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The Grindr Catfish Scam and the Digital Trust Paradox 

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The Grindr Catfish Scam and the Digital Trust Paradox 

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Society has progressivly relied on social media platforms on a day to day basis to build relationships and connect to others, some individuals have used this resource in a well matter and some as a way to disrupt others wellbeing and finance. On a social media dating and socialising platform called ‘Grindr’ an Australian citizen Dong Qiao Li’s case underlines the conception of how social media has become a source individuals in society see as reliable. Dong Qiao Li was convicted with 4 charges resulting in a three month imprisonment period for manipulating the victims he targeted online through a dating app and collecting card details and committing fraud of over $120,000 in total, stated by Ben Grubb (Gay Sydney News).

The case of Dong Qiao Li underlines ‘privacy paradox’  stated by The George Washington University, is a concept based on individuals portraying their privacy to be of high value however with relying and having faith through and towards social media behaviours can relinquish; resulting in it becoming more so easier to become a target.

Linking to Cassandra Cross’ Text Is online fraud just fraud? Examining the efficacy of the digital divide, the case of Li using fraud through a romantic social media platform the crime underlines romance fraud. As stated by Cross Romance Fraud is of an offender implying a false facade of building a personal relationship to ultimately defraud a victim. Social media platforms have become of an interest to all individuals and can be of use for illegal doings to receive income. Furthermore linking to Cross  the theory of romance fraud which is in use of Li’s case is also portrayed as psychological abuse and coercive control.

With the concluding sentencing being not harsh it raises questions to society if the Australian legal system view digital harms as something minor. As mentioned prior Li was charged with four offences with a total of $120,000 in total being lost towards victims, News.com Liam Beatty also identifies April 2021 Li was placed on a community corrections order however he left the state of Sydney. Yet was convicted September 2021 charged with similar online fraud offences from the years 2014 to 2016 with committing similar offences resulting in $12,000 at loss for victims.

With the evidence provided it clearly implies the Australian Legal system to see digital harms as a topic more so minor as Li  was only charged with a 3 month imprisonment period despite financially and mentally harming multiple victims online, through the years of 2021 on wards.

This case of Li sheds light on how the matters of digital harms is heavily underlined with Criminal offences and the Australian legal system should provide more legal action and responsibility to such cases. Social media is an easy access to individuals with criminals being easily able to manipulate and corrupt victims. Li’s case ultimately sheds light to privacy paradox.

Resources:

https://gaysydneynews.com.au/news/grindr-fraudster-jailed-after-gsn-exposes-his-criminal-history-to-magistrate/

https://scholarship.law.gwu.edu/faculty_publications/1482/

https://www.proquest.com/docview/2254364751/fulltextPDF/2BA4217FCB734952PQ/1? accountid=14844&sourcetype=Scholarly%20Journals

https://www.news.com.au/national/victoria/courts-law/dong-qiao-li-fraudster-targeted-victims-using-grindr-across-three-states/news-story/00517f7c7c24b7c2ebf6377313833976

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With online resources progressively becoming larger, more realistic and ultimately easier to manipulate online users are using this advantage to target innocent individuals and use this as a source to cause mental harm, image-based abuse, defamation etc. Artificial intelligence stated by IBM is a technology resource to which can simulate human learning, solve of problems and can generate realistic content either by an image or video.

With this resource younger generations within schools across Australia are using this source of digital harm in inappropriate matters to cause image-based abuse to fellow students attaching their face to inappropriate content resulting in a realistic image and spreading it to others. February 2025 the high school Gladstone Park Secondary College held over 60 female students had their image manipulated and spread within social media group chats and conversations. Two year 11 students were held accountable to this crime stated by ABC NEWS, Nate Waddell.

In relation to ESafety Deepfake trends and challenges-position statement deepfakes is a virtual technology source of apps and tools which allows the public to create realistic deep fakes which has now become a harmful resource concerning individuals and society. This resource has become a way of digital harm within schools as it has opened a gateway for synthetic child sexual abuse material. A theory and key concept towards this matter could possibly be digital disinhibition, meaning the idea of expressing their thoughts and behaviours through online but not in real life contact. The theory of digital inhibition could be due to the following factor provided by National Centre For Biotechnology Information ‘The Online Disinhibition Effect’, invisibility lack of feeling seen in society so doing unlawful acts to be viewed and glorified. Within school settings this theory could be aligned to why this digitalism crime was committed.

The crime committed at Gladstone Park Secondary college resulted in the two Year 11 students being suspended and the victims which underwent the emotional and mental harm as a result to the crime were provided wellbeing support. The investigation reported by ABC news has stated the police are still undergoing and gathering all evidence for the crime however, police are unsure to which and how many platforms these images were disrupted to.

This case highlights the impact of Ai and social platforms and how digital crimes are continuing to grow as due to the large platform social media has become it has increasingly worsened with the Legal system being able to have control of privacy and security.

Resources:

https://www.ibm.com/think/topics/artificial-intelligence

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-02-21/gladstone-park-secondary-explicit-deepfakes-students/104965106

https://www.esafety.gov.au/industry/tech-trends-and-challenges/deepfakes

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/15257832/

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Deepfake Scandal: Melbourne's School Crisis Exposed

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Cyber- Enabled Identity Theft is a common Digital Harm commencing in Australia daily due to the lack and simple hacking methods of retrieving personal information through privacy and security online. The case, June 2024 involving a 31-year-old male residing in Melbourne Australia had committed a crime involving stealing identity through cyber being passports, licences etc. To create crypto currency account. Stated by AFP ‘Melbourne Man Sentenced for Cyber-Enabled Identity Theft Offences’ over 1 million Australian Dollars was stolen from Australian victims. The Melbourne man was convicted with six charges underlying theft of identity through online resources resulting in two-year imprisonment without non parole period of ten months.

Multiple concepts and theories can align to underline to why this digital harm crime has occurred, the Cyber- Routine Activity Theory CRAT in specific highlights this matter. Oxford university student Zarina l. Vakhitovas’ document conveys the cyber harm theory as a 3 motivated element act being motivated offender wanting to gain something through the crime, suibtable targets which hold information, financial status, information for this crime to commence and the lack of security held towards the victims cyber space with their information. Through digital environments personal data is either mandatory and therefore is exchanged daily.

As mentioned through the case The Australian Federal Police had use of investigation, collected all information and ultimately sentenced the offender under laws in relation to identity theft. Beyond this case the Australian Legal System has taken a large accountability of making identity theft viewed in society as a major offence relating the crimes to laws such as Crimes Act 1958 (Victoria), stating the crime of intent of of holding possession illegally through cyber platforms results in a penalty of five to three years imprisonment; and Privacy Act 1988 which involves the use of an individual using another individuals personal information illegally results to been seen as major criminalisation and serious penalties are obliged to be placed.

This case sheds light on the issue of usage of personal data consistently being uploaded due to society having trust and relying on cyber platforms has made it easier for individuals to become targets of digital crimes to assist others with their needs and wanting's. Stronger prevention matters should be implied by the Australian Legal System; it could possibly lead to security online being stronger and less likely to manipulate and digital crimes to become less likely as victims online will not be perceived as an easy target.

Resources:

https://www.afp.gov.au/news-centre/media-release/melbourne-man-sentenced-cyber-enabled-identity-theft-offences

https://oxfordre.com/criminology/display/10.1093/acrefore/9780190264079.001.0001/acrefore-9780190264079-e-784?d=%2F10.1093%2Facrefore%2F9780190264079.001.0001%2Facrefore-9780190264079-e-784&p=emailAkDMQsMnob2gw

https://www.austlii.edu.au/cgi-bin/viewdb/au/legis/vic/consol_act/ca195882/

https://www.austlii.edu.au/cgi-bin/viewdb/au/legis/cth/consol_act/pa1988108/

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2020 across Melbourne a large number of transactions were said to happen indicating money laundering to be taken place to the Australian Police. 9 News publisher Yashee Sharma February 2024 ‘University student targeted in sinister recruitment scam’ talks about the scam appearing victimless where an individual is to receive money via bank account from a third party to then transfer it to a separate commission.  A group of individuals were stated to have bought foreign students bank accounts on the dark web to go forth with this online crime. This case became a major investigation of money laundering services to criminal groups across Melbourne stated TRM Lab news report.

Strain theory of individuals turning to crime to gain income in relation to this specific crime of currency laundering through weak regulations and access to online resources not being blocked to the public offenders are able to achieve this, this is viewed as a criminal oppurtunity for individuals seeking to gain income through dark web websites online. Strain Theory published by Britannica Sociology highlights this theory involves factors socially in which individuals don’t receive the desired income thereforr go forth with committing crime online to achieve what is believed as ‘ The American Dream’. It is often viewed as a criminal behaviour of a response to achieving wealth and glory which in reference to the case of the Melbourne Money Laundering Scheme is what the offenders were trying to achieve.

Three primary members of this major scheme were imprisoned and stripped of purchases made with this money from luxury vehicles, digital devices, large amounts of money etc. Under relevant Australian Law Criminal Code Act 1995 the offence of conducting money laundering outside and within the Country those offences will be acted towards with penalties of an excessive period of imprisonment additionally with fines. Money laundering online through cryptos is charged the same from of cash-based money laundering, Tokikuni ‘Money Laundering via Cryptocurrencies...’ states.

Through this case it sheds light that the Australian Federal police and Australian Legal System do take this digital harm crime seriously and have given harsh charges to those responsible of the illegal act of money laundering crime. However there are ways money laundering online can be prevented if the Australian Legal System where to imply acts of monitoring all technology income investing websites and take partnership with those companies to create a tool to trace everyone and their activities with the website. Small regulations can be implied to prevent loopholes for offenders before having to investigate transaction reports. Online money laundering investigations are seen to be a slow process but with new security regulations that could and should be taken place can prevent reoccurring online crimes and control privacy and the transparency of the security of others information that can be manipulated.

Resources:

https://www.9news.com.au/national/university-students-targeted-in-recruitment-scam/0aefdbd3-eb85-40e6-bfdf-b5699b13d22b

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wkwGBDYrCgU

https://www.britannica.com/topic/strain-theory-sociology

https://www.tookitaki.com/blog/moneylaundering-via-cryptocurrencies

https://www.austlii.edu.au/cgi-bin/viewdoc/au/legis/cth/consol_act/cca1995115/sch1.html

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TRM Presents: Australia’s First Major Crypto Laundering Conviction — Inside Operation Taipan

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InformationAGE news publish Leonard Bernardone reported the case involving a 21-year-old young man in Melbourne March 2025, whom was involved in using a a dark web phishing platform impersonating websites of organisations and government entities targeting up to 11 victims. Bernardone reveals through collecting personal information of addresses, Medicare cars, passports, credit cards and other personal records the young male stole $34,990 from just two victims. This crime resulted in the 21-year-old being charged on the 3rd of March in Melbourne's Magistrates Court with several online fraud charges with a fifteen-year imprisonment period.

The cyber scam wassaid to be viewed as a fraud related offence the theory that lies with this case can be foreshadowed as due to digital vulnerability. The term and theory of digital vulnerability Taylor and Frances Online Article state the study of associates within the social environment where those of a young age being exposed to the social media environment are more vulnerable to react to problematic situations and act through browsing the internet. In relation to the case the young man could have been suffering financially so through not abstracting knowledge of awareness in dangers of committing crimes he targeted those with trust in the digital environment with their personal details.

The LabHost phishing Platform case resulted in 6 charges against the 21-year-old offender under Crimes Act 1958 (Vic), stated AFP media post March 2025. Crimes Act 1958 section 81-87 (Vic) underlines the unlawful act of obtaining property of other individuals in society and using their financial advantage. Charges aligned with this act is often to do with dishonesty, deception and intentions of illegal acts alike the case the young male fell into all categories listed and was therefore charged by so.

The courts sentence imposed on the offender can be overlooked as extremely merciful as was provided with community corrections and other factors which necessarily would not align with an individual whom has committed fraud with 6 charges. The Australian Legal System to provide higher education resources through social media platforms, younger generations schooling, jobs etc. To help prevent these crimes as progressively the online environment is expanding and changing.

Resources:

https://ia.acs.org.au/article/2025/melbourne-man-sentenced-over--35-000-cyber-scam.html

https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/02673843.2023.2287115#d1e183

https://www.afp.gov.au/news-centre/media-release/melbourne-fraudster-sentenced-swindling-35000-cyber-scam

https://classic.austlii.edu.au/au/legis/vic/consol_act/ca195882/s82.html