Pig Butchering Scams Explode As WhatsApp Deletes 6.8 Million Accounts In Global Crackdown
Scam networks using romance bait and fake crypto investments have triggered a major response from WhatsApp, which says it has removed over 6.8 million accounts tied to large-scale fraud in the first half of 2025.
These accounts were linked to a growing type of financial scam commonly referred to as “pig butchering,” where fraudsters initiate conversations through friendly or romantic messaging, build trust over time, and later convince victims to put money into fake investment platforms.
The approach has led to tens of billions in global losses.
AI Tools Like ChatGPT Now Fueling The Scam Economy
Criminal operations behind these scams are increasingly powered by artificial intelligence.
One such case exposed a Cambodian syndicate using ChatGPT to craft personalised scam messages that were sent via WhatsApp.
The messages often contained links that redirected users to continue the conversation on Telegram.
There, scammers instructed victims to complete harmless-looking tasks, like liking social media posts, before showing them fake profits and requesting real money deposits into crypto wallets.
Silvija Krupena, Director of the Financial Intelligence Unit at RedCompass Labs, said,
“While the criminals are coordinated and tech-enabled, our response is still fragmented and reactive.”
She cited a staggering US$1 trillion lost to scams globally in 2024, based on estimates from the Global Anti-Scam Alliance.
Forced Labour And Scam Centres In Southeast Asia Fuel Operations
Many of these scams trace back to organised crime groups operating out of scam compounds in countries such as Myanmar, Cambodia, and Thailand.
Victims of these frauds aren't just those losing money — forced labour is often involved behind the scenes.
According to Meta, these centres use trafficked or coerced workers to run the fraud networks.
Clair Deevy, WhatsApp’s director of external affairs, said the company proactively disables accounts before scammers can use them at scale.
“We’re focused on stopping scam centres from even getting started.”
From Sweet Talk To Fake Crypto Profits
Once trust is built, victims are directed to invest in fraudulent platforms, often crypto-related.
These scams differ from traditional romance frauds by mixing emotional manipulation with the lure of quick financial returns.
Jonathan Frost, Director of Global Advisory for EMEA at BioCatch, explained the toll this hybrid scam model takes:
“Victims suffer both emotional and financial losses, often after months or years of manipulation, making this one of the most damaging forms of fraud.”
A recent study examining 236 crypto scam cases revealed total losses of over $60 billion.
The most common tactic involved fake trading platforms, with romance and pig butchering scams following closely behind.
WhatsApp Introduces New Safety Features To Combat Threats
In response, WhatsApp has introduced new protections aimed at stopping scams before they escalate.
These include alerts when a user is added to a group chat by someone outside their contact list and a new safety overview page to review unknown group invites.
The company’s internal monitoring tools also flagged a 25% surge in scam attempts this year, prompting further measures to detect suspicious behaviour.
Analysts warn, however, that the evolving tactics—ranging from OTP phishing to QR-code hijacking—require constant updates to security systems.
Experts Say Platforms Must Be Held Accountable
Consumer watchdogs say tech companies must go further.
UK-based organisation Which? welcomed Meta’s actions but warned that scams remain widespread across WhatsApp, Facebook, and Instagram.
Lisa Webb, a consumer law expert at Which?, said,
“Meta needs to ensure that scams are prevented from ever appearing on its platforms in the first place.”
She also urged UK regulator Ofcom to enforce stronger rules under the Online Safety Act, particularly for fraudulent paid ads.
Authorities in several countries, including Singapore, have advised users to enable two-step verification and remain cautious of unexpected requests on messaging apps.
Singaporean police have repeatedly warned the public of scam messages attempting to hijack WhatsApp accounts.
While tech companies, law enforcement, and AI developers are now starting to coordinate, experts stress that long-term collaboration will be essential to outpace the criminals behind this growing digital crime wave.
Weatherly
JinseFinance
Alex
dailyhodl
Coindesk
Cointelegraph
Bitcoinist