Incoming Defence Chief targeted in online scam

Incoming Australian Defence Force chief Mark Binskin has had his identity stolen as part of an online love scam targeting lonely women.

A dual investigation has now been launched by the Australian Federal Police and the Defence Department after a German woman alerted the media to the scam.

Air Marshal Binskin is just one of several high-profile international figures whose identities have been used to create fake Facebook accounts and dupe lonely hearts into handing over the cash in the promise of love and romance.

Anna Linden, 54, from Aachen, west Germany, said she received a Facebook message from a man claiming to be Air Marshal Binskin.

Ms Linden accepted the friend request at the end of May 2014 – less than two months after Air Marshal Binskin was named Australia's new chief of defence.

Some of the messages sent to Ms Linden claimed that Air Marshal Binskin was serving in Afghanistan but would soon retire.

The hoax Air Marshal Binskin message also claimed he had been single for eight years – however the real Air Marshal Binskin is married.

The messages included declarations of love before the hoaxer asked Ms Linden to send money claiming to be stuck in London without a valid visa.

It was then Ms Linden decided to go public with the messages.

A Defence spokeswoman told Fairfax the department had not been aware that the nation's top military brass was being used to target lonely hearts but an investigation had been launched.

Source: Fairfax

Author: Natasha Lee, Approving editor: Simon Black