Interpol has called on industrial commentators to reconsider their use of the term ‘pork separation’, with the argument that the victims unnecessarily stigmatize and possibly discourages incident reports.
The cyber crime to which the term refers was recently called up in the new “Think Twice” campaign of the police group, designed to inform consumers about cyber-compatible financial crimes.
Victims are often approached on romance sites, where a scammer will try to build an online relationship with them – metaphorically related to pigs that are missing before their slaughter.
As soon as the victim has grown into the fraud, the latter will suggest that they invest in a fake crypto schedule or another legitimate option. By the time they become wise for the fraud, it is too late and the scammer makes all contact.
Read more about pig separation: Surge in New Scams as pig separation dominates
The term is a translation of the Chinese word ‘Shazhupan’, which is about the same as ‘killing pig game’. However, Interpol issued a statement this week with the argument that “romance bazing” would be better.
It stated that comparing victims with farmers are ready for the kill to unleash and ashamed of the point where many can be discouraged to come forward about incidents.
‘Romance Baiting’, on the other hand, places the spotlights back on the perpetrators and the often advanced methods they use to manipulate their victims emotionally, interpol argued.
Time for change
“Words are important. We have seen this in the field of violent sexual offenses, domestic violence and online exploitation of children. We must acknowledge that our words are also important for the victims of fraud,” said Interpol acting director of Police Services, Cyril Gout.
“It is time to change our language to give priority to respect and empathy for the victims and to keep fraudsters responsible for their crimes.”
His words were reflected by Elisabeth Carter, assistant professor of Criminology and forensic linguist at Kingston University London.
“Academic research clearly shows the connections between the tactics of fraudsters and of perpetrators of domestic violence and compulsory control,” she argued. “It is absolutely necessary that we do not accept the terminology of these criminals, but instead use conditions that help government protection and support the victim’s report.”
Romanticism has not yet broken out as a separate category by the FBI, although investment fraud was the highest earner for cyber criminals last year, making them more than $ 4.5 billion. The romance and trust fraud category resulted in victim losses of more than $ 652 million.
Note from the editors: Based on Interpol’s Recommendation InfoSecurity Magazine, the editorial policy will revise the new terminology “romance -lock”. We can still refer to the term “pork butchers” to prevent confusion, while the new name becomes part of the vernacular of cyber security.