Foreign call centre raided over alleged links to scam tricking Australians out of super | 7.30

ABC News (Australia)

3 Oct 202209:43

Summary

TLDRAustralian cybercrime investigator Ken Gamble travels to the Philippines to expose a call center involved in an elaborate scam targeting Australians with bogus investments. The operation, disguised as legitimate financial advice, has defrauded many, including Rob Wade, who lost a significant portion of his retirement savings. Gamble's team conducts surveillance and a raid, uncovering evidence of the scam and implicating key players. Victims like Anna Longford, who had her superannuation funds fraudulently rolled out, struggle to recover their stolen money, raising questions about the responsibility of financial institutions in such scams.

Takeaways

🕵️‍♂️ Australian cyber crime investigator Ken Gamble is in the Philippines to uncover a call center linked to a scam targeting Australians.
🇵🇭 The call center is located in Metro Manila, Philippines, and is suspected of scamming Australians with bogus investments.
📞 The scam begins with a phone call from the call center, claiming to be from Australia and conducting surveys to gauge interest in investments.
🎓 The scammers have detailed knowledge of self-managed super funds and use this to appear legitimate to potential victims.
🤑 Victims like Rob Wade and Aldi's lost significant amounts of retirement savings to the scam, with some transferring hundreds of thousands of dollars.
📞 Victims were contacted by another group posing as financial planners after the initial call, furthering the scam.
📊 The scammers used a fraudulent company, Australian Securities Administration Limited (Asal), to promote a Morgan Stanley product without authorization.
🏢 The scammers created a professional-looking website and provided an app to make the scam appear more credible.
🚨 The scam was eventually discovered, with victims like Anna Longford managing to get their money back after fraud was detected.
👮‍♂️ A raid was conducted on the suspected call center, with local police leading the operation and Gamble's team providing support.
💻 Evidence was seized during the raid, including computers that contained victim information, potentially implicating the call center in the frauds.

Q & A

What is the purpose of Ken Gamble's visit to the Philippines?
-Ken Gamble, an Australian cyber crime investigator, traveled to the Philippines to uncover a call center he believes is linked to an elaborate scam targeting Australians.
What is the nature of the scam being investigated?
-The scam involves obtaining sensitive information from Australians under the guise of investment surveys, followed by fake financial planners contacting the victims to scam them out of their money through bogus investments.
How do the scammers make their fraudulent activities appear legitimate?
-The scammers use intricate knowledge of self-managed super funds, create websites that closely resemble legitimate businesses, and provide apps to victims that show fake investment activities to make the scam appear credible.
What was Rob Wade's experience with the scam?
-Rob Wade lost a large chunk of his retirement savings after being convinced to invest in a Morgan Stanley product through a self-managed super fund, which turned out to be a scam.
How did the scammers gain the trust of their victims?
-The scammers used a slick pitch, claimed to be from Australian Securities Administration Limited (ASAL), and provided victims with an app that showed fake investment activities to gain their trust.
What was the role of ANZ bank in the scam as mentioned by the victims?
-The victims were instructed to transfer money into an ANZ bank account, which they believed to be Australian. Some victims believe the bank owes them an explanation and compensation.
What action did ANZ bank take after becoming aware of the ASAL scam?
-ANZ bank reported the matter to Victoria Police but has not provided further comment or taken on-camera interviews regarding the scam.
What was the outcome of Anna Longford's complaint about her super fund being fraudulently rolled out?
-After making a complaint, Anna Longford was able to get her money back, as the rollout form was fraudulently signed and stamped by someone else.
What was the result of the raid conducted by Metro Manila Philippines police on the call center?
-The raid resulted in the seizure of computers and the discovery of victims' names and contact details in the database, but no charges have been laid against the British man or 30 others as the investigation continues.
What are the potential consequences for the individuals involved in the scam if charged with cyber fraud?
-If charged with cyber fraud-related offenses, the individuals could face between six to 12 years in prison with a minimum of six years.
What is Rob Wade's hope regarding the outcome of the investigation?
-Rob Wade is desperate to get his money back and hopes that the investigation will lead to charges against the scammers and potentially a refund for the victims.

Outlines

00:00

🕵️‍♂️ Australian Cyber Crime Investigation

The script begins with Australian cyber crime investigator Ken Gamble in the Philippines, preparing to raid a call center he believes is involved in an elaborate scam targeting Australians. The operation is led by local police, and Gamble explains that the scam starts with a fraudulent survey to obtain sensitive information from potential investors. The scammers then impersonate financial planners with detailed knowledge of self-managed super funds to convince victims to invest in bogus schemes. The victims, like builder Rob Wade, are deceived by the scam's legitimacy, resulting in significant financial losses. The scam's sophistication is highlighted by its use of cloned credentials and websites to mimic real companies, leading to victims unknowingly transferring large sums of money.

05:01

💼 Impact of the Scam on Victims and Investigation

The second paragraph delves into the personal impact of the scam on its victims, such as the retirement plans being shattered due to significant financial losses. Victims like Aldi and Anna Longford share their experiences, expressing disbelief and the emotional toll the scam has taken on them. The narrative also follows the investigative efforts of Ken Gamble's team in the Philippines, tracking key players and leading up to a raid on a suspected call center. The police's actions are captured in surveillance footage, and the subsequent raid reveals the extent of the scam's operations, including finding victim Rob Wade's personal information in the call center's database. The potential legal consequences for those involved in the scam are also discussed, with the possibility of heavy prison sentences if found guilty of cyber fraud-related offenses.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Cyber Crime

Cyber crime refers to criminal activities that are conducted using the internet, computers, or networks. In the video, Australian cyber crime investigator Ken Gamble is working to uncover a call center linked to an elaborate scam, illustrating the global nature of cyber crime and its impact on individuals.

💡Call Center

A call center is a centralized office used for receiving or transmitting a large volume of requests by telephone. In the context of the video, a call center is being used as a base for scamming Australians out of bogus investments, showing how legitimate business structures can be misused for illegal activities.

💡Scam

A scam is a fraudulent scheme or operation designed to deceive people, typically for personal gain. The video's theme revolves around a scam where Australians are being defrauded through fake investment opportunities, highlighting the sophistication of modern scams.

💡Investment

An investment is an asset or item acquired with the goal of generating income or appreciation. In the video, the scam involves enticing victims to invest in what they believe are legitimate opportunities, but are in fact fraudulent schemes.

💡Financial Planner

A financial planner is a professional who provides advice on investment and financial planning. The script mentions fake financial planners who use their supposed expertise to scam people, showing how trust in such professionals can be exploited.

💡Self-Managed Super Funds

Self-managed super funds (SMSFs) are retirement funds in Australia that are regulated and managed by the individuals who own them. The scam in the video targets people with SMSFs, indicating a specific and informed approach by the scammers to exploit a particular financial segment.

💡Fraud

Fraud is the deliberate deception to secure unfair or unlawful gain. The video discusses various instances of fraud, such as the elaborate scam involving a call center and fake financial planners, emphasizing the serious consequences of such actions.

💡Legitimate Credentials

Legitimate credentials refer to official documents or qualifications that are genuine and recognized. The scammers in the video are described as 'cleverly cloning the legitimate credentials of a real company,' which is a tactic used to lend credibility to their fraudulent operations.

💡ANZ

ANZ refers to the Australia and New Zealand Banking Group, one of the big four banks in Australia. The video mentions ANZ in the context of victims transferring money into what they believed were Australian bank accounts, only to find out they were part of the scam.

💡Surveillance

Surveillance is the close observation of individuals or groups, often for intelligence or security purposes. In the video, surveillance is used by investigators to track the activities of the call center and its alleged owner, which is crucial in building a case against the scammers.

💡Raid

A raid is a surprise attack or operation, often by police or military forces. The video describes a raid on an office believed to be a call center involved in scamming Australians, illustrating the law enforcement response to such criminal activities.

Highlights

Australian cyber crime investigator Ken Gamble travels to the Philippines to uncover a call center linked to an elaborate scam targeting Australians.

Local police lead a raid on an office believed to be a call center scamming Australians out of bogus investments.

Inside the call center, dozens of Filipinos are conducting fraudulent surveys to obtain sensitive information from potential victims interested in investing.

The scammers claim to be calling from Australia, furthering the deception.

Victims are contacted by another group posing as fake financial planners with intricate knowledge of self-managed super funds.

The scammers use a sleek and convincing approach, making their fraudulent scheme appear legitimate.

Builder Rob Wade loses a large chunk of retirement savings in the scam, believing it is linked to the call center.

Wade's experience involved checking key details like the Australian business number and financial services license before transferring almost $200,000.

The scammers provided an app to track the money, further convincing Wade of the investment's legitimacy.

Six weeks later, Wade discovers he has been scammed, feeling sick and betrayed.

Australian Securities Administration Limited (ASAL) is revealed as a fraudulent company claiming to operate from a building in Sydney.

The scammers cloned the name and credentials of a legitimate business, deceiving victims into believing their operation was genuine.

Another victim, Aldi, loses hundreds of thousands of dollars to the scam, despite conducting his own detailed checks.

Victims like Aldi struggle to accept their loss, feeling they were scammed by highly resourceful and clever individuals.

Investigator Ken Gamble's team conducts surveillance in the Philippines, tracking key players linked to the call center.

A raid is conducted on a British man's home in Metro Manila, with authorities investigating his potential involvement in the scam.

No charges have been laid yet, as authorities continue to examine the evidence from seized computers.

Rob Wade hopes to recover his money, as the scam has significantly impacted his retirement plans.

During the raid, investigators find Wade's name and contact details in the call center's database, confirming the scam's reach.