Without further warning, online romance and funding scams are already agonizing enough without their victims being dehumanized as “pigs.”
While “pig butchering” was once used to describe this type of fraud, it’s time for a change, as Interpol suggests, with the more fitting term “romance baiting”.
“Desperate fraudsters have concocted a sinister strategy dubbed ‘Pig Butchering,’ where they cultivate a fake relationship with their intended victim, ‘fattening’ them up before manipulating them into making a financially ruinous investment, often involving cryptocurrencies.”
Victims of online romance scams often find themselves suddenly cut off from their fraudulent partners once they’ve invested heavily in the relationship – or worse, coerced into parting with even more money.
The damage extends beyond financial losses to also inflict significant emotional tolls.
The supposed etymology of the term “pig butchering” stems from the Mandarin Chinese expression shazhupan, which literally translates to “killing pigs in a trough.” Regardless of its validity, the point remains irrelevant. While the passage of time may provide some sense of resolution for the individual, it’s crucial to recognize that this timeframe can ultimately be dehumanizing, failing to genuinely uplift the person affected by the event. That may indeed prevent certain individuals from seeking help from the authorities in the initial stages.
INTERPOL has announced it will no longer employ the term “pig butchering” to describe crimes where an offender builds an emotional or romantic relationship with a victim and then exploits that connection to defraud them, whether through pretended financial backing, manipulation, or fabrication of a financial crisis. Instead, the organization will use the phrase “romance baiting”.
With the assistance of renowned criminologist Dr. Elizabeth Carter from Kingston College in London, who specializes in forensic linguistics, the shift in terminology gained momentum.
“Evidence suggests a disturbing correlation between the tactics employed by fraudsters and those used by abusers in cases of domestic violence and coercive control, underscoring the need for interdisciplinary approaches to tackling these complex issues.” According to Dr. Carter, it is imperative that we refrain from adopting the language used by criminals; instead, we should employ phrases that foster public safety and facilitate victim reporting.
Interpol’s performing government director of police services, Cyril Ouattara, acknowledges: “Words matter.” Incidents of violent sexual offenses, domestic abuse, and online child exploitation have been observed in various regions. It’s crucial we recognize that our words significantly impact the lives of those deceived by fraud.
While “romance baiting” may have been employed to describe this phenomenon by certain cybersecurity experts and law enforcement agencies, it still seems an inaccurate depiction of the situation – placing undue emphasis on those targeted rather than those responsible for the malicious activities.
As a key component of its campaign to replace the antiquated concept of “pig butchering” with more inclusive and appealing terminology, “romance baiting” has taken center stage.
Phrases have significant impact, and individuals who are victims of fraud require comprehensive support. This change will undoubtedly be a positive development, and I fully support it.
