Preying on the Lonely: AI Enhances the Pig Butchering Epidemic

I just finished speaking to a room of 550 seniors. Two of them had already lost a staggering $600,000 to this scam. It’s heartbreaking. And it’s happening right now. If we don’t act, this could become the most devastating scam of the next decade.

This scam's insidious nature lies in its masterful exploitation of the fundamental human vulnerability of loneliness, replacing that ache with the scammer's manipulative influence.

Alarmingly, a significant portion of the population – 20 to 30% of all people – experience regular feelings of isolation. This widespread vulnerability creates a massive and readily targeted market for malicious actors seeking to manipulate and defraud. Understanding this emotional predation is crucial to comprehending the scam's effectiveness and the profound harm it inflicts.

Artificial intelligence now amplifies this manipulation by creating hyper-realistic deepfakes, automating personalized and persuasive messaging, and analyzing vulnerabilities at scale for targeted exploitation. Lonely humans don’t stand a chance.

Did you know an estimated $85 trillion wealth transfer is currently underway? The baby boomers and the Greatest Generation, having understood and benefited from compound interest, possess significant wealth destined for Gen X, Y, and Millennials. The crucial question is: how much of this inheritance will remain after the relentless onslaught of sophisticated scams targeting these elder generations?

The Long Con

Pig butchering is a sophisticated, long-term financial scam that blends elements of romance fraud, catfishing, and investment schemes-most commonly involving cryptocurrency. The term comes from the analogy of “fattening up” a pig before slaughter: scammers spend weeks or months gaining a victim’s trust, encouraging them to invest increasing sums of money, before ultimately stealing all the funds and disappearing. These scams are highly organized, often run by criminal syndicates, and frequently involve human trafficking, with perpetrators themselves being forced laborers in scam “fraud factories”.

My Pig Butcherer

Over the past month, my interactions with a "pig butcher" named "Isla" have revealed a disturbing pattern. While "Isla" uses the image of a Russian model (identified through reverse facial recognition), the communication likely originates from a criminal syndicate in Thailand. Tragically, the young woman I've interacted with via WhatsApp video calls is likely a victim of human trafficking herself.

Our daily exchanges, occurring 6 to 8 times, begin with morning greetings and mundane details of her breakfast and daily plans. Throughout the day, she reaches out with expressions of care and concern for my well-being, inquiring about my health and encouraging self-care.

She shares seemingly ordinary photos of her daily life – yoga, cleaning, grocery shopping, and occasional outings with "friends" – and consistently wishes me goodnight. This constant, gentle attention cultivates a false sense of warmth and welcome, prioritizing the establishment of trust. The scammers' objective appears to be fostering a deep sense of reliance and emotional dependency in the victim.

For someone experiencing loneliness, this carefully crafted online persona and the consistent engagement are designed to alleviate those feelings, replacing them with "Isla's" manufactured care and attention. This gradual erosion of emotional defenses is the insidious mechanism by which pig butchering scams gain the unwavering trust needed to ultimately manipulate victims into draining their financial accounts.

We Are Programmed to Be Lonely

In human evolution, loneliness likely emerged as a survival mechanism, akin to hunger or pain, signaling a threat to our vital social bonds. Humans then and now depend on group cohesion for protection, resources, and reproduction. The pain of loneliness motivates individuals to seek connection, ensuring survival and gene propagation.

However, in modern society, this deeply ingrained need can become a source of immense suffering when social connections are lacking. Loneliness is linked to increased risks of depression, anxiety, cardiovascular disease, and even premature death, highlighting its profound impact on well-being.

Loneliness has been described as “a cancer of the mind”. Globally, studies indicate that around one in four adults report experiencing loneliness regularly.

These statistics underscore the widespread nature of this painful human experience. When the pig butcher enters the lonely person’s life, the victim is already starving, and in immense pain, and as long as the pig butcher “feeds” the victim and removes that pain, they win.

How the Scam Works

Initial Contact and Relationship Building

• The scam typically begins with unsolicited contact. Scammers may reach out via “wrong number” texts, social media, dating apps, or messaging platforms.
• They create fake online personas, often using stolen photos and fabricated stories that convey wealth, success, or a glamorous lifestyle.
• The scammer initiates friendly, sometimes flirtatious, conversations, gradually building trust and emotional connection. This stage can last weeks or even months, with the scammer maintaining constant contact, sharing personal stories, and sometimes feigning romantic interest.

Investment Pitch and Manipulation

• Once trust is established, the scammer introduces the idea of investing, typically in cryptocurrency, foreign exchange, or gold markets.
• The scammer claims to have insider knowledge, special connections, or expertise in lucrative markets. They may show fake screenshots of profits, introduce victims to fraudulent apps or websites, and sometimes allow small, fake withdrawals to build credibility.
• Victims are encouraged to invest small amounts at first, but as they see (faked) returns, they’re pressured to invest more, sometimes draining savings, retirement funds, or even borrowing money.
• Throughout, scammers use urgency (“act now or miss out”), secrecy (“don’t tell anyone, this is exclusive”), and isolation tactics to keep the victim engaged and prevent outside intervention.

The “Slaughter”

• Eventually, when the scammer believes the victim can’t or won’t invest more, or if the victim tries to withdraw a significant sum, the scammer invents obstacles-such as sudden “taxes” or “fees”-requiring further payment.
• When the victim refuses or runs out of money, the scammer cuts off all contact, deletes their online presence, and the fraudulent investment platform vanishes.
• Because transactions are often in cryptocurrency, tracing or recovering funds is nearly impossible.

Who Are the Victims?

Pig butchering scams target a wide range of individuals, regardless of age, gender, or background. However, certain groups are more vulnerable:

• Older adults: Those who may be lonely, less tech-savvy, or seeking companionship are frequent targets, especially through romance angles.
• People seeking relationships online: Users of dating apps or social media are prime targets due to the prevalence of catfishing tactics.
• Individuals interested in investing: Anyone expressing interest in cryptocurrency or investment opportunities online may be approached.
• Emotionally or financially vulnerable individuals: Those experiencing recent life changes (divorce, bereavement, job loss) may be more susceptible to manipulation.

Notably, victims come from all walks of life, including professionals, retirees, and even those with prior investment experience. Scammers are highly skilled at psychological manipulation, making anyone a potential target.

How to Protect Yourself

The stark reality is that individuals grappling with the pain of loneliness may be particularly vulnerable and less equipped to recognize the subtle red flags of this scam. Their yearning for connection can override their critical judgment, making them susceptible to victimization. This underscores a crucial point: the key to combating this crime lies in proactive intervention by those around potentially vulnerable individuals. We must be vigilant, recognize the signs of loneliness in our loved ones, and step in to offer support and guidance before they become targets.

Recognize the Red Flags

• Unsolicited messages from strangers, especially “wrong number” texts or social media contacts.
• Rapid attempts to move conversations to private messaging apps (WhatsApp, Telegram).
• Reluctance to video call, provide verifiable details, or meet in person.
• Conversations that quickly pivot to investment opportunities, especially those promising high, guaranteed returns.
• Investment platforms with URLs that don’t match well-known exchanges, or apps that trigger security warnings.
• Difficulty withdrawing funds, sudden “fees,” or requests for additional payments to access your money.

Best Practices for Prevention

• Never send money, trade, or invest based on advice from someone you’ve only met online.
• Don’t share personal or financial information with strangers, no matter how trustworthy they seem.
• Be skeptical of any investment promising high or guaranteed returns-if it sounds too good to be true, it almost certainly is.
• Verify the legitimacy of investment platforms through official financial regulators before investing.
• Consult with a trusted financial advisor or friend before making significant investments, especially if pressured to keep the opportunity secret.
• Don’t respond to unsolicited messages from unknown contacts. Even replying to say “wrong number” can open the door to manipulation.
• If you suspect you’re being targeted, cease communication immediately and report the incident to authorities (FTC, FBI, IC3, or local police).

Conclusion

Pig butchering scams are among the most damaging and insidious online frauds today, combining emotional manipulation with sophisticated financial deception. By understanding how these scams operate, recognizing their warning signs, and maintaining healthy skepticism toward unsolicited investment opportunities, individuals can significantly reduce their risk of falling victim to this “super scam”. If you or someone you know is targeted, act quickly-reporting early may help limit losses and prevent further victimization.