With the help of anti-scam organisations, #TalkingPoint producer Cheryl Tan got hold of scripts used by Asia-based love scam syndicates to execute ‘pig butchering scams’ – a mashup of romance scam and fake investment schemes. These scammers target victims, many highly educated professional women, from all over – the US, Europe, Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia and more. (Watch: https://youtu.be/ZacChEz3Am8)
These syndicates have developed handbooks of psychologically manipulative tactics detailing step-by-step instructions and conversation techniques, to allay victims’ suspicions – so they don’t realise until it’s too late. (Are you the victim of a scam or know someone who is? Email us your story: cnainsider@mediacorp.com.sg)
So in this #TalkingPointExtra, Cheryl shares how to identify when you – or someone you know – are being manipulated.
00:00 Why it’s called ‘pig butchering’ scam / 杀猪盘
01:35 Where are scam syndicates based?
01:59 Why are Singaporeans targeted?
02:09 Apps & platforms where scammers hunt for victims
04:15 Conversation techniques to build an emotional connection
06:14 Why scam syndicates think women make easier targets
08:12 A victim shares why she decided to ‘invest’
08:32 How scammers get victims hooked on ‘investment platforms’
10:16 Why highly educated women still get scammed
10:53 Plot twist – the scammers are victims too.
11:49 Dangers of filming in Sihanoukville, Cambodia
12:30 Where to get help
For help wherever you are, contact:
Global Anti-Scam Organization https://www.globalantiscam.org/contact
Global Anti-Scam Alliance https://www.gasa.org/contact-4
If you’re in Singapore:
For scam-related advice, call the anti-scam hotline 1800 722 6688 or go to http://www.scam alert.sg.
To provide information on scams, call the police hotline 1800 255 0000, or submit online at http://www.police.gov.sg/iwitness.
Watch the full episode of Asia’s Tinder Swindlers: Exposing Love Scam Rings In Cambodia : https://youtu.be/ZacChEz3Am8
Also watch:
Scam Town, The Chinese Village Where Nearly Everyone’s A Phone Scammer: https://youtu.be/q5PI5ZtJTSY
Bank Scams: How Far Would Cyber Criminals Go?: https://youtu.be/Vt9nyLRb-_0
Inside Taiwan’s Phone Scam Rings: https://youtu.be/th2-6t-488w
#CNAInsider #CNATalkingPoint #Scam #RomanceScam #LoveScam