino law enforcement, revealing actual dialogues previously used by a now-disbanded scam syndicate based in the Philippines. This initiative aims to raise awareness and encourage vigilance among potential online dating users.
In a joint statement from the Australian Federal Police, the Philippine Anti-Organized Crime Commission, and other associated law enforcement bodies, it was highlighted that this campaign intends to “flip the script on romance scammers” by exposing genuine communication tactics that targeted the financial and emotional wellbeing of numerous individuals online.
The crackdown on the syndicate, which was based near Manila, took place last October, resulting in the arrest of over 250 suspected members, the majority of whom were of Chinese nationality. Authorities seized a range of devices, including computers, that were integral to conducting the online fraud operations. Following thorough investigations, law enforcement discovered that the syndicate had made attempts to defraud approximately 5,000 individuals in Australia, with a focus on confirming whether any of these individuals had already fallen victim to their schemes, according to Australian Federal Police officer Kathleen Oehlers.
The impact of these scams was significant, with Australian victims reportedly losing about $15 million last year due to such fraudulent activities. The modus operandi involved scammers targeting primarily working men on dating platforms, initiating romantic conversations to create a sense of emotional connection. Eventually, victims were encouraged to invest in cryptocurrency under fictitious identities and images, initially with small amounts before transferring more substantial sums to the syndicate’s accounts.
Philippine Undersecretary Gilbert Cruz, who leads the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission, stated that in addition to releasing the dialogues used by the scammers, Australian authorities also shared essential warning signs to help individuals spot potential scams, urging people to be cautious of overly affectionate behaviors that may indicate a scam.
Cruz also noted that Philippine authorities would implement similar measures to enhance public awareness. One example provided from the syndicate’s script expressed a scenario where a scammer pretended to be a sympathetic Filipino woman—either living in Australia or in the Philippines—who was heartbroken and seeking financial assistance rather than romantic love.
Further illustrating the tactics, one of the scripts included a line reflecting on the emotional nature of an initial chat, transitioning the conversation seamlessly to inquiries about the victim’s business, thereby steering them towards potential investments.
In response to the growing threats posed by online fraud, Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. had previously ordered the closure of predominantly Chinese-run online gaming operations until the end of 2024, citing their involvement in various crimes, including financial fraud, human trafficking, and other serious offenses.
Estimates indicated that over 400 of these Chinese-run online gambling operations were active across the Philippines, employing hundreds of thousands of Chinese and Southeast Asian workers. Due to the prohibition, many remaining syndicates have since fragmented into smaller units, evolving their operations to include various scams associated with romance, cryptocurrency, and investment, as highlighted by the Philippine Anti-Organized Crime Commission.
