The term “pig butchering” has successfully drawn public attention to online scams that can rob people of their savings and financial livelihoods. Unfortunately, the term has failed to get people to come forward and report these crimes, in part because no victim wants to be called a “pig,” according to Interpol.
Interpol asks governments and organizations to stop using the term “pig butchering” as a generic term for online fraud. The main reason: the phrase, while evocative and attention-grabbing, places blame on victims rather than criminals. This makes sense given the origin of the phrase, which comes not from law enforcement or cybersecurity experts, but from fraudsters themselves.
Instead of the term “pig butchering,” which has become a generic term, Interpol recommends using more specific language that focuses on the actions of criminals rather than victims. For example, terms such as “investment scam” or “romantic lure” more accurately define the fraud being perpetrated and do not place additional stigma on the people who fall victim.
This change may seem small, but it can make a big difference. Language is charged in all sorts of ways that we may not realize. For example, saying that a person has “reported” a crime instead of saying that they “assume” a crime has occurred may reassure the reporter. “Reporting” implies that a crime has occurred, whereas “alleging” that a crime has occurred implies a certain level of doubt. Studies have also found that the language used to describe a person involved in a crime can lead to more negative associations. When a person is referred to as a “criminal,” people are more likely to react negatively, while “person with a criminal record” elicits more positive reactions.
Given the above, it is easy to see why people who have just had their bank accounts drained to the point of being drained of their money would not want to be called “pigs” who have been fed to slaughter by a sweet-talking fraudster.
If changing the language of Interpol leads to an increase in the number of reports of criminal activity, it will be a victory. According to the FTC, Americans were defrauded of more than $10 billion in 2023, of which $4.6 billion was due to investment scams and $1.14 billion to romance scams. The FBI found that the number of online frauds increased by 22% compared to 2022 and is likely to continue to grow as cybercriminals increasingly use artificial intelligence tools to execute their schemes.
Ideally, more reporting of such frauds will help agencies such as Interpol combat criminals who create more victims than just those they steal money from. Reports by the Wall Street Journal and Wired have highlighted that some of these scams are run by people who have been trafficked and forced into labor or beaten and tortured.
