West Australian police are travelling to regional towns to persuade potential victims of suspected romance or investment frauds not to send more money overseas.
Detectives working on Project Sunbird, a joint operation between WA's Major Fraud Squad and Consumer Protection, are about to visit 20 people in Broome believed to have been scammed, transferring a total of $76,684 to Africa since July last year.
Head of WA Police Major Fraud Squad, Detective Senior Sergeant Dom Blackshaw, said his officers would make home visits to the people, warning them against sending more money offshore.
The potential victims had been identified from money transfers from WA to countries such as Benin, Ghana, Nigeria and Sierra Leone, and were sent letters advising that they may be caught up in a fraud.
"Thankfully about 60 per cent stop sending money as a result of that letter," Det Snr Sgt Blackshaw said.
News that makes sense
Your trusted source for staying up-to-date with the world around you. Get free daily news updates and analysis, straight to your inbox.
"There are however some who need further convincing.
"In Broome, we do have a couple of people who require a face-to-face meeting and need to see the evidence in front of them before they can accept they are being lied to by overseas criminals.
"It is particularly hard to undo months of social grooming, which leaves the victim thinking they are in a romantic relationship or awaiting a windfall through an investment scheme."
He said fraud victims were sending funds to other places including Europe, the US and Asia.
In the Kimberley, a man sent $385,000 to Malaysia after connecting with someone he believed to be a woman via a seniors dating website.
