Thousands of Australians have received a stark warning from authorities, urging them to be cautious after being identified as potential victims of an elaborate romance scam operation based in the Philippines. The National Anti-Scam Centre (NASC), in collaboration with the AFP-led Joint Policing Cybercrime Collaboration Centre (JPC3), sent text messages to more than 5,000 people, advising them not to send money to online connections and outlining steps to take if they had already fallen victim.
The operation follows a major crackdown in Manila last November, where Philippine authorities uncovered a scam compound housing more than 300 computer towers, 1,000 mobile phones, and thousands of SIM cards.
Evidence from the raid was shared with international law enforcement agencies, allowing Australian investigators to identify thousands of local phone numbers linked to encrypted messages found on seized devices.
Dubbed Operation Firestorm, the global investigation was launched in August 2024 to combat offshore organised crime networks deceiving Australians through romance, cryptocurrency, and investment scams.
AFP Commander Cybercrime Operations Graeme Marshall said the case highlights the power of international cooperation in disrupting sophisticated cybercrime networks while ensuring victims receive the support they need.
“The AFP worked closely with our partners in the National Anti-Scam Centre and the Philippines’ law enforcement agencies to identify Australians targeted by this malicious scam,” Marshall said.
“We urge anyone who has received a warning text from the NASC to take it seriously and refrain from sending money to people they’ve met online.”
Authorities say the scammers lured victims—mostly men over 35—through popular online dating apps, establishing fake romantic relationships before convincing them to invest in cryptocurrency. The initial requests ranged from $300 to $800, but victims were soon pressured to transfer larger amounts into fraudulent accounts controlled by the scammers.
The fraudsters typically posed as Filipino women working in Australia or as local women residing in the Philippines. The deception was sophisticated, with scammers steering conversations away from dating apps to encrypted messaging platforms—making it harder for them to be reported and removed.
To date, more than 250 suspects have been arrested by Philippine authorities. However, the financial and emotional toll on victims remains significant.
Australian Competition & Consumer Commission Deputy Chair Catriona Lowe said Australians lost $23.6 million to dating and romance scams in 2024 alone. “Romance scammers prey on people seeking connection,” Lowe said.
“They build trust over time, only to exploit it, often leaving victims with devastating financial losses and emotional distress.”
Authorities are urging Australians to recognise red flags, including overly affectionate behaviour from new online connections, requests for money, and reluctance to meet in person or video chat. They advise never to send money or cryptocurrency to anyone met online, to verify identities using tools like reverse image searches, and to be cautious with personal information.
“If it feels too good to be true, it probably is,” Marshall warned. “Protect your heart and your wallet.”
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