Police from Malaysia and Singapore arrested 27 Internet love scammers in a joint operation on February 6-8. The criminals including 11 Nigerians and 14 women were members of four different crime syndicates.
These thieves of hearts and money cheated 108 people in neighboring countries out of $4.9 million.
All the syndicates were masterminded by Nigerians who entered Malaysia on student visas, according to David Chew, director of the Singapore police Commercial Affairs Department.
Romance scams cost Australians more money than any other form of cheating, said the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission. The most likely victims are aged 45 and older.
Saint Valentine’s Day massacre: Australia, Malaysia, Singapore on love scam alert, on SCMP.com.
Malaysia-Singapore Internet love scam syndicates crippled, 27 arrested, on TheStar.com.my.
Malaysian, Singaporean police bust Nigerian-run ‘internet love scam’ syndicate, on NST.com.my.
Romance Scams Part 2: U.S. victims lost more than $230 million online in 2016