- Following a tip from the Chinese security ministry, Indonesian police have detained 88 Chinese nationals for their involvement in a cross-border telephone and online romance fraud network. The suspects, who also included five women, were detained on Batam island, which is close to Singapore, where they were operating out of an industrial park’s shophouse. Police assume that the individuals are part of a group that engages in online and telephone love scams. Most of their victims seemed to be other Chinese people who were phoned online and duped into sending money after the callers played on their “human emotion” Hundreds of victims were caught up in the gang’s net in China, according to preliminary inquiry findings, although it is unknown how much money they had amassed.
- In order to deal with the suspects, immigration officers and China’s Ministry of Public Security collaborated closely. They were detained in 2019 for their involvement in a related crime. According to the U.S. Federal Trade Commission, scams involving romantic relationships caused more losses than any other type of consumer fraud in 2019. Scammers frequently fabricate fake profiles by using another person’s photo and direct conversation to develop a convincing character. They charm the victim, winning their love and confidence, until they spot a chance to demand money.
- According to a study by the High Commissioner for Human Rights of the United Nations, criminal gangs in Southeast Asia have coerced hundreds of thousands of individuals into taking part in illegal internet frauds, such as fake love ploys, phony investment pitches, and illicit gambling operations. The research throws fresh light on the cybercrime scams that have grown to be a significant problem in Asia, where many workers are stuck in a form of virtual slavery and are compelled to take part in schemes that prey on others online.
- In 2017, Indonesia detained 419 Chinese and Taiwanese nationals who were part of a syndicated phone fraud and internet investment scam. They spent two months in Indonesian cells and paid a $770 fine for overstaying their visitor permits before being sent back to their own country to face prosecution. For involvement in a similar crime, Indonesian authorities detained 85 Chinese nationals in 2019.
88 Chinese Nationals arrested in Indonesia for Online Romance Fraud
Associated Press