Recently, social media giant Meta announced that it has banned over 2 million accounts related to the "Pig Butchering" scam since the beginning of this year.
Most of these fraudulent accounts are associated with criminal networks in Southeast Asia and the UAE.
"Pig Butchering" is a type of online fraud where scammers contact victims through communication tools like WhatsApp, Telegram, or dating platforms, posing as trustworthy relational partners.
Once trust is established, they lure victims into investing in fake cryptocurrency platforms, ultimately leading to the victims' financial ruin.
These scams are usually controlled by transnational criminal organizations, with hubs concentrated in Southeast Asian countries such as Myanmar, Cambodia, Laos, and the Philippines, and have recently expanded to Dubai in the UAE.
These criminal groups recruit or coerce workers through illegal means to engage in fraudulent activities, spreading illegal information globally and profiting billions of dollars.
Meta pointed out that its internal team has been dedicated to identifying and combating these organized criminal activities. According to the company's "Dangerous Individuals and Organizations" (DOI) policy, more than 2 million accounts related to "Pig Butchering" have been permanently banned as of November this year.
This action against fraud has been ongoing for two years and is one of Meta's significant measures in combating online fraud.
To further curb the "Pig Butchering" scams, Meta has strengthened cooperation with other tech companies. Last year, businesses including cryptocurrency platforms Coinbase, Kraken, Ripple, and Gemini, as well as the dating platform Match Group and the global anti-fraud organization, formed the "Tech Against Fraud Collaboration Platform."
Through intelligence sharing and joint strategies, this platform aims to reduce the impact of online fraud.
Meta emphasizes that it will continue to enhance technological measures and collaborate with various parties to combat similar scams, protecting the safety and rights of users worldwide.
