‘Pig butchering’ scammers target BBC reporter - BBC World Service

Published: 08 August 2024
on channel: BBC World Service
1,103,474
10k

It started with a direct message on Instagram. Jessica was an attractive 36-year-old woman looking for romance.

Click here to subscribe to our channel 👉🏽 https://bbc.in/3VyyriM

The BBC’s Cyber correspondent Joe Tidy suspected it was a scam but wasn’t sure what kind. In the end, "Jessica’" turned out to be a "pig butchering" scammer.

These fraudsters refer to their victims as pigs, whom they fatten up to be "butchered" or conned, out of as much money as possible.

Knowing the profile for "Jessica" was fake, the reporter played along for more than two months to find out what psychological tricks the pig butchers employ to lure victims around the world into investing into fake crypto schemes.

Pig butchering scammers stole at least $3bn last year according to the FBI, with victims usually aged between 30 and 60.

0:00 "Jessica" says hello
1:08 "Jessica" says she can make me rich
3:23 Where is "Jessica" based?
4:15 Trying to get my money back
5:25 Confronting "Jessica" and getting the truth

To watch more documentaries from our award-winning teams check out this playlist, perfect for the biggest screen in your home 👉🏽    • All BBC World Service Documentaries  
----------------
This is the official BBC World Service YouTube channel.
If you like what we do, you can also find us here:
Instagram 👉🏽   / bbcworldservice  
Twitter 👉🏽   / bbcworldservice  
Facebook 👉🏽   / bbcworldservice  
BBC World Service website 👉🏽 https://www.bbc.co.uk/worldserviceradio

Thanks for watching and subscribing!
#BBCWorldService #WorldService #Scam #Money


Watch video ‘Pig butchering’ scammers target BBC reporter - BBC World Service online, duration hours minute second in high quality that is uploaded to the channel BBC World Service 08 August 2024. Share the link to the video on social media so that your subscribers and friends will also watch this video. This video clip has been viewed 1,103,474 times and liked it 10 thousand visitors.