Philippine Scam Hub Targeting Australian Men Busted, 250 Arrested

Australian Federal Police and Philippine authorities dismantle a call center allegedly defrauding men over 35 through fake cryptocurrency schemes.

Over 250 people, including 190 foreign nationals and 68 Filipinos, were arrested in a raid on an alleged scam compound in Manila in early October.
The operation targeted a call center accused of luring Australian men on social media and dating apps into fraudulent cryptocurrency investments.
Authorities seized over 1,000 mobile phones, 300 computer towers, and thousands of SIM cards in the raid, uncovering a sophisticated scam network.
Australian Federal Police (AFP) have identified 50 Australian victims so far, with intelligence suggesting the number could reach into the thousands.
The AFP's Operation Firestorm, aimed at combating offshore cybercrime targeting Australians, gathered critical intelligence on scam operations and financial laundering structures.