Filipino authorities revealed that over 5,000 Australians were targeted by an illegal Philippine offshore gaming operator (POGO) that was raided in October of last year.
According to The Philstar, this operation was the result of collaborative efforts between Philippine and Australian investigative agencies.
In a joint statement, the Australian Federal Police, National Anti-Scam Center, Philippine Anti-Organized Crime Commission, and the National Bureau of Investigation disclosed that the majority of potential victims were Australian men aged over 50.
These individuals were lured into sending between AUD300 ($189) to AUD500 ($315), initially under the guise of investment opportunities.
Once the victims agreed to send money, the scammers would subsequently request additional funds, promising lucrative returns. Authorities warned that these potential victims had been contacted by the National Anti-Scam Center via text messages, alerting them that they had been targeted by scammers operating from the Philippines.
‘The scammers, utilizing popular online dating apps, would deceive victims into believing they were in a genuine online romantic relationship before persuading them to invest in legitimate cryptocurrency,’ the statement emphasized.