The online pig butchering scam has been on the rise this year, not only harming victims but also causing the deaths of individuals forced to do it in Myanmar. This year, pig butchering has become a hot topic because of the many cases of human trafficking victims asking to be rescued by the Malaysian government.
Interpol this week said that many victims of this scam did not report it to the authorities because they were ashamed of being called a pig. Therefore, Interpol asked the authorities and the government to no longer use the term pig butchering for cybercrimes like this.
Among the suggested terms are "online investment scams" or "online love scams". With these more specific terms, Interpol believes that more victims will come forward to report it without the stigma that will be attached to it.
Pig butchering scams get their name because the victims are initially protected by criminals before being slaughtered, just as pig farmers protect their animals, which are then slaughtered.