Over 5,000 Australians, primarily over 50, have fallen victim to a sophisticated romance scam originating from a Philippine POGO hub.
A joint investigation between Australian and Philippine authorities has revealed that over 5,000 Australian men, primarily aged over 50, have been targeted by a sophisticated romance scam operating out of an illegal Philippine Offshore Gaming Operator (POGO) hub.
The scam, uncovered following a raid on the POGO facility in October, involved online dating platforms where fraudsters, often posing as Filipinos living in Australia or the Philippines, would cultivate fake romantic relationships with their victims.
According to the statement, "The scammers, using popular online dating apps, would trick victims into a fake online romantic relationship before convincing them to purchase legitimate cryptocurrency.”
“We urge anyone who received a text message warning from the National Anti-Scam Center to take it very seriously and refrain from sending money to people you’ve met online,” it added.
Once a level of trust was established, the scammers would subtly introduce investment opportunities, typically involving cryptocurrency. Initial investments were often small, ranging from AUD 300 to 500, but quickly escalated as victims were pressured for larger sums with promises of lucrative returns.
The investigation, dubbed "Operation Firestorm," utilized advanced digital forensics techniques to analyze data from devices seized during the raid. This analysis, conducted by the Australian Federal Police, National Anti-Scam Center, Philippine Anti-Organized Crime Commission, and National Bureau of Investigation, revealed a significant number of Australian phone numbers linked to the scam within encrypted messaging platforms.
The National Anti-Scam Center has been actively contacting potential victims via text message, warning them about the ongoing scam and urging them to refrain from sending any money to individuals they have met online.
Authorities are urging anyone who has received such a warning to take it seriously and to report any suspicious activity.
Read related article: Star Casino Retains Sydney License, Fined $10M in Australia
Comments