Ever wondered what happens during a 'wrong number' scam? This tech expert played along and revealed shocking insights!

Most of us are likely familiar with the classic scam technique employed by fraudsters to swindle money through deceptive 'wrong number' text messages. Disguising themselves as a trusted family member or friend or reputable companies, they prey on unsuspecting individuals.

This scam doesn't discriminate based on vulnerability alone; it affects individuals across all walks of life – everyone can fall prey to the allure of quick financial gain.



Recently, a variation of the 'wrong number' scam has emerged abroad, known as the 'pig butchering' scam.

This particular scheme involves luring victims with a false promise, much like the process of feeding and fattening a pig, only to mercilessly exploit them by syphoning off their hard-earned money.


Screen Shot 2023-05-17 at 8.52.57 AM.png
A cybersecurity researcher engaged with a scammer for three months to uncover how elaborate the scheme would be. Credit: Unsplash/Adem AY.



It's disheartening to realise that these scams persist and adapt, relentlessly exploiting unsuspecting individuals. As technology advances, scammers devise new tactics and techniques to deceive people and amass profits.

To shed light on the inner workings of these deceptive schemes, Sean Gallagher, a renowned cybersecurity expert, took a daring step. He decided to become the bait and expose himself to a scam firsthand.

Gallagher's encounter began with a text message from a mysterious individual named Harley, who initially reached out to him under the pretence of a wrong number.



Rather than becoming upset or ignoring the message, Gallagher chose a different approach. He decided to respond and engage in conversation, effectively playing along and fostering a pseudo-friendship with his scammer.

Over the course of three months, Gallagher and Harley's conversation progressed, with Harley sharing more personal details, including information about her past relationship and the struggles her business faced due to the pandemic. To further solidify the illusion of credibility, Harley even sent him photos and videos.

As their 'friendship' continued, Harley began to come up with stories of success, especially of her lucrative investments in cryptocurrency. These tales of wealth gradually escalated, with Harley boasting about her growing fortune and offering Gallagher the opportunity to invest with her.



It was at this point that Gallagher knew he was the target of a 'pig butchering' scam. He had been lured in with the promise of friendship, only to be slowly and meticulously groomed for financial exploitation.

Before Gallagher could reveal Harley's true identity as a fraudster, he managed to track her down to a real 'Bitcoin' cryptocurrency account, exposing the extent of her criminal activity. It was discovered that Harley had stolen almost $4.4 million from her victims.

Signs of ‘pig butchering’ scam to watch out for.jpg

The 'wrong number' text scam is often used on dating apps, where scammers pose as potential romantic partners, using fake profiles to lure in unsuspecting victims.

According to Gallagher, many other scams use an 'urgent call to action' to manipulate their victims into acting quickly without thinking things through. For example, a scammer might send a text impersonating a company, claiming that the victim has an outstanding fine that must be paid immediately, or they risk incurring severe penalties.

However, with pig butchering scams, the approach is much more patient and subtle.



'They are in it for a very long time, as we demonstrated in this case,' he explained. 'They use the whole process of building a relationship and building trust to erode away any sort of inkling you might have — that something is amiss by just the length of engagements.'

To understand how the scammers behind the pig butchering scam operate, Gallagher used the conversations he had with 'Harley' to track down the scammers' location and uncover their mode of operation.



He discovered that 'Harley' was actually a team of scammers working out of Cambodia, using a woman as a front for their conversations. The team was also connected to another operation in China, which Gallagher said was using cryptocurrency to launder money.

Through their investigation, Gallagher and his team were able to trace the crypto wallets used by the scammers to transfer funds. They found that the operation had scammed millions of dollars, with over $4.4 million worth of cryptocurrency pushed through those wallets from October to the end of their research.

Key Takeaways

  • In a bid to better understand the world of online scams, cybersecurity expert Sean Gallagher allowed himself to become the target of a 'pig butchering' scammer named Harley.
  • Over a period of three months, Harley slowly built a sense of trust and friendship with Gallagher before attempting to lure him into investing in her fraudulent cryptocurrency scheme.
  • In the end, Gallagher was able to track Harley down and expose her for stealing almost $4.4 million from unsuspecting victims.

Sadly, this type of scam isn't an uncommon situation.

That is why we always have to be wary of any texts from unknown numbers that appear earnest and appear to tell you urgent things that you need to act on. Also, be wary of someone claiming to create a sense of trust with you.

Have you ever engaged in conversations with potential scammers online? What were some warning signs or red flags that made you suspicious? Share your stories with us in the comments!
 
Sponsored
Most of us are likely familiar with the classic scam technique employed by fraudsters to swindle money through deceptive 'wrong number' text messages. Disguising themselves as a trusted family member or friend or reputable companies, they prey on unsuspecting individuals.

This scam doesn't discriminate based on vulnerability alone; it affects individuals across all walks of life – everyone can fall prey to the allure of quick financial gain.



Recently, a variation of the 'wrong number' scam has emerged abroad, known as the 'pig butchering' scam.

This particular scheme involves luring victims with a false promise, much like the process of feeding and fattening a pig, only to mercilessly exploit them by syphoning off their hard-earned money.


View attachment 19978
A cybersecurity researcher engaged with a scammer for three months to uncover how elaborate the scheme would be. Credit: Unsplash/Adem AY.



It's disheartening to realise that these scams persist and adapt, relentlessly exploiting unsuspecting individuals. As technology advances, scammers devise new tactics and techniques to deceive people and amass profits.

To shed light on the inner workings of these deceptive schemes, Sean Gallagher, a renowned cybersecurity expert, took a daring step. He decided to become the bait and expose himself to a scam firsthand.

Gallagher's encounter began with a text message from a mysterious individual named Harley, who initially reached out to him under the pretence of a wrong number.



Rather than becoming upset or ignoring the message, Gallagher chose a different approach. He decided to respond and engage in conversation, effectively playing along and fostering a pseudo-friendship with his scammer.

Over the course of three months, Gallagher and Harley's conversation progressed, with Harley sharing more personal details, including information about her past relationship and the struggles her business faced due to the pandemic. To further solidify the illusion of credibility, Harley even sent him photos and videos.

As their 'friendship' continued, Harley began to come up with stories of success, especially of her lucrative investments in cryptocurrency. These tales of wealth gradually escalated, with Harley boasting about her growing fortune and offering Gallagher the opportunity to invest with her.



It was at this point that Gallagher knew he was the target of a 'pig butchering' scam. He had been lured in with the promise of friendship, only to be slowly and meticulously groomed for financial exploitation.

Before Gallagher could reveal Harley's true identity as a fraudster, he managed to track her down to a real 'Bitcoin' cryptocurrency account, exposing the extent of her criminal activity. It was discovered that Harley had stolen almost $4.4 million from her victims.


The 'wrong number' text scam is often used on dating apps, where scammers pose as potential romantic partners, using fake profiles to lure in unsuspecting victims.

According to Gallagher, many other scams use an 'urgent call to action' to manipulate their victims into acting quickly without thinking things through. For example, a scammer might send a text impersonating a company, claiming that the victim has an outstanding fine that must be paid immediately, or they risk incurring severe penalties.

However, with pig butchering scams, the approach is much more patient and subtle.



'They are in it for a very long time, as we demonstrated in this case,' he explained. 'They use the whole process of building a relationship and building trust to erode away any sort of inkling you might have — that something is amiss by just the length of engagements.'

To understand how the scammers behind the pig butchering scam operate, Gallagher used the conversations he had with 'Harley' to track down the scammers' location and uncover their mode of operation.



He discovered that 'Harley' was actually a team of scammers working out of Cambodia, using a woman as a front for their conversations. The team was also connected to another operation in China, which Gallagher said was using cryptocurrency to launder money.

Through their investigation, Gallagher and his team were able to trace the crypto wallets used by the scammers to transfer funds. They found that the operation had scammed millions of dollars, with over $4.4 million worth of cryptocurrency pushed through those wallets from October to the end of their research.

Key Takeaways

  • In a bid to better understand the world of online scams, cybersecurity expert Sean Gallagher allowed himself to become the target of a 'pig butchering' scammer named Harley.
  • Over a period of three months, Harley slowly built a sense of trust and friendship with Gallagher before attempting to lure him into investing in her fraudulent cryptocurrency scheme.
  • In the end, Gallagher was able to track Harley down and expose her for stealing almost $4.4 million from unsuspecting victims.

Sadly, this type of scam isn't an uncommon situation.

That is why we always have to be wary of any texts from unknown numbers that appear earnest and appear to tell you urgent things that you need to act on. Also, be wary of someone claiming to create a sense of trust with you.

Have you ever engaged in conversations with potential scammers online? What were some warning signs or red flags that made you suspicious? Share your stories with us in the comments!
 
  • Sad
Reactions: Tervueren
What I don't understand is the government can find and get into what ever they want so why are they not doing something to stop scammers.

I'm pretty sure though I would never continue a conversation with a wrong number.

I can't say how many phone numbers that I don't know call me each day most I ignore but at times when I'm waiting on a return call I need to answer and then either they hang straight up or it's to do with either solar or electricity bill
 
I have to agree with everything Suzanne Rose said.

The whole scamming thing is out there, and everyone knows about them, so it never ceases to amaze the number of people that are still being taken in. The people who get scammed are either very ignorant or just plain stupid.
 
Most of us are likely familiar with the classic scam technique employed by fraudsters to swindle money through deceptive 'wrong number' text messages. Disguising themselves as a trusted family member or friend or reputable companies, they prey on unsuspecting individuals.

This scam doesn't discriminate based on vulnerability alone; it affects individuals across all walks of life – everyone can fall prey to the allure of quick financial gain.



Recently, a variation of the 'wrong number' scam has emerged abroad, known as the 'pig butchering' scam.

This particular scheme involves luring victims with a false promise, much like the process of feeding and fattening a pig, only to mercilessly exploit them by syphoning off their hard-earned money.


View attachment 19978
A cybersecurity researcher engaged with a scammer for three months to uncover how elaborate the scheme would be. Credit: Unsplash/Adem AY.



It's disheartening to realise that these scams persist and adapt, relentlessly exploiting unsuspecting individuals. As technology advances, scammers devise new tactics and techniques to deceive people and amass profits.

To shed light on the inner workings of these deceptive schemes, Sean Gallagher, a renowned cybersecurity expert, took a daring step. He decided to become the bait and expose himself to a scam firsthand.

Gallagher's encounter began with a text message from a mysterious individual named Harley, who initially reached out to him under the pretence of a wrong number.



Rather than becoming upset or ignoring the message, Gallagher chose a different approach. He decided to respond and engage in conversation, effectively playing along and fostering a pseudo-friendship with his scammer.

Over the course of three months, Gallagher and Harley's conversation progressed, with Harley sharing more personal details, including information about her past relationship and the struggles her business faced due to the pandemic. To further solidify the illusion of credibility, Harley even sent him photos and videos.

As their 'friendship' continued, Harley began to come up with stories of success, especially of her lucrative investments in cryptocurrency. These tales of wealth gradually escalated, with Harley boasting about her growing fortune and offering Gallagher the opportunity to invest with her.



It was at this point that Gallagher knew he was the target of a 'pig butchering' scam. He had been lured in with the promise of friendship, only to be slowly and meticulously groomed for financial exploitation.

Before Gallagher could reveal Harley's true identity as a fraudster, he managed to track her down to a real 'Bitcoin' cryptocurrency account, exposing the extent of her criminal activity. It was discovered that Harley had stolen almost $4.4 million from her victims.


The 'wrong number' text scam is often used on dating apps, where scammers pose as potential romantic partners, using fake profiles to lure in unsuspecting victims.

According to Gallagher, many other scams use an 'urgent call to action' to manipulate their victims into acting quickly without thinking things through. For example, a scammer might send a text impersonating a company, claiming that the victim has an outstanding fine that must be paid immediately, or they risk incurring severe penalties.

However, with pig butchering scams, the approach is much more patient and subtle.



'They are in it for a very long time, as we demonstrated in this case,' he explained. 'They use the whole process of building a relationship and building trust to erode away any sort of inkling you might have — that something is amiss by just the length of engagements.'

To understand how the scammers behind the pig butchering scam operate, Gallagher used the conversations he had with 'Harley' to track down the scammers' location and uncover their mode of operation.



He discovered that 'Harley' was actually a team of scammers working out of Cambodia, using a woman as a front for their conversations. The team was also connected to another operation in China, which Gallagher said was using cryptocurrency to launder money.

Through their investigation, Gallagher and his team were able to trace the crypto wallets used by the scammers to transfer funds. They found that the operation had scammed millions of dollars, with over $4.4 million worth of cryptocurrency pushed through those wallets from October to the end of their research.

Key Takeaways

  • In a bid to better understand the world of online scams, cybersecurity expert Sean Gallagher allowed himself to become the target of a 'pig butchering' scammer named Harley.
  • Over a period of three months, Harley slowly built a sense of trust and friendship with Gallagher before attempting to lure him into investing in her fraudulent cryptocurrency scheme.
  • In the end, Gallagher was able to track Harley down and expose her for stealing almost $4.4 million from unsuspecting victims.

Sadly, this type of scam isn't an uncommon situation.

That is why we always have to be wary of any texts from unknown numbers that appear earnest and appear to tell you urgent things that you need to act on. Also, be wary of someone claiming to create a sense of trust with you.

Have you ever engaged in conversations with potential scammers online? What were some warning signs or red flags that made you suspicious? Share your stories with us in the comments!
 
  • Like
Reactions: Tervueren
In these days of sophisticated scamming, texts, e-mails that could vaguely be a scam, and almost on a daily basis, I immediately delete without responding. It has even reached a point that I don't even take phone calls unless I recognize the number as being on my contacts list. A sad and wicked world, isn't it? mc.
 
I have to agree with everything Suzanne Rose said.

The whole scamming thing is out there, and everyone knows about them, so it never ceases to amaze the number of people that are still being taken in. The people who get scammed are either very ignorant or just plain stupid.
Your last sentence was very harsh. It shows ignorance to other people’s circumstances.
 
Most of us are likely familiar with the classic scam technique employed by fraudsters to swindle money through deceptive 'wrong number' text messages. Disguising themselves as a trusted family member or friend or reputable companies, they prey on unsuspecting individuals.

This scam doesn't discriminate based on vulnerability alone; it affects individuals across all walks of life – everyone can fall prey to the allure of quick financial gain.



Recently, a variation of the 'wrong number' scam has emerged abroad, known as the 'pig butchering' scam.

This particular scheme involves luring victims with a false promise, much like the process of feeding and fattening a pig, only to mercilessly exploit them by syphoning off their hard-earned money.


View attachment 19978
A cybersecurity researcher engaged with a scammer for three months to uncover how elaborate the scheme would be. Credit: Unsplash/Adem AY.



It's disheartening to realise that these scams persist and adapt, relentlessly exploiting unsuspecting individuals. As technology advances, scammers devise new tactics and techniques to deceive people and amass profits.

To shed light on the inner workings of these deceptive schemes, Sean Gallagher, a renowned cybersecurity expert, took a daring step. He decided to become the bait and expose himself to a scam firsthand.

Gallagher's encounter began with a text message from a mysterious individual named Harley, who initially reached out to him under the pretence of a wrong number.



Rather than becoming upset or ignoring the message, Gallagher chose a different approach. He decided to respond and engage in conversation, effectively playing along and fostering a pseudo-friendship with his scammer.

Over the course of three months, Gallagher and Harley's conversation progressed, with Harley sharing more personal details, including information about her past relationship and the struggles her business faced due to the pandemic. To further solidify the illusion of credibility, Harley even sent him photos and videos.

As their 'friendship' continued, Harley began to come up with stories of success, especially of her lucrative investments in cryptocurrency. These tales of wealth gradually escalated, with Harley boasting about her growing fortune and offering Gallagher the opportunity to invest with her.



It was at this point that Gallagher knew he was the target of a 'pig butchering' scam. He had been lured in with the promise of friendship, only to be slowly and meticulously groomed for financial exploitation.

Before Gallagher could reveal Harley's true identity as a fraudster, he managed to track her down to a real 'Bitcoin' cryptocurrency account, exposing the extent of her criminal activity. It was discovered that Harley had stolen almost $4.4 million from her victims.


The 'wrong number' text scam is often used on dating apps, where scammers pose as potential romantic partners, using fake profiles to lure in unsuspecting victims.

According to Gallagher, many other scams use an 'urgent call to action' to manipulate their victims into acting quickly without thinking things through. For example, a scammer might send a text impersonating a company, claiming that the victim has an outstanding fine that must be paid immediately, or they risk incurring severe penalties.

However, with pig butchering scams, the approach is much more patient and subtle.



'They are in it for a very long time, as we demonstrated in this case,' he explained. 'They use the whole process of building a relationship and building trust to erode away any sort of inkling you might have — that something is amiss by just the length of engagements.'

To understand how the scammers behind the pig butchering scam operate, Gallagher used the conversations he had with 'Harley' to track down the scammers' location and uncover their mode of operation.



He discovered that 'Harley' was actually a team of scammers working out of Cambodia, using a woman as a front for their conversations. The team was also connected to another operation in China, which Gallagher said was using cryptocurrency to launder money.

Through their investigation, Gallagher and his team were able to trace the crypto wallets used by the scammers to transfer funds. They found that the operation had scammed millions of dollars, with over $4.4 million worth of cryptocurrency pushed through those wallets from October to the end of their research.

Key Takeaways

  • In a bid to better understand the world of online scams, cybersecurity expert Sean Gallagher allowed himself to become the target of a 'pig butchering' scammer named Harley.
  • Over a period of three months, Harley slowly built a sense of trust and friendship with Gallagher before attempting to lure him into investing in her fraudulent cryptocurrency scheme.
  • In the end, Gallagher was able to track Harley down and expose her for stealing almost $4.4 million from unsuspecting victims.

Sadly, this type of scam isn't an uncommon situation.

That is why we always have to be wary of any texts from unknown numbers that appear earnest and appear to tell you urgent things that you need to act on. Also, be wary of someone claiming to create a sense of trust with you.

Have you ever engaged in conversations with potential scammers online? What were some warning signs or red flags that made you suspicious? Share your stories with us in the comments!
Easily fixed with mobile phones - if the number does not appear in my contacts list or is identified I do not answer the caller.
 
I constantly get calls with 03 prefix, i don’t except them as i know they are a solar company. Receive several emails weekly usually thanking me for my order and with an attachment to click on. Only thing i click on is the delete button. My list of blocked numbers is ridiculous.
 
What I don't understand is the government can find and get into what ever they want so why are they not doing something to stop scammers.

I'm pretty sure though I would never continue a conversation with a wrong number.

I can't say how many phone numbers that I don't know call me each day most I ignore but at times when I'm waiting on a return call I need to answer and then either they hang straight up or it's to do with either solar or electricity bill
Don't forget, these scammers use every method possible, even stating that they are a new energy company and offering a 'better deal.' They state that they can switch your energy, phone, internet, even tv connections to better deals. Most companies now have people signed up with their bank account or credit card(s) to pay the bills when due date. The scammers are after anything that they can get.

Everyone needs to ignore the calls and/or the phone messages. If people are interested, NEVER EVER call the number quoted on the email or phone message. ONE NEVER DOES THAT, OR CLICK ON THE LINK. Instead, to investigate if the deal is legit get onto the Internet and put in the company's name and bring up the internet site yourself. Never through the link, as they are fake and actually also connects people's phone and computer/phone internet connections to the scammers. If a scam, the company will tell you that it's 'A Scam' and these days the companies have A Scam Dept. they will ask for details of the email and/or phone message, the link that's there ... how it reads, who it's from. They will pass on that information to their Scam dept. so they know if it's an old one they are investigating, trying to track down or a new one to add for their investigation team. Most companies have Scam Protection Departments these days, even insurance companies, all banks, financial companies.

It's ALWAYS a case of NEVER EVER TRUST and look up the actual phone number yourself. The phone numbers that these scammers use may be very similar to the legit phone for that company and just one number out in the middle. So, again, 'never ever' phone the number they have quotes. Never ever, click on the link.
 
Don't forget, these scammers use every method possible, even stating that they are a new energy company and offering a 'better deal.' They state that they can switch your energy, phone, internet, even tv connections to better deals. Most companies now have people signed up with their bank account or credit card(s) to pay the bills when due date. The scammers are after anything that they can get.

Everyone needs to ignore the calls and/or the phone messages. If people are interested, NEVER EVER call the number quoted on the email or phone message. ONE NEVER DOES THAT, OR CLICK ON THE LINK. Instead, to investigate if the deal is legit get onto the Internet and put in the company's name and bring up the internet site yourself. Never through the link, as they are fake and actually also connects people's phone and computer/phone internet connections to the scammers. If a scam, the company will tell you that it's 'A Scam' and these days the companies have A Scam Dept. they will ask for details of the email and/or phone message, the link that's there ... how it reads, who it's from. They will pass on that information to their Scam dept. so they know if it's an old one they are investigating, trying to track down or a new one to add for their investigation team. Most companies have Scam Protection Departments these days, even insurance companies, all banks, financial companies.

It's ALWAYS a case of NEVER EVER TRUST and look up the actual phone number yourself. The phone numbers that these scammers use may be very similar to the legit phone for that company and just one number out in the middle. So, again, 'never ever' phone the number they have quotes. Never ever, click on the link.

If it's the company that you use like a phone company, get an old bill that you have, even if they email their invoices to you, look up the previous month and call the number on that bill.

The banks should be ordered that money transferred has to be put ON HOLD FOR 30-60-90 Days, depending on the amount and legitimate companies will just have to learn to wait. The banks can then email/message their customer and let them know possible scammer. That money On Hold and they have 30-90 days to stop any transfer and if they are concerned to call them, even speak to a family member for help. This 'Period of Time' will stop many scammers stealing money.

All banks & financial institutions worldwide should enforce this and people and companies just have to wait. They and people will just have to get use to the 'wait times.'
 
Last edited:
What I don't understand is the government can find and get into what ever they want so why are they not doing something to stop scammers.

I'm pretty sure though I would never continue a conversation with a wrong number.

I can't say how many phone numbers that I don't know call me each day most I ignore but at times when I'm waiting on a return call I need to answer and then either they hang straight up or it's to do with either solar or electricity bill
The answer to your question is NO, the government doesn't seem to think it is part of their brief to help the taxpayers to stop or recover from these scams they are only thinking how lucky they are in a far better financial position than us, especially us pensioners.
 
Most of us are likely familiar with the classic scam technique employed by fraudsters to swindle money through deceptive 'wrong number' text messages. Disguising themselves as a trusted family member or friend or reputable companies, they prey on unsuspecting individuals.

This scam doesn't discriminate based on vulnerability alone; it affects individuals across all walks of life – everyone can fall prey to the allure of quick financial gain.



Recently, a variation of the 'wrong number' scam has emerged abroad, known as the 'pig butchering' scam.

This particular scheme involves luring victims with a false promise, much like the process of feeding and fattening a pig, only to mercilessly exploit them by syphoning off their hard-earned money.


View attachment 19978
A cybersecurity researcher engaged with a scammer for three months to uncover how elaborate the scheme would be. Credit: Unsplash/Adem AY.



It's disheartening to realise that these scams persist and adapt, relentlessly exploiting unsuspecting individuals. As technology advances, scammers devise new tactics and techniques to deceive people and amass profits.

To shed light on the inner workings of these deceptive schemes, Sean Gallagher, a renowned cybersecurity expert, took a daring step. He decided to become the bait and expose himself to a scam firsthand.

Gallagher's encounter began with a text message from a mysterious individual named Harley, who initially reached out to him under the pretence of a wrong number.



Rather than becoming upset or ignoring the message, Gallagher chose a different approach. He decided to respond and engage in conversation, effectively playing along and fostering a pseudo-friendship with his scammer.

Over the course of three months, Gallagher and Harley's conversation progressed, with Harley sharing more personal details, including information about her past relationship and the struggles her business faced due to the pandemic. To further solidify the illusion of credibility, Harley even sent him photos and videos.

As their 'friendship' continued, Harley began to come up with stories of success, especially of her lucrative investments in cryptocurrency. These tales of wealth gradually escalated, with Harley boasting about her growing fortune and offering Gallagher the opportunity to invest with her.



It was at this point that Gallagher knew he was the target of a 'pig butchering' scam. He had been lured in with the promise of friendship, only to be slowly and meticulously groomed for financial exploitation.

Before Gallagher could reveal Harley's true identity as a fraudster, he managed to track her down to a real 'Bitcoin' cryptocurrency account, exposing the extent of her criminal activity. It was discovered that Harley had stolen almost $4.4 million from her victims.


The 'wrong number' text scam is often used on dating apps, where scammers pose as potential romantic partners, using fake profiles to lure in unsuspecting victims.

According to Gallagher, many other scams use an 'urgent call to action' to manipulate their victims into acting quickly without thinking things through. For example, a scammer might send a text impersonating a company, claiming that the victim has an outstanding fine that must be paid immediately, or they risk incurring severe penalties.

However, with pig butchering scams, the approach is much more patient and subtle.



'They are in it for a very long time, as we demonstrated in this case,' he explained. 'They use the whole process of building a relationship and building trust to erode away any sort of inkling you might have — that something is amiss by just the length of engagements.'

To understand how the scammers behind the pig butchering scam operate, Gallagher used the conversations he had with 'Harley' to track down the scammers' location and uncover their mode of operation.



He discovered that 'Harley' was actually a team of scammers working out of Cambodia, using a woman as a front for their conversations. The team was also connected to another operation in China, which Gallagher said was using cryptocurrency to launder money.

Through their investigation, Gallagher and his team were able to trace the crypto wallets used by the scammers to transfer funds. They found that the operation had scammed millions of dollars, with over $4.4 million worth of cryptocurrency pushed through those wallets from October to the end of their research.

Key Takeaways

  • In a bid to better understand the world of online scams, cybersecurity expert Sean Gallagher allowed himself to become the target of a 'pig butchering' scammer named Harley.
  • Over a period of three months, Harley slowly built a sense of trust and friendship with Gallagher before attempting to lure him into investing in her fraudulent cryptocurrency scheme.
  • In the end, Gallagher was able to track Harley down and expose her for stealing almost $4.4 million from unsuspecting victims.

Sadly, this type of scam isn't an uncommon situation.

That is why we always have to be wary of any texts from unknown numbers that appear earnest and appear to tell you urgent things that you need to act on. Also, be wary of someone claiming to create a sense of trust with you.

Have you ever engaged in conversations with potential scammers online? What were some warning signs or red flags that made you suspicious? Share your stories with us in the comments!
 
  • Like
Reactions: Jarred Santos
text message received allegedly from my daughter stating phone dropped in toilet but she was more concerned about losing the photos that were on phone. Next text stated that as she pays all her bills via her phone some were now due and could I transfer some money which she will pay back as soon as her bank account was re-established. Knew then for sure this was a scam as she never pays anything with her phone. Ended contact after sending some choice words!!!
 
Your last sentence was very harsh. It shows ignorance to other people’s circumstances.
No, I don't think it is harsh. There is enough publicity for everyone to be very aware of scams and scammers. Under what circumstances would you feel sorry for someone who was scammed?
 
Last edited:
I have a had a few on FB they have taken my friends identity pretending its them, and then say have you heard the good news, claiming you can get a lot of money, that my friends have come into a lot of money and they saw my name on the lists, what a lot of bulldust. Its a pity that they don't get caught, if caught out they should be named and shamed and a very heavy fine. Jan Purcell
 

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