"Diamond customs fee" love scam (2019) - Revision history

Dayana Rizal: /* False crisis */

2019-10-02T07:28:01Z

False crisis

← Older revision		Revision as of 15:28, 2 October 2019
Line 80:		Line 80:

	===False crisis===		===False crisis===
	After establishing an ~~online~~ emotional relationship, these scammers would then feign a personal or business crisis. The victims are asked to transfer money to an overseas bank. These individuals would willingly do so due to the earlier emotional manipulation. Victims only realise they have been scammed after transferring the money.<ref>Burgess, Daniel. [https://www.tnp.sg/news/singapore/internet-love-scam-victim-warns-others “Internet love scam victim warns others”]. ''The New Paper.'' September 5, 2019. Accessed 27 September 2019. Retrieved from tnp.sg.</ref>		After establishing an emotional relationship, these scammers would then feign a personal or business crisis. The victims are asked to transfer money to an overseas bank. These individuals would willingly do so due to the earlier emotional manipulation. Victims only realise they have been scammed after transferring the money.<ref>Burgess, Daniel. [https://www.tnp.sg/news/singapore/internet-love-scam-victim-warns-others “Internet love scam victim warns others”]. ''The New Paper.'' September 5, 2019. Accessed 27 September 2019. Retrieved from tnp.sg.</ref>

	==References / Citations==		==References / Citations==
	[[Category:Scams in Singapore]]		[[Category:Scams in Singapore]]
	<references />		<references />

Dayana Rizal: /* Details of scam */

2019-10-02T07:21:33Z

Details of scam

← Older revision		Revision as of 15:21, 2 October 2019
Line 1:		Line 1:
	In July 2019, “Alice” (not her real name) was caught up unwittingly in a love scam. She had wired S$7,000 to an overseas bank after she was asked to pay the customs fee for a package of diamonds. A love scam is often an indirect extortion of money where the victim has been emotionally manipulated into the situation.		In July 2019, “Alice” (not her real name) was caught up unwittingly in a love scam. She had wired S$7,000 to an overseas bank after she was asked to pay the customs fee for a package of diamonds. A love scam is often an indirect extortion of money where the victim has been emotionally manipulated into the situation.

	== Details of scam ==		==Details of scam==
	[[File:Alice love scam interview.jpg\|thumb\|''"Alice" and local ~~new~~ reporters at the interview. Photo credit to Lim Yaohui (ST Photo).'']]		[[File:Alice love scam interview.jpg\|thumb\|''"Alice" and local news reporters at the interview. Photo credit to Lim Yaohui (ST Photo).'']]
	Alice relayed the following information to local news reporters in an interview. The Singapore Police Force (SPF) arranged the interview for the media to warn the public of online love scams.<ref>Wang, Nabilah. [https://www.todayonline.com/singapore/internet-love-scammers-reap-surging-sums-they-target-vulnerable-police “Internet love scammers target those who are emotionally vulnerable, say police”]. ''Today.'' September 4, 2019. Accessed 27 September 2019. Retrieved from todayonline.com.</ref>		Alice relayed the following information to local news reporters in an interview. The Singapore Police Force (SPF) arranged the interview for the media to warn the public of online love scams.<ref>Wang, Nabilah. [https://www.todayonline.com/singapore/internet-love-scammers-reap-surging-sums-they-target-vulnerable-police “Internet love scammers target those who are emotionally vulnerable, say police”]. ''Today.'' September 4, 2019. Accessed 27 September 2019. Retrieved from todayonline.com.</ref>

	=== Establishing the relationship ===		===Establishing the relationship===
	Nursing a heartbreak after the end of her one-year relationship, 43-year-old Alice went on a trip to Taiwan and met a man named “Francis” on a dating app.<ref>Wang, Nabilah. [https://www.todayonline.com/singapore/internet-love-scammers-reap-surging-sums-they-target-vulnerable-police “Internet love scammers target those who are emotionally vulnerable, say police”]. ''Today.'' September 4, 2019. Accessed 27 September 2019. Retrieved from todayonline.com.</ref> Francis claimed to be a Taiwanese diamond dealer living in the United States of America.<ref>Ng, Charmaine. [https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/courts-crime/love-scam-victim-wired-7k-customs-fee-for-diamonds “Love-scam victim wired $7k ‘Customs fee for diamonds’”]. ''The Straits Times.'' September 5, 2019. Accessed 27 September 2019. Retrieved from straitstimes.com.</ref> Upon finding out that Alice was 43 years old, Francis admitted that he had lied about his age. He then claimed to be 44 years old, instead of 39 years old as was stated on his dating profile.<ref>Wang, Nabilah. [https://www.todayonline.com/singapore/internet-love-scammers-reap-surging-sums-they-target-vulnerable-police “Internet love scammers target those who are emotionally vulnerable, say police”]. ''Today.'' September 4, 2019. Accessed 27 September 2019. Retrieved from todayonline.com.</ref>		Nursing a heartbreak after the end of her one-year relationship, 43-year-old Alice went on a trip to Taiwan and met a man named “Francis” on a dating app.<ref>Wang, Nabilah. [https://www.todayonline.com/singapore/internet-love-scammers-reap-surging-sums-they-target-vulnerable-police “Internet love scammers target those who are emotionally vulnerable, say police”]. ''Today.'' September 4, 2019. Accessed 27 September 2019. Retrieved from todayonline.com.</ref> Francis claimed to be a Taiwanese diamond dealer living in the United States of America.<ref>Ng, Charmaine. [https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/courts-crime/love-scam-victim-wired-7k-customs-fee-for-diamonds “Love-scam victim wired $7k ‘Customs fee for diamonds’”]. ''The Straits Times.'' September 5, 2019. Accessed 27 September 2019. Retrieved from straitstimes.com.</ref> Upon finding out that Alice was 43 years old, Francis admitted that he had lied about his age. He then claimed to be 44 years old, instead of 39 years old as was stated on his dating profile.<ref>Wang, Nabilah. [https://www.todayonline.com/singapore/internet-love-scammers-reap-surging-sums-they-target-vulnerable-police “Internet love scammers target those who are emotionally vulnerable, say police”]. ''Today.'' September 4, 2019. Accessed 27 September 2019. Retrieved from todayonline.com.</ref>

Line 14:		Line 14:
	Francis sent Alice romantic poems every day and laced their conversations with sweet talk. He shared intimate details about his life, stating that his mother had died about five years ago. As such, he felt empty and alone and needed someone in his life. While he did ask Alice to be his girlfriend several times and was willing to come to Singapore to meet her, Alice declined as she was still recovering from her break-up.<ref>Ng, Charmaine. [https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/courts-crime/love-scam-victim-wired-7k-customs-fee-for-diamonds “Love-scam victim wired $7k ‘Customs fee for diamonds’”]. ''The Straits Times.'' September 5, 2019. Accessed 27 September 2019. Retrieved from straitstimes.com.</ref>		Francis sent Alice romantic poems every day and laced their conversations with sweet talk. He shared intimate details about his life, stating that his mother had died about five years ago. As such, he felt empty and alone and needed someone in his life. While he did ask Alice to be his girlfriend several times and was willing to come to Singapore to meet her, Alice declined as she was still recovering from her break-up.<ref>Ng, Charmaine. [https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/courts-crime/love-scam-victim-wired-7k-customs-fee-for-diamonds “Love-scam victim wired $7k ‘Customs fee for diamonds’”]. ''The Straits Times.'' September 5, 2019. Accessed 27 September 2019. Retrieved from straitstimes.com.</ref>

	=== Alleged diamond customs fee ===		===Alleged diamond customs fee===
	After two weeks of interaction, Francis asked Alice for a loan of US$5,000 (S$7,000). He claimed that “he had a package of diamonds worth US$800,000 and needed help to pay the customs fee so that the package could reach his clients”.<ref>Ng, Charmaine. [https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/courts-crime/love-scam-victim-wired-7k-customs-fee-for-diamonds “Love-scam victim wired $7k ‘Customs fee for diamonds’”]. ''The Straits Times.'' September 5, 2019. Accessed 27 September 2019. Retrieved from straitstimes.com.</ref> Alice readily agreed and attempted to transfer the amount to an Italian bank account. However, the transfer did not go through.<ref>Wang, Nabilah. [https://www.todayonline.com/singapore/internet-love-scammers-reap-surging-sums-they-target-vulnerable-police “Internet love scammers target those who are emotionally vulnerable, say police”]. ''Today.'' September 4, 2019. Accessed 27 September 2019. Retrieved from todayonline.com.</ref>		After two weeks of interaction, Francis asked Alice for a loan of US$5,000 (S$7,000). He claimed that “he had a package of diamonds worth US$800,000 and needed help to pay the customs fee so that the package could reach his clients”.<ref>Ng, Charmaine. [https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/courts-crime/love-scam-victim-wired-7k-customs-fee-for-diamonds “Love-scam victim wired $7k ‘Customs fee for diamonds’”]. ''The Straits Times.'' September 5, 2019. Accessed 27 September 2019. Retrieved from straitstimes.com.</ref> Alice readily agreed and attempted to transfer the amount to an Italian bank account. However, the transfer did not go through.<ref>Wang, Nabilah. [https://www.todayonline.com/singapore/internet-love-scammers-reap-surging-sums-they-target-vulnerable-police “Internet love scammers target those who are emotionally vulnerable, say police”]. ''Today.'' September 4, 2019. Accessed 27 September 2019. Retrieved from todayonline.com.</ref>

Line 20:		Line 20:
	The second time around, she transferred the money via Internet mobile banking to a US account under Interaudi Bank. Three days later, Francis claimed that he had not received the funds and asked for another transfer. He persistently called and texted her for the funds. This raised a red flag as Alice had transferred funds overseas multiple times before.<ref>Wang, Nabilah. [https://www.todayonline.com/singapore/internet-love-scammers-reap-surging-sums-they-target-vulnerable-police “Internet love scammers target those who are emotionally vulnerable, say police”]. ''Today.'' September 4, 2019. Accessed 27 September 2019. Retrieved from todayonline.com.</ref>		The second time around, she transferred the money via Internet mobile banking to a US account under Interaudi Bank. Three days later, Francis claimed that he had not received the funds and asked for another transfer. He persistently called and texted her for the funds. This raised a red flag as Alice had transferred funds overseas multiple times before.<ref>Wang, Nabilah. [https://www.todayonline.com/singapore/internet-love-scammers-reap-surging-sums-they-target-vulnerable-police “Internet love scammers target those who are emotionally vulnerable, say police”]. ''Today.'' September 4, 2019. Accessed 27 September 2019. Retrieved from todayonline.com.</ref>

	=== Police report (20 August 2019) ===		===Police report (20 August 2019)===
	Suspicious, Alice checked the status of the transfer with her bank. Her bank confirmed that the transfer was successful. After seeking advice from her sister, Alice made a police report on 20 August 2019.<ref>Ng, Charmaine. [https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/courts-crime/love-scam-victim-wired-7k-customs-fee-for-diamonds “Love-scam victim wired $7k ‘Customs fee for diamonds’”]. ''The Straits Times.'' September 5, 2019. Accessed 27 September 2019. Retrieved from straitstimes.com.</ref> Alice retrieved her money two weeks after the police were notified.<ref>Wang, Nabilah. [https://www.todayonline.com/singapore/internet-love-scammers-reap-surging-sums-they-target-vulnerable-police “Internet love scammers target those who are emotionally vulnerable, say police”]. ''Today.'' September 4, 2019. Accessed 27 September 2019. Retrieved from todayonline.com.</ref>		Suspicious, Alice checked the status of the transfer with her bank. Her bank confirmed that the transfer was successful. After seeking advice from her sister, Alice made a police report on 20 August 2019.<ref>Ng, Charmaine. [https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/courts-crime/love-scam-victim-wired-7k-customs-fee-for-diamonds “Love-scam victim wired $7k ‘Customs fee for diamonds’”]. ''The Straits Times.'' September 5, 2019. Accessed 27 September 2019. Retrieved from straitstimes.com.</ref> Alice retrieved her money two weeks after the police were notified.<ref>Wang, Nabilah. [https://www.todayonline.com/singapore/internet-love-scammers-reap-surging-sums-they-target-vulnerable-police “Internet love scammers target those who are emotionally vulnerable, say police”]. ''Today.'' September 4, 2019. Accessed 27 September 2019. Retrieved from todayonline.com.</ref>

	== Statistics ==		==Statistics==
	According to statistics from the Singapore Police Force (SPF), there has been a rise in the number of reported love scams in Singapore. The largest amount cheated in a single case in the first six months of 2019 was S$2.4 million. However, the details of this case remain undisclosed.<ref>Ng, Charmaine. [https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/courts-crime/love-scam-victim-wired-7k-customs-fee-for-diamonds “Love-scam victim wired $7k ‘Customs fee for diamonds’”]. ''The Straits Times.'' September 5, 2019. Accessed 27 September 2019. Retrieved from straitstimes.com</ref>		According to statistics from the Singapore Police Force (SPF), there has been a rise in the number of reported love scams in Singapore. The largest amount cheated in a single case in the first six months of 2019 was S$2.4 million. However, the details of this case remain undisclosed.<ref>Ng, Charmaine. [https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/courts-crime/love-scam-victim-wired-7k-customs-fee-for-diamonds “Love-scam victim wired $7k ‘Customs fee for diamonds’”]. ''The Straits Times.'' September 5, 2019. Accessed 27 September 2019. Retrieved from straitstimes.com</ref>
	{\| class="wikitable"		{\| class="wikitable"
Line 39:		Line 39:
	\|}		\|}

	== Case analysis ==		==Case analysis==
	The tactics of internet love scammers can be broken down as follows.		The tactics of internet love scammers can be broken down as follows.

	=== Scammer profile<ref>Wang, Nabilah. [https://www.todayonline.com/singapore/internet-love-scammers-reap-surging-sums-they-target-vulnerable-police “Internet love scammers target those who are emotionally vulnerable, say police”]. ''Today.'' September 4, 2019. Accessed 27 September 2019. Retrieved from todayonline.com.</ref> ===		===Scammer profile<ref>Wang, Nabilah. [https://www.todayonline.com/singapore/internet-love-scammers-reap-surging-sums-they-target-vulnerable-police “Internet love scammers target those who are emotionally vulnerable, say police”]. ''Today.'' September 4, 2019. Accessed 27 September 2019. Retrieved from todayonline.com.</ref>===
	Most scammers will cultivate a persona that seems dependable and trustworthy. This is to lower the defenses of potential targets.		Most scammers will cultivate a persona that seems dependable and trustworthy. This is to lower the defenses of potential targets.
	{\| class="wikitable"		{\| class="wikitable"
Line 55:		Line 55:
	\|}		\|}

	=== Victim grooming ===		===Victim grooming===
	Most scammers would first study their victims by looking for their personal information online. They would then create a profile that matches the victim’s hobbies, interest or profession. According to a police study, scammers are more likely to contact people in their late 30s and 40s on dating apps while they prefer to contact older victims on Facebook.<ref>Wang, Nabilah. [https://www.todayonline.com/singapore/internet-love-scammers-reap-surging-sums-they-target-vulnerable-police “Internet love scammers target those who are emotionally vulnerable, say police”]. ''Today.'' September 4, 2019. Accessed 27 September 2019. Retrieved from todayonline.com.</ref> By grooming their victims, they establish an emotional attachment with the target. This makes the target easier to manipulate.		Most scammers would first study their victims by looking for their personal information online. They would then create a profile that matches the victim’s hobbies, interest or profession. According to a police study, scammers are more likely to contact people in their late 30s and 40s on dating apps while they prefer to contact older victims on Facebook.<ref>Wang, Nabilah. [https://www.todayonline.com/singapore/internet-love-scammers-reap-surging-sums-they-target-vulnerable-police “Internet love scammers target those who are emotionally vulnerable, say police”]. ''Today.'' September 4, 2019. Accessed 27 September 2019. Retrieved from todayonline.com.</ref> By grooming their victims, they establish an emotional attachment with the target. This makes the target easier to manipulate.
	{\| class="wikitable"		{\| class="wikitable"
Line 66:		Line 66:
	\|Providing visual and/or verbal proof (eg. selfies, videos, audio calls)		\|Providing visual and/or verbal proof (eg. selfies, videos, audio calls)
	\|		\|
	* Francis and Alice spoke to each other on the phone daily for two weeks.		*Francis and Alice spoke to each other on the phone daily for two weeks.
	* They shared photos with each other.		*They shared photos with each other.


Line 79:		Line 79:
	\|}		\|}

	=== False crisis ===		===False crisis===
	After establishing an online emotional relationship, these scammers would then feign a personal or business crisis. The victims are asked to transfer money to an overseas bank. These individuals would willingly do so due to the earlier emotional manipulation. Victims only realise they have been scammed after transferring the money.<ref>Burgess, Daniel. [https://www.tnp.sg/news/singapore/internet-love-scam-victim-warns-others “Internet love scam victim warns others”]. ''The New Paper.'' September 5, 2019. Accessed 27 September 2019. Retrieved from tnp.sg.</ref>		After establishing an online emotional relationship, these scammers would then feign a personal or business crisis. The victims are asked to transfer money to an overseas bank. These individuals would willingly do so due to the earlier emotional manipulation. Victims only realise they have been scammed after transferring the money.<ref>Burgess, Daniel. [https://www.tnp.sg/news/singapore/internet-love-scam-victim-warns-others “Internet love scam victim warns others”]. ''The New Paper.'' September 5, 2019. Accessed 27 September 2019. Retrieved from tnp.sg.</ref>

	== References / Citations ==		==References / Citations==
	[[Category:Scams in Singapore]]		[[Category:Scams in Singapore]]
			<references />

Dayana Rizal: Created page with "In July 2019, “Alice” (not her real name) was caught up unwittingly in a love scam. She had wired S$7,000 to an overseas bank after she was asked to pay the customs fee fo..."

2019-10-02T07:21:18Z

Created page with "In July 2019, “Alice” (not her real name) was caught up unwittingly in a love scam. She had wired S$7,000 to an overseas bank after she was asked to pay the customs fee fo..."

New page

In July 2019, “Alice” (not her real name) was caught up unwittingly in a love scam. She had wired S$7,000 to an overseas bank after she was asked to pay the customs fee for a package of diamonds. A love scam is often an indirect extortion of money where the victim has been emotionally manipulated into the situation.

== Details of scam ==
[[File:Alice love scam interview.jpg|thumb|''"Alice" and local new reporters at the interview. Photo credit to Lim Yaohui (ST Photo).'']]
Alice relayed the following information to local news reporters in an interview. The Singapore Police Force (SPF) arranged the interview for the media to warn the public of online love scams.<ref>Wang, Nabilah. [https://www.todayonline.com/singapore/internet-love-scammers-reap-surging-sums-they-target-vulnerable-police “Internet love scammers target those who are emotionally vulnerable, say police”]. ''Today.'' September 4, 2019. Accessed 27 September 2019. Retrieved from todayonline.com.</ref>

=== Establishing the relationship ===
Nursing a heartbreak after the end of her one-year relationship, 43-year-old Alice went on a trip to Taiwan and met a man named “Francis” on a dating app.<ref>Wang, Nabilah. [https://www.todayonline.com/singapore/internet-love-scammers-reap-surging-sums-they-target-vulnerable-police “Internet love scammers target those who are emotionally vulnerable, say police”]. ''Today.'' September 4, 2019. Accessed 27 September 2019. Retrieved from todayonline.com.</ref> Francis claimed to be a Taiwanese diamond dealer living in the United States of America.<ref>Ng, Charmaine. [https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/courts-crime/love-scam-victim-wired-7k-customs-fee-for-diamonds “Love-scam victim wired $7k ‘Customs fee for diamonds’”]. ''The Straits Times.'' September 5, 2019. Accessed 27 September 2019. Retrieved from straitstimes.com.</ref> Upon finding out that Alice was 43 years old, Francis admitted that he had lied about his age. He then claimed to be 44 years old, instead of 39 years old as was stated on his dating profile.<ref>Wang, Nabilah. [https://www.todayonline.com/singapore/internet-love-scammers-reap-surging-sums-they-target-vulnerable-police “Internet love scammers target those who are emotionally vulnerable, say police”]. ''Today.'' September 4, 2019. Accessed 27 September 2019. Retrieved from todayonline.com.</ref>

According to Alice, they chatted and called each other every day on WhatsApp in the morning and evening.<ref>Ng, Charmaine. [https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/courts-crime/love-scam-victim-wired-7k-customs-fee-for-diamonds “Love-scam victim wired $7k ‘Customs fee for diamonds’”]. ''The Straits Times.'' September 5, 2019. Accessed 27 September 2019. Retrieved from straitstimes.com.</ref> Their phone conversations lasted two hours each time.<ref>Wang, Nabilah. [https://www.todayonline.com/singapore/internet-love-scammers-reap-surging-sums-they-target-vulnerable-police “Internet love scammers target those who are emotionally vulnerable, say police”]. ''Today.'' September 4, 2019. Accessed 27 September 2019. Retrieved from todayonline.com.</ref> They also shared selfies and photos of their lives. In Alice’s words, these visual proof “seemed so real” that she did not have any suspicions. However, they never video-called as Francis claimed that his camera was not working.<ref>Ng, Charmaine. [https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/courts-crime/love-scam-victim-wired-7k-customs-fee-for-diamonds “Love-scam victim wired $7k ‘Customs fee for diamonds’”.] ''The Straits Times.'' September 5, 2019. Accessed 27 September 2019. Retrieved from straitstimes.com.</ref>

Francis sent Alice romantic poems every day and laced their conversations with sweet talk. He shared intimate details about his life, stating that his mother had died about five years ago. As such, he felt empty and alone and needed someone in his life. While he did ask Alice to be his girlfriend several times and was willing to come to Singapore to meet her, Alice declined as she was still recovering from her break-up.<ref>Ng, Charmaine. [https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/courts-crime/love-scam-victim-wired-7k-customs-fee-for-diamonds “Love-scam victim wired $7k ‘Customs fee for diamonds’”]. ''The Straits Times.'' September 5, 2019. Accessed 27 September 2019. Retrieved from straitstimes.com.</ref>

=== Alleged diamond customs fee ===
After two weeks of interaction, Francis asked Alice for a loan of US$5,000 (S$7,000). He claimed that “he had a package of diamonds worth US$800,000 and needed help to pay the customs fee so that the package could reach his clients”.<ref>Ng, Charmaine. [https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/courts-crime/love-scam-victim-wired-7k-customs-fee-for-diamonds “Love-scam victim wired $7k ‘Customs fee for diamonds’”]. ''The Straits Times.'' September 5, 2019. Accessed 27 September 2019. Retrieved from straitstimes.com.</ref> Alice readily agreed and attempted to transfer the amount to an Italian bank account. However, the transfer did not go through.<ref>Wang, Nabilah. [https://www.todayonline.com/singapore/internet-love-scammers-reap-surging-sums-they-target-vulnerable-police “Internet love scammers target those who are emotionally vulnerable, say police”]. ''Today.'' September 4, 2019. Accessed 27 September 2019. Retrieved from todayonline.com.</ref>

The second time around, she transferred the money via Internet mobile banking to a US account under Interaudi Bank. Three days later, Francis claimed that he had not received the funds and asked for another transfer. He persistently called and texted her for the funds. This raised a red flag as Alice had transferred funds overseas multiple times before.<ref>Wang, Nabilah. [https://www.todayonline.com/singapore/internet-love-scammers-reap-surging-sums-they-target-vulnerable-police “Internet love scammers target those who are emotionally vulnerable, say police”]. ''Today.'' September 4, 2019. Accessed 27 September 2019. Retrieved from todayonline.com.</ref>

=== Police report (20 August 2019) ===
Suspicious, Alice checked the status of the transfer with her bank. Her bank confirmed that the transfer was successful. After seeking advice from her sister, Alice made a police report on 20 August 2019.<ref>Ng, Charmaine. [https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/courts-crime/love-scam-victim-wired-7k-customs-fee-for-diamonds “Love-scam victim wired $7k ‘Customs fee for diamonds’”]. ''The Straits Times.'' September 5, 2019. Accessed 27 September 2019. Retrieved from straitstimes.com.</ref> Alice retrieved her money two weeks after the police were notified.<ref>Wang, Nabilah. [https://www.todayonline.com/singapore/internet-love-scammers-reap-surging-sums-they-target-vulnerable-police “Internet love scammers target those who are emotionally vulnerable, say police”]. ''Today.'' September 4, 2019. Accessed 27 September 2019. Retrieved from todayonline.com.</ref>

== Statistics ==
According to statistics from the Singapore Police Force (SPF), there has been a rise in the number of reported love scams in Singapore. The largest amount cheated in a single case in the first six months of 2019 was S$2.4 million. However, the details of this case remain undisclosed.<ref>Ng, Charmaine. [https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/courts-crime/love-scam-victim-wired-7k-customs-fee-for-diamonds “Love-scam victim wired $7k ‘Customs fee for diamonds’”]. ''The Straits Times.'' September 5, 2019. Accessed 27 September 2019. Retrieved from straitstimes.com</ref>
{| class="wikitable"
!
!No. of reported cases
!Total amount lost (SGD)
|-
|Jan - Jun 2019
|306
|$17.1 million
|-
|Jan - Jun 2018
|288
|$11.7 million
|}

== Case analysis ==
The tactics of internet love scammers can be broken down as follows.

=== Scammer profile<ref>Wang, Nabilah. [https://www.todayonline.com/singapore/internet-love-scammers-reap-surging-sums-they-target-vulnerable-police “Internet love scammers target those who are emotionally vulnerable, say police”]. ''Today.'' September 4, 2019. Accessed 27 September 2019. Retrieved from todayonline.com.</ref> ===
Most scammers will cultivate a persona that seems dependable and trustworthy. This is to lower the defenses of potential targets.
{| class="wikitable"
!Tactic
!"Diamond customs fee" Red Flags
|-
|Choosing professions like a businessman, an engineer or a lawyer
|Francis portrayed himself as a diamond dealer. This is a profession that has the connotation of wealth and prestige attached to it.
|-
|Talking about religion and family
|Francis wove a story about the death of his mother.
|}

=== Victim grooming ===
Most scammers would first study their victims by looking for their personal information online. They would then create a profile that matches the victim’s hobbies, interest or profession. According to a police study, scammers are more likely to contact people in their late 30s and 40s on dating apps while they prefer to contact older victims on Facebook.<ref>Wang, Nabilah. [https://www.todayonline.com/singapore/internet-love-scammers-reap-surging-sums-they-target-vulnerable-police “Internet love scammers target those who are emotionally vulnerable, say police”]. ''Today.'' September 4, 2019. Accessed 27 September 2019. Retrieved from todayonline.com.</ref> By grooming their victims, they establish an emotional attachment with the target. This makes the target easier to manipulate.
{| class="wikitable"
!Tactic
!"Diamond customs fee" Red Flags
|-
|Choosing emotionally vulnerable targets
|Alice had just ended a one-year relationship.
|-
|Providing visual and/or verbal proof (eg. selfies, videos, audio calls)
|
* Francis and Alice spoke to each other on the phone daily for two weeks.
* They shared photos with each other.

This created a false sense of security for Alice as she developed a stronger emotional attachment to Francis.
|-
|Declining live video calls
|Francis declined to video call saying that his camera was not working.
|-
|Disclosing vulnerabilities<ref>Burgess, Daniel. [https://www.tnp.sg/news/singapore/internet-love-scam-victim-warns-others “Internet love scam victim warns others”]. ''The New Paper.'' September 5, 2019. Accessed 27 September 2019. Retrieved from tnp.sg.</ref>
|Francis claimed to feel empty and lonely.
|}

=== False crisis ===
After establishing an online emotional relationship, these scammers would then feign a personal or business crisis. The victims are asked to transfer money to an overseas bank. These individuals would willingly do so due to the earlier emotional manipulation. Victims only realise they have been scammed after transferring the money.<ref>Burgess, Daniel. [https://www.tnp.sg/news/singapore/internet-love-scam-victim-warns-others “Internet love scam victim warns others”]. ''The New Paper.'' September 5, 2019. Accessed 27 September 2019. Retrieved from tnp.sg.</ref>

== References / Citations ==
[[Category:Scams in Singapore]]