In recent years, over 200,000 individuals in Southeast Asia have been coerced into participating in online scams, facing severe mistreatment and exploitation as part of criminal operations that have amassed billions in illicit gains. These schemes, known as “pig butchering,” are predominantly found in Myanmar, Cambodia, and Laos, typically associated with Chinese organized crime groups that capitalize on local instability and ineffective governance. Despite the significant humanitarian impact, the profitability of these scams has led to their emergence in various parts of the globe.
Recent investigations by WIRED, involving law enforcement and civil society, along with insights from numerous analysts, reveal that pig butchering schemes linked to their Southeast Asian counterparts are now appearing in regions including the Middle East, Eastern Europe, Latin America, and West Africa. A considerable number of these operations are reportedly connected to Chinese-speaking criminals or have developed in conjunction with China’s Belt and Road Initiative, a significant international infrastructure and development plan.
According to the FBI’s 2023 reports, nearly $4 billion in losses were attributed to these scams, while some researchers estimate that total global losses may exceed $75 billion. Recently, Beijing has intensified efforts to combat pig butchering operations and the trafficking of individuals to scam centers within Southeast Asia, yet these activities continue to proliferate globally.
“As various attackers realize the significant profits to be made, they will inevitably shift tactics,” observes Ronnie Tokazowski, a seasoned researcher in pig butchering and co-founder of the nonprofit Intelligence for Good. “Thus, pig butchering is surfacing in an increasing number of countries. Despite the efforts of researchers and law enforcement, there are scant indications that this will cease.”
Pig butchering, which has gained prominence in the past five years, is a sophisticated scam that involves establishing close, seemingly personal ties with victims. These attacks often initiate with unexpected texts to potential victims, starting conversations that lead to the formation of a bond. Once a rapport is built, the scammer introduces the concept of an exclusive or unique investment opportunity. Ultimately, the victims are persuaded to transfer funds—often in the form of cryptocurrency—through a deceptive platform designed to mimic a legitimate financial management service, after which the attackers must launder the money. This process demands meticulous planning and a sizable workforce. Experts have noted that individuals from over 60 countries have been kidnapped and trafficked to Southeast Asian scam operations, which usually employ thousands of coerced workers. Recently, various scam centers have also surfaced worldwide, emerging in different setups and sizes but with a unified aim.
“Organized crime groups have essentially leveraged a favorable situation, which includes governance issues, limited enforcement capabilities, and inadequate regulatory frameworks,” explains Benedikt Hofmann, who serves as the deputy head of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime’s Southeast Asia and Pacific office. “These elements can also be found in other regions around the globe.”
“What we’ve observed is that criminal organizations invested in this region are looking beyond local borders to establish similar operations,” notes Hofmann regarding the international expansion.
The affluent, authoritarian hub of Dubai in the United Arab Emirates has emerged since 2021 as the largest hub for pig butchering outside of Southeast Asia. According to the UN, more than 88 percent of the UAE’s population consists of international migrants, creating a uniquely diverse and potentially vulnerable workforce that is easily exploitable.
“Dubai serves as both a destination and a transit point,” explains Mina Chiang, founder and director of Humanity Research Consultancy, an organization dedicated to addressing human trafficking issues. “We are witnessing numerous compounds that are reportedly functioning within Dubai itself.”
In July, Humanity Research Consultancy uncovered at least six suspected scam compounds thought to be operating around Dubai. The research—based on testimonies from victims of forced labor, leaked data from a cyber incident, and social media findings—pointed to potential compounds situated near industrial and investment areas. According to the research, these operations are “to the best of our knowledge managed by Chinese-speaking criminals” and mimic the functioning of similar establishments found in Southeast Asia.
“They refer to it as a typing center. However, it essentially operates as a large scam call center,” a one-star review on Google Maps states regarding a facility in Dubai. Another review notes: “Mostly impoverished individuals from Africa are employed there and largely imprisoned in Dubai. No matter the promises made, everything is a scam. I highly advise against going there.”
Dubai’s police department did not respond to WIRED’s inquiry regarding the existence of potential scam centers within the city.
Pig butchering schemes have reportedly taken root in Dubai, influenced by immigration and workforce trends. However, in various African nations, these operations are emerging due to a pre-existing culture of organized fraud.
In Nigeria, where digital scamming has been a notable illicit business for years across various platforms, the adoption of pig butchering methods by scammers seemed inevitable. The operation has evolved to the extent that there are now easily accessible, ready-made cryptocurrency investment platforms, templates, and scripts available online for anyone wishing to dive into this fraudulent activity. Groups already familiar with executing romance scams or business email compromise operations could seamlessly transition to the dynamics of pig butchering.
“When you consider West Africa’s background with social engineering schemes, it’s a formidable combination,” states Sean Gallagher, a senior threat researcher at Sophos. “A significant number of individuals view this as a viable livelihood, particularly in Nigeria. The technology is also easily adaptable. We’ve observed pig butchering kits for sale that feature fake crypto websites and scripts seemingly designed for targeting African victims.”
Nigerian law enforcement has been increasingly attentive, actively pursuing and even securing convictions specifically linked to pig butchering. Gallagher and Tokazowski from Intelligence for Good have mentioned that through their research on scammers, they have identified technical signs that pig butchering attacks may also be emerging from Ghana. The US Embassy in Ghana has issued warnings regarding the risks of financial scams originating from the region.
Pig butchering has been reported in various regions of Africa, connected to Chinese-speaking criminal networks. In June, authorities in Namibia rescued 88 individuals from a scam operation linked to Chinese nationals who were reportedly arrested. Additionally, reports indicated that in Zambia, 22 Chinese nationals received prison sentences due to their connections with local scam centers, as noted by local sources.
Stephanie Baroud, a criminal intelligence analyst with Interpol’s human trafficking unit, explained that the organization has been coordinating law enforcement efforts to combat the rise of international scam centers, acknowledging that not all of them have ties to Asian criminal groups.
Baroud noted, “While sometimes we are seeing a connection to Asian groups, there are instances where no such links exist.” She pointed out that the emergence of new pig butchering operations worldwide appears to be adaptations of Malay practices, with different actors customizing the model to fit their specific skills and resources.
Scam activities have also surfaced in Eastern Europe. Recently, at least two “fraudulent call centers” aiming to deceive individuals into investing in cryptocurrency were discovered by law enforcement agencies in Georgia, with reports indicating that men from Taiwan were compelled to work within the country. Local authorities, who did not respond to inquiries from WIRED, stated they have previously prosecuted seven companies involved in such call center operations.
Recent efforts have dismantled scam operations in Peru and Sri Lanka. Interestingly, there have also been reports of trafficking occurring in unexpected locations like the Isle of Man, where nearly 100 individuals were engaged in a pig butchering scheme between 2022 and 2023, according to a BBC investigation from August.
Jason Tower, the country director for Burma and a seasoned security analyst at the United States Institute of Peace, notes, “The criminal groups originating from the People’s Republic of China that are responsible for these elaborate scams are striving to create networks and hubs worldwide due to the significant profit potential.”
The operations of pig butchering scams depend on complex layers of crime, including the recruitment of trafficked individuals, managing the day-to-day activities of scam centers, developing technology to defraud thousands, and executing sophisticated money laundering schemes necessary to handle billions of dollars. As Chinese authorities intensify their crackdown on Chinese-speaking criminal networks in Southeast Asia, it appears these groups are likely evolving their operations, even if on a smaller scale.
John Wojcik, an analyst at the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, describes the situation as “an intentional hedging strategy, seemingly aimed at diversifying their operational locations to ensure the continuation of their business.” He further adds, “Simultaneously, this also represents a direct response to increasing pressure from law enforcement and stricter regulations in the region.”
In addition to the growing geographic reach of pig butchering operations, researchers have observed a change in the profiles of individuals targeted by traffickers to “work” in scam compounds. “Over the past two years, the countries focused on for recruitment have gradually shifted westward,” explains Eric Heintz, a global analyst at the human rights organization International Justice Mission.
Many of the trafficking victims during the early years of pig butchering originated from Southeast Asia, but this trend has since shifted to South Asian nations such as India and Nepal, according to Heintz. “We have since observed recruitment ads aimed at East African countries like Kenya and Uganda, followed by West African nations such as Morocco, and more recently, posts targeting El Salvador.”
As always, the proliferation and evolution of pig butchering are driven by its profitability. Researchers highlight another concerning trend: individuals from all over the world choosing to work in scam centers or even returning to these jobs voluntarily after being freed from forced labor. As long as the financial incentives continue, pig butchering will persist in its global spread.
“Fraud is not perceived as a serious crime—not like drug trafficking, nor terrorism,” notes Chiang from Humanity Research Consultancy. “Globally, we need to shift this perception, as it inflicts similar or even greater harm, given the staggering amounts of money involved. We are racing against time.”
