Attorney Says They Are “Receiving 5-6 Emails a Day” From Victims of Pig Butchering Scams
Pig butchering scams, a rapidly growing criminal activity involving online romance, fake crypto investments, and human trafficking, have been plaguing US citizens, resulting in significant financial losses.
In a recnet interview, Erin West, Deputy District Attorney in Santa Clara, California, said the problem is esclating, claiming that she receive an average of 5-6 emails daily from individuals who have fallen prey to pig butchering.
“We are receiving 5-6 emails a day from people who are victims of pig butchering. The most recent victim lost $5 million dollars and that’s not even the biggest amount one victim has lost to this scam.”
Compounding the issue, the stolen funds are funneled overseas to transnational criminal organizations in Myanmar and Cambodia, using trafficked individuals as virtual slaves to carry out the pig butchering scams.
According to TRM Labs, a leading blockchain intelligence company, the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) has received over 4,300 complaints related to pig butchering, with cumulative losses surpassing $400 million.
Reports from FBI field offices indicate that the surge in pig butchering shows no signs of abating.
West has developped a prosecutorial blueprint for tackling pig butchering cases in the United States.
As an integral member of the Regional Enforcement Allied Computer Team (REACT) Task Force, West specializes in investigating high-tech crimes.
When she encountered her inaugural pig butchering scam, West swiftly recognized the necessity of enlisting the assistance of Binance, the world’s largest cryptocurrency exchange, to unravel the intricate workings of the operation.
“We obtained a search warrant for Binance, and they cooperated by providing the
Read more on cryptonews.com
