Australian Federal Police and Philippines authorities bust Manila scam compound targeting Aussies in cryptocurrency fraud

It looks like a normal office, but it is allegedly a compound from which scammers targeted innocent Australians and tricked them into handing over their hard-earned money.

The Australian Federal Police (AFP) last month executed a search warrant with Philippines authorities at the location, from which they allege men over the age of 35 years were targeted on social media and dating applications in cryptocurrency scams.

“The scammers would communicate with victims to build trust before asking them to invest money in a fraudulent cryptocurrency trading platform,” the AFP said.

“The alleged scammers were working shifts to align with Australian time zones.”

More than 250 suspected cyber criminals were arrested by the AFP and Philippines authorities at the compound in central Manila’s Pasay City on October 3, the AFP said.

Of those arrested, 68 were Filipino nationals, while the rest were foreign nationals.

Officers seized more than 300 computer towers, more than 1000 mobile phones and thousands of sim cards.

The compound was searched by two AFP members and a Manila based-AFP liaison officer, with relevant local partners, for intelligence relating to Australian scam victims.

“AFP technical experts and cryptocurrency experts, with the Philippines Presidential Anti-Organised Crime Commission (PAOCC) and National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), are now collecting information about who was targeted and the methodologies used to extract cash from victims,” the AFP said.

Victims will be contacted as evidence becomes available.

This evidence will also be used to help shut down other scam centres operating worldwide if possible.

The operation is the first time investigators have accessed a scam centre compound, AFP Assistant Commissioner David McLean said.

“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,” McLean said.

“We commend the PAOCC and NBI for their work in identifying this boiler room and taking swift action to shut it down.

“I thank them for the trust they have shown in the AFP by allowing us to work with them.

“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, and that will be immensely helpful in developing our strategies in combatting this crime impacting Australia.”

The AFP urged Australians to be wary of scams, giving the following advice:

• Be sceptical of urgent requests for money or personal information, even if they appear to come from trusted sources;
• Use search engines and social media to research a person or a company’s background and ensure their identity matches their online presence;
• Romance scammers can profess love or strong emotions quickly to manipulate their targets emotionally. Be aware of these signs. Always verify the identity of the person you’re communicating with online. Request video calls or meetings in person, if possible;
• Trust your instincts. If it seems too good to be true, it probably is; and
• Report any suspicious profiles or interactions to the platform or authorities responsible for online fraud.