Meta removes 2 million accounts related to 'pig-butchering' scams
Some major tech companies including Meta are taking steps to combat “pig butchering” scams, which trick Americans out of billions of dollars each year through fake online friendships and romances.
Some major tech companies including Meta are taking steps to combat “pig butchering” scams, which trick Americans out of billions of dollars each year through fake online friendships and romances.
Pig butchering scams are elaborate and often take months to unfold. Scammers will patiently strike up an online friendship or romantic relationship with a victim, eventually guiding them to invest in elaborate fake cryptocurrency ventures. Victims become convinced they’ve found a way to get rich and sometimes give away their entire savings before realizing it was all a scam.
Meta on Thursday announced it has taken its first major steps into addressing the scams, including dedicating staff to identify where scammers operate, sharing that information with international law enforcement, and taking down more than 2 million accounts this year.
Pig butchering scammers use a wide range of apps, including meeting victims on dating apps and guiding them to chat on Telegram, which is relatively unmoderated and reluctant to work with international law enforcement. But some scammers meet targets on Facebook and Instagram or chat with them on WhatsApp.
Telegram did not respond to a request for comment. Since its owner’s arrest in France in August, it has changed its terms of service to say that it will sometimes cooperate with law enforcement.
Rating: 5