Meta Cracks Down on ‘Pig Butchering’ Scams, Removes 2 Million Fraudulent Accounts

Meta Platforms has intensified its global crackdown on organized scams, revealing the removal of over two million accounts in 2024 alone. These accounts were associated with elaborate fraud schemes originating from countries such as Myanmar, Laos, Cambodia, the UAE, and the Philippines. 

The company’s efforts form part of a larger mission to tackle “pig butchering” scams and other online fraudulent activities, which often operate through text messages, social media, dating platforms, and cryptocurrency apps.

According to a recent report, these scams contribute to an estimated $64 billion in annual global fraud as per the U.S. Institute of Peace, underlining the scale and seriousness of this issue.

What Is “Pig Butchering”?

“Pig butchering” is a highly manipulative and notorious scam tactic employed by organized crime syndicates. The scam works as follows:

1. Building Relationships: Scammers establish trust by forming personal relationships with victims online, often through dating platforms or social media.

2. Fraudulent Investments: Victims are enticed into making investments, particularly in cryptocurrencies, with assurances of high returns.

3. Trust-Building Phase: Initially, victims can withdraw small sums to gain confidence in the scheme.

4. Final Blow: Eventually, the scammers disappear, leaving victims penniless.

This fraudulent activity thrived during the pandemic when scam centers, particularly in Southeast Asia, grew into major hubs for global fraud operations. Often, these centers exploit job seekers lured by deceptive ads, coercing them into participating in scams under threats of physical harm.

Meta’s Comprehensive Strategy to Combat Scam Networks

Meta has developed a multi-pronged strategy to dismantle these scam syndicates:

1. Dangerous Organizations and Individuals (DOI) Policy

• Meta designates scam organizations under its DOI policy, effectively banning them from its platforms.

• In 2024, the policy's scope was expanded to monitor and disrupt emerging scam hubs.

2. Platform Enforcement

• The company employs advanced detection systems to identify and block fraudulent accounts.

• More than two million accounts associated with scam operations were removed this year alone.

3. Collaboration with Law Enforcement and Industry Partners

• Meta actively collaborates with global law enforcement, NGOs, and tech companies.

• A recent collaboration with the Royal Thai Police led to holding criminal syndicates accountable.

• Meta also partnered with OpenAI to counter scams involving AI-generated content, particularly those targeting users in Chinese and Japanese markets.

4. Building Product Defenses

• New features have been introduced to protect users from suspicious activities:

  • Messenger and Instagram now display warnings for unsolicited messages.

  • WhatsApp provides detailed context cards for group invitations from unknown contacts.

Joint Efforts Through Global Summit

Last week, Meta co-hosted the Summit on Countering Online Criminal Scam Syndicates under the Tech Against Scams Coalition, involving key players like Coinbase, Ripple, and Match Group. The summit emphasized collaborative strategies to address the growing threat of online scam networks.

Conclusion

Meta’s actions underscore its commitment to combating transnational cybercrime. By removing millions of fraudulent accounts and partnering with global stakeholders, the company is making significant progress in disrupting organized scams like "pig butchering." These efforts, coupled with user-centric protective measures, are vital in tackling the evolving landscape of digital fraud.

As Meta continues its fight, its focus remains on fostering a safer digital environment while holding criminals accountable for exploiting technology to defraud and harm victims.