A sophisticated cryptocurrency romance scam targeting women on popular dating apps has been shut down by police in Jakarta, according to BitcoinEthereumNews.com. The scam involved a fake crypto trading platform and resulted in the arrest of 20 suspects. The elaborate scheme highlights the growing trend of cybercriminals exploiting online relationships for financial gain.
The source indicated that the scammers used fake profiles on dating apps like OkCupid, Bumble, and Tinder to connect with their victims, primarily middle-class professional women from the Philippines, Vietnam, and Thailand. After establishing a connection on these platforms, the source explained that they would move conversations to WhatsApp, where they eventually pitched a fraudulent cryptocurrency trading platform called “Wish.” The source noted that this platform promised returns as high as 25% and prompted victims to deposit funds.
Rezeki R. Respati, Head of Metro Gambir Police in Central Jakarta, is quoted stating that victims were lured into depositing money through the fake platform. The source revealed that this scam has been active for over two months and authorities are still working to determine the total losses. Investigators have confiscated financial records and other evidence related to the fraudulent transactions, according to the report.
While three individuals are believed to be the masterminds behind this scam, with others playing supporting roles, authorities are still searching for one suspect, identified as AJ, who is thought to be a foreign national from China. A separate report from The Jakarta Post suggested that this scheme might be part of a larger syndicate led by Chinese nationals. The source emphasized that crypto scams with alleged links to China have seen an increase in recent times, with past investigations uncovering human trafficking rings forcing victims into becoming cyber slaves executing crypto scams for these networks.
This case serves as a stark reminder of how important it is to remain vigilant when interacting with people online, particularly when money is involved. It also raises concerns about the increasing sophistication and global reach of these types of scams. How can we better protect ourselves and others from falling victim to such schemes?
Source: Crypto | Bitcoinethereumnews.com