Cyberfraud: During a raid conducted by the police in the Philippines, a shocking document was recovered from the hideout of a cyber fraud gang. This was no ordinary paper but a complete handbook written for swindlers in which it was explained in detail how to emotionally groom a person and then extort money from him.
According to media reports, this manual contained instructions written in Chinese in which the fraudster was called a cell and the victim was called a “client”. It was written in one line that when emotions come under control, money comes automatically. This thinking is the foundation of the entire strategy of these gangs.
romance scam
A second document, in both English and Chinese, focused on romance scams. It was told how to get someone to invest money in fake investments by assuring them of a love affair. This type of fraud is called “pig-butchering” among criminals, that is, preparing the victim slowly and then snatching everything in one fell swoop.
According to the FBI, this is one of the fastest spreading cyber frauds of today. Reuters investigation also revealed that there are many such scam centers in South-East Asia, where victims of human trafficking are forced to do this work.
AI made fraud more dangerous
Artificial Intelligence has made these scams even more dangerous. Now fraudsters are using tools like fake photos, fake video calls, automated chats and real-time language adaptation to make their lies appear more real. Both the recovered manuals show that the thugs now have not just excuses but a complete psychological strategy.
It starts with creating a fake identity.
The first step in every pig-butchering scam is to create a perfect fake identity. According to the manual, this identification should be so reliable that the other person trusts it without question.
It is advisable for the fraudster to pretend to be a doctor, lawyer, engineer or manager in a big company. The illusion of rights and security is often created for female victims.
How to lay a strong foundation of lies
In the manual, it has been said to always keep some things the same for fake profiles like birthday, family story and profession. For example, claiming to be divorced, fabricating a story of having a child and claiming to work abroad.
After this, some things are changed according to the victim like age, lifestyle, and family background so that a common connection can be made between the two.
The little details that make the story true
Fraudsters not only have to memorize biodata, but also have to live their fake life. What kind of house do you have, what car do you drive, what are your hobbies, everything is memorized. Hobbies like swimming, cooking, traveling and reading books are chosen because they seem normal and relatable.
First message and beginning of trust
The verbatim messages given in the manual for the first day are simple, polite and friendly. The purpose of the initial conversation is to know whether the other person has been a victim of fraud before and how much interest he has in money or investment. After this comes the phone call, where the foundation of emotional connection is laid.
Different net for every person
The manual explains that not every victim is the same. Some are brought closer with light jokes, some with compliments, and some with sympathy for loneliness. Middle-aged women have been advised to talk about small problems in life because they often feel unheard.
Weakness is derived from childhood and relationships
Scams also try to understand how the other person lived in childhood, whether he was pampered or brought up in difficulties. Behavior is changed accordingly. People with low self-confidence are given constant guidance and praise, while self-reliant people are shown an equal relationship.
complete game in seven days
The most frightening thing is that this fraud can be completed within seven days. On the second day the talk of investment starts, on the fifth day a love relationship is finalized and on the seventh day money is invested on a fake platform. If a victim doesn’t connect emotionally quickly, the manual clearly says leave him and move on to the next target.
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