Online scams have evolved into sophisticated operations that have cost victims billions of dollars, with Americans alone losing over USD 10 billion in 2023. As law enforcement agencies work to combat these crimes, the terminology used to describe them has become a crucial factor in victim reporting and recovery efforts.
The Controversial Term and Its Impact
The phrase pig butchering originated from the Chinese term shāzhūpán, coined by scammers themselves to describe their practice of fattening up victims before defrauding them. However, this derogatory terminology has created unexpected barriers to crime reporting and victim support, leading Interpol to take decisive action in eliminating its use.
Interpol's New Approach
The international law enforcement organization is now actively working to replace the controversial term with more precise and victim-sensitive language. They're advocating for descriptions like investment scams or romance baiting that focus on the criminal behavior rather than stigmatizing victims. This change will be reflected across all 196 member countries, with updates to web pages, press releases, and working materials.
The Scale of Modern Scam Operations
These scams have evolved into industrial-scale operations, with over 200,000 people reportedly trafficked into massive scam centers across Southeast Asia. These centers don't limit themselves to investment or romance scams but run multiple fraud schemes including task scams, sextortion, and sports gambling fraud. The criminal enterprises have even begun incorporating AI technology to increase their efficiency.
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| This illustration represents the dark and complex nature of modern scam operations, highlighting the intensity of the issue |
The Power of Language in Law Enforcement
Nick Court, an assistant director at Interpol's financial crime and anti-corruption program, emphasizes that language choice significantly impacts crime reporting across various types of offenses. This initiative follows similar evolutionary changes in terminology used to describe domestic violence, sexual assault, and online child exploitation, all aimed at creating safer spaces for victim reporting.
The Growing Threat
With online scams increasing by 22% from 2022, and cybercriminals increasingly leveraging AI tools, the need for effective reporting and law enforcement response has never been more critical. The shift in terminology represents a strategic move to encourage more victims to come forward, ultimately helping authorities better combat these sophisticated criminal networks.