In a situation where you’ve never been, there was once a random text that started with something that didn’t start with your name? Maybe someone thinks you are “Emily from the gym” or “Daniel from the yacht club.” You answer with the classic “wrong number” but strangers suddenly want to chat instead of backing off. Friendly. Curious. Weirdly lasting.
Congratulations: You’ve just been targeted by a scam – no, you’re not the only one. CNBC cited cybersecurity company McAfee said a staggering 25% of Americans received the mysterious information. Scams are not new. In fact, it first started to attract attention in 2022. yes What’s new is how it develops.
The E-ZPASS phone scam is back. What to do if you are targeted.
These are called Pig Scam, which is a weird name with weird intentions. The term borrowed from the agricultural community, describing the victims of “fat” emotionally and psychologically before the economic killing. They operate like a long-term romantic scam: pretending to be rich and important people, they happen to find out you charming. Over time, they build trust, often turning conversations toward cryptocurrency investments or overly realistic opportunities.
Experts told CNBC that the rise of generative AI is enhancing these operations. It makes the message made by the scam feel more personal and makes changing scripts easier It sounds more like a real person. The numbers show that it is working.
Mixable light speed
According to the Federal Trade Commission, in 2024 alone, a text messaging scam will cost Americans $470 million. That’s five times that of 2020.
The reality behind these scams is that many are fueled by forced labor. Large-scale actions based in Southeast Asia are often behind the news, with workers trafficking from the region under false promises of legal employment. Once there, they are forced to scam under constant surveillance and threats – essentially trapped in digital sweat.
However, not all participants were victims. Some of these operations are conducted by dark online gambling groups, made up of people who know what they are doing.
The easiest and most effective way to protect yourself? Don’t respond. If the text pops up from “Emily in the Stadium” or “Daniel in the Yacht Club” and you don’t know who it is, ignore it. If the number comes from an unfamiliar area code or an area you have never been involved in, ignore it. That’s it. No need to participate, correct them or play. Just block the numbers and keep moving forward.
