Brooklyn District Attorney Seizes 21 Web Domains Linked to ‘Pig Butchering’ Scams
The Brooklyn District Attorney’s office has seized 21 web domains associated with fraudulent cryptocurrency investments and “pig butchering” scams.
The operation targeted scams known as “pig butchering,” where scammers gain victims’ trust through dating apps or other platforms and manipulate them into making bogus investments, The Associated Press reported Thursday.
“Pig butchering is a growing type of scam that defrauds residents of Brooklyn and the entire country out of billions of dollars every year,” Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez said in a statement:
“My office’s strategy is to disrupt these schemes by seizing and shutting down their online infrastructure, and to educate the public.”
Gonzalez urged the public to exercise caution and avoid falling for crypto investments that appear too good to be true.
He also warned against downloading apps from unverified cryptocurrency websites, advising individuals to conduct thorough research and exercise due diligence before engaging in any investment activities.
Last year, the New York Police Department received 50 complaints related to online crypto scams.
However, Gonzalez stressed that this figure likely represents a fraction of the actual instances, as victims often feel ashamed or are unsure of how to report such crimes.
The district attorney revealed that victims who came forward from Brooklyn alone reported losses exceeding $4 million, describing the reports as “heartbreaking.”
Prosecutors in Brooklyn seized nearly two dozen web domains associated with a scheme known as "pig butchering."
Brooklyn-based victims were scammed out of $5 million after they were convinced to invest in cryptocurrency. https://t.co/Wu71T0W7QO
— ABC News (@ABC) April 4,
Read more on cryptonews.com
