What is ‘pig butchering’ cyber scam flagged by MHA? All you need to know

Cybercriminals have reportedly been using Google advertisements to target the victims of the fraud

Published on: Jan 2, 2025, 17:42:49 IST

By HT News Desk

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The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has identified a new form of cyber fraud known as the “pig butchering scam”, involving large scale money laundering.

Representational image) The new cyber fraud scam makes people lose money almost daily due to bad investments (HT_PRINT)

In its latest annual report, the MHA stated that the new investment scam started in China in 2016, targeting gullible and people including unemployed youths, housewives and students.

What is the ‘pig butchering scam’?

The name of the scam refers to the fattening up of the animal before slaughtering it. The pig butchering scam involves a cybercriminal building trust with an individual and convincing them to invest money into a lucrative scheme, from which their money is then stolen.

Also Read: Noida man duped of ₹40L by cyber frauds

The MHA report also stated that these cybercriminals have been using Google advertisements to target their marks.

"This scam, known as 'pig butchering scam' or 'investment scam' is a global phenomenon and involves large-scale money laundering and even cyber slavery," the report said.

Also Read: What is new ‘jumped deposit’ scam targeting UPI users? Here's how to protect yourself

Google has partnered with the Indian cyber crime coordination centre (14C) to share information on potential threats and take action to curb them as soon as possible.

Among the various Big Tech platforms that enable these scams, WhatsApp has been used by cyber criminals the most in India, as per the report.

Also Read: Four cyber crooks held for operating fake booking websites

Data from the report show that 14,746 cybercrime complaints were related to WhatsApp, 7651 against Telegram, 7152 against Instagram, 7051 against Facebook, and 1135 against YouTube till March 2024.

The report added that big tech also played an important role in identifying and taking action against

"Big techs play an important role in proactive identification and action on cyber criminals. I4C has partnered with Google and Facebook for sharing intelligence and signals for proactive actions," the report said.

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HT News Desk
Follow the latest breaking news, major developments and agenda-setting stories from India and around the world with the newsdesk at Hindustan Times. Operating round the clock, the desk brings together experienced editors, reporters and correspondents to deliver fast, accurate and contextual reporting across subjects that influence public policy, governance, business, society and international affairs. The HT News Desk covers politics, elections, government policies, the economy, business and markets, science and technology, the environment, law and order, infrastructure, education, climate issues and geopolitics, while closely tracking developments across states, institutions and global capitals. The team also leads coverage of major breaking news events, policy announcements, court proceedings, natural disasters, public emergencies and significant international developments. Reports published by the newsdesk are based on information gathered from reporters on the ground, official statements, government agencies, court records, regulatory filings, recognised institutions and other authoritative sources. Stories undergo editorial scrutiny and verification processes to ensure accuracy, fairness and relevance, and are updated as events evolve and additional information becomes available. Whether covering a key political decision in New Delhi, an economic policy shift affecting millions, a landmark court ruling or a major global event, the HT News Desk aims to provide readers with reliable, fact-based journalism that delivers not only the latest developments but also the context and analysis needed to understand their wider implications.Read More

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