INTERPOL is calling for a linguistic shift that aims to end the term “butchering of pigs,” instead advocating the use of “romance baiting” to refer to online scams in which victims are tricked into investing in fake cryptocurrency schemes under the guise of a romantic relationship.
“The term ‘pig killer’ dehumanizes and shames the victims of such scams, discouraging people from seeking help and providing information to the authorities,” the agency notes. said in the statement.
The word originates from the Chinese phrase “杀猪盘” (“shā zhū pán”), which literally translates to “slaughtering pigs”, a reference to the practice of fattening pigs before slaughter. Known to exist since 2016.
Similarly, the investment fraud often involves scammers contacting potential targets on social media and dating apps, slowly gaining their trust over long periods of time before manipulating them into making bogus investments and eventually disappearing with their funds.
These schemes are linked to transnational organized crime groups operating out of Southeast Asia, with threat actors also trafficking in people in notorious scams in the region, promising good jobs only to those who subject them to inhumane conditions and passports are taken away to get them to scam strangers online.
“These sophisticated scams are run by multi-level organizations complete with an IT team responsible for delivering mobile and web applications convincing enough to trick targets into believing they are legitimate trading platforms,” the company said. on Sophos Cyber Security. noted in the analysis of “CryptoRom” companies in August 2023.
Earlier this Google which sued in the US against two Chinese app developers for engaging in such scams, said it does not support the use of the term “pig killer”. The tech giant tracks activity called “international online
a consumer investment fraud scheme.”
Interpol said the term “romantic stalking” recognizes the psychological triggers used by fraudsters and focuses on the perpetrators rather than the victims of cybercrime.
“Words matter. We have seen this in the areas of violent sex crimes, domestic violence and online child exploitation. We must recognize that our words are also important to the victims of fraud,” Interpol Acting Executive Director of Police Services Cyril Gout said.
“It’s time to change our language to prioritize respect and empathy for victims and hold fraudsters accountable for their crimes.”
