The AFP is flipping the script on romance scammers this Valentine's Day (14 February, 2025), by revealing real-life dialogue used to target the bank accounts - and hearts - of thousands of potential victims online.
The script was uncovered during an operation to bring down a scam compound in the Philippines and used to target thousands of Australians via online dating apps.
It was used by Philippines-based scammers to build fake romantic relationships with Australian victims they matched with on online dating apps. It includes a backstory, emotive and affectionate language, and a daily timeline to help the scammer engage and maintain conversation with the victim for up to seven days.
It has prompted a call from the AFP-led Joint Policing Cybercrime Coordination Centre (JPC3), in partnership with the National Anti-Scam Centre (NASC), to urge members of the public to read the scam script and stay vigilant to fraudsters trawling online dating apps looking for victims to defraud.
As part of the fraud the scammer would portray a kind-hearted Filipino woman living in Australia or a local female resident in the Philippines, heartbroken by an ex-fiancé who wanted "my money, not my love".
They would subtly introduce cryptocurrency trading into the conversation as their side job, before framing it as a successful financial venture that helped them achieve significant wealth.
The scammer would offer to teach the victim how to make a cryptocurrency investment of between AUD $300-$800.
The fraudster would then ask the victim to transfer their funds from the legitimate cryptocurrency exchange platform to the scammer's online crypto account. The scammer would continue to press the victim to make more investments of higher amounts.
The JPC3 worked closely with partners NASC, Philippines Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission and the National Bureau of Investigation to identify more than 5000 potential Australian victims targeted by this malicious scam.
The investigation was conducted under Operation Firestorm, a global operation between the AFP and international law enforcement partners to disrupt offshore criminal entities scamming Australians.
More than 5000 Australians were notified by authorities via text message in January, 2025, that they were potential targets and urged not to send money to people they'd met online.
AFP Commander Cybercrime Operations Graeme Marshall said sharing this script with the public encouraged important conversations about online safety.
"We want to make sure everyone using dating apps has the tools and information to be safe online and to swipe left on romance scammers," Commander Marshall said.
"Scammers will use emotive language and create backstories that sound genuine to try and trick you into giving them money.
"Being deceived by someone online can have long-lasting financial and emotional effects. If something feels off, take a step back, and seek advice from a family member, friend or work colleague.
"If you are talking to someone you've met online, do your research and make sure they are genuine. Look them up on Google, perform a reverse image search on their profile picture, or ask to meet them in-person or via video-call. More importantly, never send money to people you've met online.
"If you have already sent someone money or cryptocurrency, please report it to your bank or digital currency exchange immediately, then to police via ReportCyber. To help others avoid similar scams, you can also report it to ScamWatch."
Australian Competition & Consumer Commission Deputy Chair Catriona Lowe said romance scammers typically preyed on people seeking companionship and connection.
"Australians reported losing $23.6 million to dating and romance scams in 2024," Ms Lowe said.
"Romance scammers gain victim's trust over time and then exploit it, often persuading them to invest large sums of money. The consequences can be devastating both financially and emotionally.
"We urge people to stay vigilant and verify any investment opportunities via credible sources such as through an Australian registered financial advisor."
How to protect yourself from romance scams
- Never send money or cryptocurrency to someone you've met online. Be sceptical of any requests for money, no matter how genuine the story may seem.
- Verify the person's identity. Take things slow and be wary if their story doesn't add up, or if they refuse to video chat or meet in person. Conduct reverse image searches on their profile pictures at https://images.google.com.
- Beware of overly affectionate behaviour. If someone you've just met online starts professing love quickly, it's a red flag.
- Be careful of what you share. Never disclose personal information or send intimate photos to people you don't know as this may be used to blackmail you or steal your identity.
What to do if you're a victim of a scam
- Stop all communication with the scammer
- Take screenshots of conversations and profiles before blocking the scammer on all platforms.
- Contact your bank or digital currency exchange if you have transferred money or suspect unusual account activity.
- Report it to police at www.cyber.gov.au.
- Report suspected scams to www.scamwatch.gov.auto help others avoid similar scams.
- If you were contacted via social media, report it to the social media platform.
- Use strong, unique passphrases on your accounts and enable Multi-Factor Authentication wherever possible.
- If you are concerned your identity has been compromised, contact the national identity and cyber support service, IDCARE, at www.idcare.org.
- If you, or someone you know needs help, we encourage you to contact Lifeline on 13 11 14 or Beyond Blue on 1300 224 636, who provide 24/7 support services.
About the JPC3:
The JPC3 brings together Australian law enforcement and key industry and international partners to fight cybercrime and prevent harm and financial loss to the Australian community.
We are committed to equipping all Australians with the knowledge and resources to protect themselves against cybercrime.
Watch our cybercrime prevention videos and protect yourself from being a victim of cybercrime.
If there is an immediate threat to life or risk of harm, call 000.
If you are a victim of cybercrime, report it to police using Report Cyber.
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