Crypto exchange Binance has spoken on their involvement in the FBI investigation into the “pig butchering” scam.
Binance, a cryptocurrency exchange, has proclaimed its support for the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) in San Diego in investigating a “pig butchering” scam.
Binance’s Contribution to the Exposure of the Pig Butchering Scam
According to Binance, the investigation, analysis, and seizure of the fraud were conducted by its Investigations and Case teams. Ultimately, their joint endeavors with the authorities resulted in the discovery of leads and the seizure of $2.5 million in victims’ funds. The perpetrator in Thailand seized the exact amount of 2,546,415.01 USDT Coin (USDT) from two accounts.
Hackers within the crypto ecosystem have adopted pig butchering or slaughtering as a prevalent fraud technique. The fraudsters typically employ fraudulent and manipulative methods to extract funds from their victims, as the United States Department of Justice outlined. Initially, they establish trust with a victim through online communication.
They lure the victim into investing in a fraudulent cryptocurrency scheme when it is time to strike. Before the victim realizes that they have been defrauded, the fraudsters typically request additional payments. This act of pig slaughter is also referred to as a Romance Scam, in which individuals deceitfully construct a web of deception by assuming the identity of someone’s Mr. or Miss Perfect to exploit their intended victim’s emotions.
The art of manipulation has been perfected by these scammers, who consistently reassure their victims that they seek the same type of loving, meaningful relationship they are so urgently yearning for. Once their victims have relaxed their defense, the romance scammers employ various strategies to deceive them into transferring substantial sums of money.
Victims are frequently deceived into investing in a lucrative enterprise. The scammers encourage their victims to invest a modest sum to verify the legitimacy of this purported investment. Initially, they permit their victims to withdraw modest amounts of their “profits” to establish trust that they are providing a legitimate investment. They are unable to transfer funds after investing substantial amounts.
The United States Department of Justice has initiated a civil forfeiture action concerning a pig butchering case
In the interim, the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia has initiated a civil forfeiture action to reclaim the confiscated cryptocurrency. This civil forfeiture enables the United States government to seize assets from fugitives and perpetrators abroad. It is a method of denying criminals the possession of property they have acquired through their unlawful activities or used in their criminal activities. The government aims to deter and penalize criminal activity by taking this action.
Furthermore, it fosters and improves collaboration among federal, state, local, tribal, and foreign law enforcement agencies, as evidenced by the FBI and Binance pig butchering criminal bust. When these assets are recovered, they are occasionally utilized to compensate victims by federal law.