5,000 Aussies scammed $24M in Filipino romance fraud

Around 5,000 Australians have fallen victim to a love scam operation based in the Philippines, resulting in losses of approximately AUS $24 million.

Kathleen Dehlers from the Australian Federal Police described the situation as devastating, with some victims losing their entire life savings.

The scam targets mostly male Australian nationals aged 35 to 80 through online dating apps and involves a structured seven-day scheme designed to build trust and confidence.

During an operation in Pasay City last year, authorities uncovered a script used by scammers to create fake romantic relationships with victims. Scammers now use AI technology to dupe individuals seeking love.

Scammers portray themselves as Filipino women living in Australia or the Philippines, introducing cryptocurrency trading as a side job before asking for investments ranging from AUD $300 to $800.

Australian authorities are collaborating closely with Philippine counterparts, including the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC) and the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), to address this issue.