Interpol says people don’t report online scams for fear of being called pigs

The term “pig slaughter” has successfully raised public awareness about online scams that can drain people’s savings and financial livelihoods. Unfortunately, the term fails to prompt people to come forward and report these crimes, partly because no victim wants to be called a “pig,” according to Interpol.

Interpol (they’re also technically pigs, if you think about it). He asks Governments and organizations should stop using pig slaughter as an umbrella term for online scams. The main reason: The phrase, although evocative and attention-grabbing, places blame on the victims rather than the criminals. This makes sense given the origin of the phrase, which did not come from law enforcement or cybersecurity experts yet From the scammers themselves.

Instead of pig slaughter, which has become a big umbrella term, Interpol recommends using more specific language that focuses on the actions of criminal actors rather than the victims. For example, terms like “investment fraud” or “romance baiting” more accurately define the fraud being committed and do not place additional stigma on the people being exploited.

No matter how simple the change may seem, It can make a difference. Language is charged in various ways that we may not realize. For example: Saying someone “reported” a crime rather than saying they “alleged” a crime occurred can provide comfort to the reporter. “Reporting” suggests it happened, while “alleging” a crime indicates a level of suspicion. studies It has also been found that the language used to describe someone involved in a crime can lead to more negative associations. When someone is referred to as a “criminal,” people are more likely to have negative reactions to them, while “a person convicted of a felony” produces more positive reactions.

All that said, it’s not hard to understand why people whose bank accounts have been drained to zero would rather not be called “pigs” who have been fattened for slaughter by some sweet-talking crooks.

If Interpol’s change in language leads to more reports of criminal activity, that’s a win. Americans were defrauded of more than $10 billion in 2023, According to the Federal Trade Commissionincluding $4.6 billion in investment fraud and $1.14 billion of romance baiting. The FBI found out Online fraud increased by 22% As of 2022 and will likely continue to rise thanks increasingly to cybercriminals Using artificial intelligence tools to implement their plans.

Ideally, more reports of these scams will help agencies like Interpol crack down on the perpetrators, who have created more victims than just those they steal money from. Report from Wall Street Journal and Wired It has highlighted that the work behind some of these scams is carried out by people who have been trafficked, forced to work or subjected to beatings and torture.