Editing Openai/693f6e1a-6e14-8001-83c4-f4580e02b092 (section)

=== Assistant: “Pig butchering” also called romance baiting by Interpol is a long-con confidence scam where criminals build trust over… ===
“Pig butchering” (also called romance baiting by Interpol) is a long-con confidence scam where criminals build trust over weeks/months, then steer the victim into a fake “investment” (often crypto), showing convincing “profits” until the victim can’t withdraw and is pressured for even more money. Federal Bureau of Investigation<ref>{{cite web|title=Federal Bureau of Investigation|url=https://www.fbi.gov/how-we-can-help-you/victim-services/national-crimes-and-victim-resources/operation-level-up|publisher=Federal Bureau of Investigation|access-date=2025-12-15}}</ref>

==== 1. First contact (lead generation) - “Wrong number” / “accidental text,” social media DMs, dating apps, WhatsApp/Telegram, etc. - Goal: get you chatting off-platform and establish a “real person” vibe. Department of Justice<ref>{{cite web|title=Department of Justice|url=https://www.justice.gov/usao-cdca/pr/justice-dept-seizes-over-112m-funds-linked-cryptocurrency-investment-schemes-over-half|publisher=Department of Justice|access-date=2025-12-15}}</ref> ====
# Grooming (“fattening up”) - Daily conversation, flirting/friendship, lots of personal attention. - They often use scripts and escalation tactics to bond quickly and learn what you can afford. (Law enforcement describes it as relationship-building first, investment pitch later.) Federal Bureau of Investigation<ref>{{cite web|title=Federal Bureau of Investigation|url=https://www.fbi.gov/how-we-can-help-you/victim-services/national-crimes-and-victim-resources/operation-level-up|publisher=Federal Bureau of Investigation|access-date=2025-12-15}}</ref>
# The hook: “I can teach you / here’s my platform” - They introduce a “can’t miss” opportunity, usually crypto. - You’re directed to a realistic-looking website/app that’s actually controlled by the scammers. Federal Bureau of Investigation<ref>{{cite web|title=Federal Bureau of Investigation|url=https://www.fbi.gov/how-we-can-help-you/victim-services/national-crimes-and-victim-resources/operation-level-up|publisher=Federal Bureau of Investigation|access-date=2025-12-15}}</ref>
# Proof & reinforcement - Early on, victims may see fake gains, and sometimes are allowed a small withdrawal to build confidence. - Then comes the push: “add more to earn more,” sometimes tied to emotional leverage (“if you trust me…”) FDIC OIG<ref>{{cite web|title=FDIC OIG|url=https://www.fdicoig.gov/pig-butchering-scams|publisher=FDIC OIG|access-date=2025-12-15}}</ref>
# The “butchering”: blocked withdrawals + invented fees - When you try to cash out: sudden “taxes,” “verification,” “anti-money-laundering deposit,” “unlock fee,” etc. - Paying those doesn’t help; it’s a ladder of excuses to extract the last dollar. Federal Bureau of Investigation<ref>{{cite web|title=Federal Bureau of Investigation|url=https://www.fbi.gov/how-we-can-help-you/victim-services/national-crimes-and-victim-resources/operation-level-up|publisher=Federal Bureau of Investigation|access-date=2025-12-15}}</ref>
# Endgame: vanish, threaten, or keep milking - They ghost, delete accounts, or pivot to intimidation/blackmail. - Money moves through crypto wallets/mules, making recovery difficult. FinCEN.gov<ref>{{cite web|title=FinCEN.gov|url=https://www.fincen.gov/system/files/shared/FinCEN_Alert_Pig_Butchering_FINAL_508c.pdf|publisher=fincen.gov|access-date=2025-12-15}}</ref>

==== A big reason these scams work is they’re often industrialized operations, not a lone scammer: ====
* Scam compounds / “fraud factories”: Many major networks operate out of hubs (notably in parts of Southeast Asia) that run scams at scale, and multiple governments and the UN have described links to coercion/forced labor in some of these operations. Reuters<ref>{{cite web|title=Reuters|url=https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/what-are-southeast-asias-scam-centres-why-are-they-being-dismantled-2025-03-04/|publisher=reuters.com|access-date=2025-12-15}}</ref>
* Division of labor: lead generators, “relationship” chatters, “investment mentors,” tech teams running fake platforms, and finance teams laundering proceeds.
* Commodity infrastructure: authorities have specifically called out services that help host/rotate scam websites and infrastructure at scale. U.S. Department of the Treasury<ref>{{cite web|title=U.S. Department of the Treasury|url=https://home.treasury.gov/news/press-releases/sb0149|publisher=U.S. Department of the Treasury|access-date=2025-12-15}}</ref>

==== - Unsolicited “wrong number” that turns friendly/romantic fast. Department of Justice<ref>{{cite web|title=Department of Justice|url=https://www.justice.gov/usao-cdca/pr/justice-dept-seizes-over-112m-funds-linked-cryptocurrency-investment-schemes-over-half|publisher=Department of Justice|access-date=2025-12-15}}</ref> ====
* They insist on crypto and a specific platform/app you’ve never heard of. Federal Bureau of Investigation<ref>{{cite web|title=Federal Bureau of Investigation|url=https://www.fbi.gov/how-we-can-help-you/victim-services/national-crimes-and-victim-resources/operation-level-up|publisher=Federal Bureau of Investigation|access-date=2025-12-15}}</ref>
* “Your account is up, but you must pay X to withdraw.” FinCEN.gov<ref>{{cite web|title=FinCEN.gov|url=https://www.fincen.gov/system/files/shared/FinCEN_Alert_Pig_Butchering_FINAL_508c.pdf|publisher=fincen.gov|access-date=2025-12-15}}</ref>
* They dodge live video verification or get angry when you ask for basic proof. DFPI<ref>{{cite web|title=DFPI|url=https://dfpi.ca.gov/news/insights/pig-butchering-how-to-spot-and-report-the-scam/|publisher=dfpi.ca.gov|access-date=2025-12-15}}</ref>

==== - Stop sending money (including “fees” to withdraw). ====
* Preserve evidence: chats, screenshots, wallet addresses, transaction hashes.
* Contact your bank/exchange immediately and file reports (in Canada, the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre tracks these romance/investment/crypto hybrids). Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre<ref>{{cite web|title=Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre|url=https://antifraudcentre-centreantifraude.ca/news-nouvelles/2024/2024-05-28-eng.htm|publisher=Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre|access-date=2025-12-15}}</ref>
* In the U.S., the FBI has a dedicated effort around this pattern (“Operation Level Up”). Federal Bureau of Investigation<ref>{{cite web|title=Federal Bureau of Investigation|url=https://www.fbi.gov/how-we-can-help-you/victim-services/national-crimes-and-victim-resources/operation-level-up|publisher=Federal Bureau of Investigation|access-date=2025-12-15}}</ref>

More background readingAP NewsMyanmar calls on countries to take back citizens held in crackdown on scam centersToday<ref>{{cite web|title=AP NewsMyanmar calls on countries to take back citizens held in crackdown on scam centersToday|url=https://apnews.com/article/e4d814fecf29b4da56dc81cc8ec096c5|publisher=AP NewsMyanmar calls on countries to take back citizens held in crackdown on scam centersToday|access-date=2025-12-15}}</ref>wired.comStop Calling Online Scams 'Pig Butchering,' Interpol WarnsDec 17, 2024<ref>{{cite web|title=wired.comStop Calling Online Scams 'Pig Butchering,' Interpol WarnsDec 17, 2024|url=https://www.wired.com/story/interpol-pig-butchering-scams-rename|publisher=wired.comStop Calling Online Scams 'Pig Butchering,' Interpol WarnsDec 17, 2024|access-date=2025-12-15}}</ref>theweek.comTexts from a scammer6 days ago<ref>{{cite web|title=theweek.comTexts from a scammer6 days ago|url=https://theweek.com/tech/texts-from-scammer-pig-butchering|publisher=theweek.comTexts from a scammer6 days ago|access-date=2025-12-15}}</ref>wsj.comScam Compounds Become Targets in Thai-Cambodian Border WarToday<ref>{{cite web|title=wsj.comScam Compounds Become Targets in Thai-Cambodian Border WarToday|url=https://www.wsj.com/world/asia/scam-compounds-become-targets-in-thai-cambodian-border-war-7fbfe575|publisher=wsj.comScam Compounds Become Targets in Thai-Cambodian Border WarToday|access-date=2025-12-15}}</ref>