In recent years, millions of people around the world have lost hundreds of thousands of dollars to an online fraud scheme called "pig-butchering romance." Victims of this online fraud are first suddenly approached by a stranger, usually an attractive man or woman, who befriends them and then traps them in a web of "love fraud," where they are eventually "butchered" like pigs.
However, behind the beautiful faces that appear on the screen lies a dark world where the perpetrators of this inhumane scam, who themselves have fallen victim to human smuggling, deceive and trick innocent people. These individuals sit in jail-like places in Southeast Asia, constantly searching for new prey on the internet.
Through a BBC global service investigation, we have had the opportunity to see what happens to the people sitting in these enclosures. The dark story behind this online fraud was revealed to us by a former ringleader of such a group, who showed us the various techniques used to deceive people on the internet.
When Zhouzhou was part of this fraud, he believed that his greatest asset was his heavy, terrifying voice. According to him, when he spoke to people on the phone, they did whatever he wanted. Those who fell victim to this deception were called "pigs" and "suckers," and were eventually "butchered." Zhouzhou's job was to extract money from these people through various tactics.
The victims of this deception were left with no choice but to transfer money, and if they refused, they were threatened with violence. In addition, the perpetrators used various tactics to keep the victims hooked, such as sending love letters, using fake profiles, and pretending to be in distress.
This scam, which has been going on for years, has ruined countless lives and robbed people of their hard-earned money. It is important for people to be aware of such scams and to be cautious when befriending strangers online.
After exchanging some messages online, it was common for catfishes like Jiayuzui to pick up the phone and start talking to their prey, making them fall for their charming conversations and becoming their victims.
In our business, we call this kind of deceptive conversation "word therapy" or "word chopping." In the language of online fraud, people like Jiayuzui are called "dogs." These people usually find their prey on dating sites, social media, or other messaging apps.
Usually, we present ourselves on our online profiles as happy, wealthy, and compassionate individuals. It has been revealed that the images used in these fake online profiles are either bought from the internet or stolen from social media influencers.
Jiayuzui disclosed that some of his former accomplices use deepfakes during their video chats with their prey, which makes the viewer more impressed and convinced that they are indeed talking to the person shown in the video.
As the conversation progresses, victims are convinced to invest money in cryptocurrency, and thus they fall for the scam.
Jiayuzui says, "we create a net with our words." For example, if my prey is into investing in real estate, I would tell her that I also want to invest in real estate with her. But the cost of a single flat in the area where she wants to invest is worth millions of dollars, and I don't have that kind of money. Therefore, I create a situation where she would willingly offer to invest the money herself.
It is essential to be cautious and aware of these scams while engaging in online conversations.
Joys was convinced to invest her money in an investment account, only to be deceived into thinking that she was earning substantial profits. Despite depositing all her savings into this account, Joys was advised to take out loans from the bank to secure her funds. However, her attempts to withdraw her money were unsuccessful when she became suspicious of the "investment scheme."
The aftermath of this deceitful act was catastrophic for Joys, who suffered a loss of $100,000, a significant portion of which was borrowed money. Her family's reaction was not supportive, and Joys felt responsible for the debacle, which caused her and her father to cry.
If Joys fails to repay her loans, she faces the risk of being blacklisted by China's social credit system, which would have far-reaching consequences on her life. To make ends meet, Joys has taken on additional jobs and now participates in classical dance and live streaming on the internet.
This incident has left a deep impact on Joys, who has learned a valuable lesson about the importance of being cautious and vigilant when it comes to investments. Despite the financial and emotional hardships she has faced, Joys has shown great resilience and determination to overcome this setback and move forward with her life.
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