Are fraud victims nothing more than animals? Critiquing the propagation of “pig butchering” (Sha Zhu Pan, 杀猪盘)

Whittaker, Jack M. ; Lazarus, Suleman ; Corcoran, Taidgh (2024) — Journal of Economic Criminology
DOI: 10.1016/j.jeconc.2024.100052
Synopsis

The article explores the growing phenomenon of romance scams as a particularly harmful form of cybercrime that exploits emotional vulnerability for financial gain. The authors position romance scams within the wider landscape of digital fraud, emphasizing that advances in online communication have facilitated the spread and sophistication of these crimes worldwide.

The paper provides a comprehensive review of international research, offering an overview of how romance scams are defined, their prevalence, and their progression through identifiable stages. The scam typically begins with initial contact through online dating platforms or social networks, where perpetrators adopt fake or stolen identities. This is followed by a phase of relationship building, in which trust is cultivated through emotional manipulation. The critical stage involves financial exploitation, with victims persuaded to transfer money under the guise of emergencies, investments, or shared future goals. In some cases, scams escalate to coercion or blackmail, deepening the victim’s psychological harm.

The article highlights the victimological dimension, noting that romance scam victims endure not only financial losses but also severe psychological consequences, including depression, anxiety, social stigma, and relationship breakdowns. Many victims experience shame and self-blame, which contributes to underreporting, thereby obscuring the true scale of the problem. This victim-blaming tendency is compounded by societal perceptions of romance scams as “naïve mistakes” rather than serious crimes, which further silences victims and limits access to support.

On the offender side, the paper examines how organized criminal groups orchestrate scams with increasing sophistication. Offenders often operate in teams with distinct roles (e.g., persona building, communication, financial transfers). The industrialized nature of these scams, particularly in regions of West Africa and Southeast Asia, underscores the transnational dimension of the crime.

The authors integrate psychological and sociological theories to explain the effectiveness of romance scams. Psychological accounts focus on grooming, trust-building, and emotional dependency, while sociological perspectives emphasize the role of digital intimacy and the commodification of relationships in online environments. These frameworks help explain why victims become deeply invested in relationships that, from an external perspective, appear implausible.

Finally, the paper surveys preventive and policy measures. International approaches include awareness campaigns, the role of financial institutions in monitoring suspicious transfers, and law enforcement cooperation across borders. However, significant gaps remain in both prevention and victim support. The authors stress the need for better legal frameworks, victim-centered interventions, and technological monitoring of fraudulent profiles and narratives. They call for a holistic response involving public awareness, cross-sector collaboration, and international coordination to combat this evolving threat.

In conclusion, romance scams are presented as a complex socio-criminological issue that blends emotional exploitation with financial crime. Addressing it requires not only stricter law enforcement but also a cultural shift toward recognizing victims as legitimate sufferers of serious harm, deserving of protection and support.
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