Link: Research: Southeast Asian scam syndicates, which typically use forced labor to run online scams like pig butchering, are stealing an estimated $64B annually (James Reddick/The Record)

The scams typically involve pig butchering, when potential victims are contacted on messaging platforms or dating apps. The scammers try to develop relationships and eventually convince victims to make fraudulent investments which are siphoned off by criminals. “This has gone from being very much a regional issue that was focused on criminal markets within the region to a global issue in a very short period of time,” Jason Tower, Myanmar country director at USIP, said during an event to discuss the research. “And it's spreading into other countries… There's new linkages into the Middle East, into Africa, that the same criminal actors are beginning to exploit.” #

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Yoooo, this is a quick note on a link that made me go, WTF? Find all past links here.