Set as Homepage - Add to Favorites

【Watch V Online】

Source：Evergreen Information Network Editor：Shopping Time：2025-06-26 03:03:32

Ever gotten a random text that starts with a name that’s not yours,Watch V Online in a scenario you’ve never been in? Maybe someone thinks you’re "Emily from the gym" or "Daniel from the yacht club." You reply with the classic "wrong number," but instead of backing off, the stranger suddenly wants to chat. Friendly. Curious. Weirdly persistent.

Congratulations: you’ve just been targeted by a scam — and no, you’re not the only one. According to cybersecurity firm McAfee, as cited by CNBC, a staggering 25 percent of Americans have received these mystery messages. The scam isn’t new. In fact, it first started gaining traction back in 2022. What isnew is how it’s evolving.

SEE ALSO: E-ZPass toll scams are back. What to do if you're targeted.

These are called pig-butchering scams — a grotesque name with grotesque intent. Borrowed from the farming world, the term describes how scammers "fatten up" victims emotionally and psychologically before the financial slaughter. They operate like long-con romance scams: someone pretending to be rich and important, who just so happens to find youfascinating. Over time, they build trust, often steering the conversation toward crypto investments or too-good-to-be-true opportunities.

You May Also Like

Experts told CNBC that the rise of generative AI is supercharging these operations. It's letting scammers craft messages that feel more personal and making it easier to change up the scriptto sound more like a real person. And the numbers show it's working.

Mashable Light Speed Want more out-of-this world tech, space and science stories? Sign up for Mashable's weekly Light Speed newsletter. By clicking Sign Me Up, you confirm you are 16+ and agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. Thanks for signing up!

In 2024 alone, text message scams cost Americans $470 million, according to the Federal Trade Commission. That’s five times what it was in 2020.

The bleaker reality behind these scams is that many are fueled by forced labor. Large-scale operations based in Southeast Asia are often behind the messages, with workers trafficked from across the region under false promises of legitimate employment. Once there, they’re coerced into running scams under constant surveillance and threats — essentially trapped in digital sweatshops.

Related Stories
  • If you use Apple AirPlay, you need to update your device and take these steps
  • A review of 19 billion passwords reveals people are still bad at them
  • WhatsApp, Signal scam leads to Microsoft account hacks. How to spot it.
  • 6 popular scams and the warning signs for each

Not all participants are victims, though. Some of these operations are run by shady online gambling groups, staffed by people who know exactly what they’re doing.

The simplest and most effective way to protect yourself? Don’t respond. If a text pops up from "Emily from the gym" or "Daniel from the yacht club" and you have no idea who that is, ignore it. If the number’s from an unfamiliar area code or a region you’ve never set foot in — ignore it. That’s it. No need to engage, correct them, or play along. Just block the number and move on.

Topics Cybersecurity

Previous：Poison Ivies

Next：Echoes of 1968

Related Articles
Related Recommendations
Categories
Latest Articles
Popular Articles
Hot Recommendations
Featured Column

Quick Links

Berkshire Hathaway vice chairman just called Bitcoin 'noxious poison'Why wraps are the lowest form of human lunchBehold: the glory of Mario's nipple, magnified to 24 times its natural sizeThe 2018 Mashable House will warp you into another dimensionIntel's graphics driver update makes gaming easier on HP, Asus laptopsEmma Gonzalez ignites the gun control conversation with a fiery speechUltrathin display sticks to your skin to show your current vital signsBehold: the glory of Mario's nipple, magnified to 24 times its natural size'Maze Runner' author dropped by agent after harassment allegationsAdam Rippon hired as NBC Winter Olympics commentatorThis Chrome extension brings 'View Image' back to Google SearchJennifer Lawrence's 'Red Sparrow': Movie review roundupIs someone hijacking your Spotify? Here's what I did when it happened to me.Forget yoga pants. Criticising other women's sartorial choices is bad for women.This video of the 'Outlander' actors' first chemistry test has us swooningSnapchat beta hints at a new dedicated section for StoriesTwo guys try 'tall man in a trenchcoat trick' to see 'Black Panther'Japan's Cup Noodle releases ramen with chicken nuggets, french fries'Black Panther' had the most presale tickets of any nonMan eats all the food in 'Lord of the Rings' in tribute to his late father 8bitdo's Zero 2 is the keychain Nifty Spanish reporter evades French Microsoft expected to unveil HoloLens 2 in 2018: report When are we going to get honest Will NASA's Opportunity rover survive the huge dust storm on Mars? Donald Glover surprises students with performance of 'This Is America' Snapchat will now let you delete messages in chat PSA: You can get a free taco at Taco Bell on Wednesday Valve is gearing up to launch Steam officially in China Tesla service worker looks asleep while driving Model S on freeway Uber patent would detect if riders are drunk A Disney princess showed up on 'Westworld' Kanye West tweets about the music in 'Deadpool', gets cheeky reply from Ryan Reynolds Three baby planets discovered by astronomers in our galaxy Elon Musk’s Boring Company to build high Lyft, Uber both apply for San Francisco e NASA will visit an undersea volcano to learn how to hunt for aliens Press given USB fans at Trump 'Sekiro' feels like 'Dark Souls' wrapped up in an Akira Kurosawa film Mark Hamill really, really loves to point and it's amazing

1.8637s , 8222.78125 kb

Copyright © 2025 Powered by 【Watch V Online】,Evergreen Information Network  

Sitemap

Top

Quick Links