How do gangs use psychological techniques in these scams?

Gangs create fake personas, build emotional connections, and use affection to isolate and manipulate targets into trusting them with investments.

What are 'pig-butchering' scams and how do they work?

Pig-butchering scams involve criminals forming romantic relationships online to trick victims into investing in fraudulent schemes, ultimately leading to financial loss.

What role does artificial intelligence play in these frauds?

AI enhances scam operations by enabling the deployment of sophisticated tools that make fraudulent appeals more deceptive and convincing to potential victims.

Home / Crime and Justice / Human Trafficking Victims Forced into Cyberfraud Rings

Human Trafficking Victims Forced into Cyberfraud Rings

8 Jan

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Summary

Criminal gangs use psychological manipulation in romance scams.
Manuals detail creating fake personas and handling suspicious victims.
Scams are supercharged by artificial intelligence for deception.

Human Trafficking Victims Forced into Cyberfraud Rings

Two recently discovered handbooks provide insight into the psychological tactics employed by criminal gangs in "pig-butchering" scams. These elaborate schemes beguile targets into believing they are in romantic relationships before duping them into fraudulent investments, earning the name from the gangs' description of leading victims like pigs to slaughter. The FBI identifies this as one of today's most prevalent scams.

Recovered from compounds raided in the Philippines in 2024, the manuals offer detailed guidance on creating fake personas and strategies for managing potential suspicion from victims. One manual outlines a seven-day plan to defraud women in China via a fake crude oil investment platform, referring to theft as a "sale." A bilingual handbook targets men, suggesting discussions of cryptocurrency.