WhatsApp has removed over 6.8 million accounts linked to a notorious online fraud scheme known as ‘pig-baiting’, where criminals manipulate victims through fake romantic relationships before scamming them out of money.
The scam, primarily operated by organized crime networks in Southeast Asia (Myanmar, Cambodia), lures victims with fake job offers or romantic connections. Once trust is built, fraudsters push them into fake cryptocurrency investments, extracting millions from unsuspecting individuals.
These scams often begin on dating apps or text messages, then move to private chats, and finally to payment platforms. Many victims are forced into virtual slavery, working in scam centres under threats.
WhatsApp’s mass account deletion marks a major step in combating such fraud, but experts warn that criminal networks continue evolving their tactics.
