Meta recently revealed that it has taken down over 2 million accounts involved in scams such as “pig butchering” since the start of 2024.

These scams, which rely on long-term deception to defraud victims, are primarily run from countries like Myanmar, Cambodia, Laos, the United Arab Emirates, and the Philippines. Many of these operations exploit vulnerable job seekers by forcing them into fraudulent activities under threat of physical abuse.

The Rise of “Pig Butchering” Scams

This type of scam, named for the practice of “fattening up” victims with trust before financially exploiting them, has grown exponentially. Scammers often impersonate attractive singles, government officials, or employees of reputed companies. Using tactics like direct messages and emails—dubbed “spray and pray”—they lure unsuspecting users into fake investment schemes. Victims are shown falsified returns to gain their trust, only to be blocked when attempting withdrawals later.

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According to the FBI, these scams are not small-scale operations. Investment fraud, including pig butchering, accounted for a 38% increase in financial losses between 2022 and 2023, rising from $3.31 billion to $4.57 billion.

Meta’s Strategy to Combat Online Scams

Meta has intensified efforts to address these issues across its platforms, including Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, and Messenger. The company employs a multi-faceted approach, incorporating policy enforcement, technical detection, and global collaboration:

  • Dangerous Organizations and Individuals (DOI) Policy: Bans and disrupts scam operations.
  • Behavioral Monitoring: Detects suspicious activities and infrastructure tied to scams.
  • Law Enforcement Collaboration: Shares intelligence to dismantle scam networks.
  • Tech Industry Partnerships: Works with groups like the Tech Against Scams Coalition to bolster cross-platform defenses.
  • User Protections: Features like two-factor authentication, warnings on messaging apps, and transparency tools on WhatsApp help users identify potential threats.
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What Users Can Do

Meta encourages users to remain cautious, especially when approached with unsolicited messages or financial offers. Activating two-factor authentication and using recovery features like “selfie verification” can secure accounts from being compromised. Always be skeptical of “too good to be true” schemes and avoid engaging with strangers asking for money.