A recent investigation has unveiled a sophisticated online scam known as the 'Pig Butchering' scheme, which has reportedly defrauded individuals, particularly the elderly, of millions of euros. This scam involves scammers building trust through fake online relationships before persuading victims to invest in non-existent opportunities. In Latvia, a couple was swindled out of €51,000, while a broader investigation by OCCRP has linked these scams to a global network of call centers, with losses amounting to €33 million. The investigation highlights the role of affiliate marketers who provide personal data to scammers, facilitating their operations. Victims have reported losing life savings, with some cases leading to severe emotional distress. The scheme has also attracted attention for its use of deepfake technology to create convincing fraudulent profiles, further complicating efforts to combat these scams.
SCAM EMPIRE | OCCRP halla las firmas de marketing que vendieron a los estafadores los datos de dos víctimas españolas, una investigación de @malulamcl de @OCCRP y @ORARiccardo de @IrpiMedia https://t.co/vzA6CKJj0O
Man gets six years for scamming Highlands Ranch woman out of life savings https://t.co/Zanij7TvRG
A Denver man was sentenced Friday to 290 years to life in prison for targeting women and falsely posing as the driver of the vehicles they had requested on ride-hailing apps in order to kidnap and sexually assault them, prosecutors said. https://t.co/HmWBI3R84x