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China Unleashes Crackdown on ‘Pig Butchering.’ (It Isn’t What You Think.)
It’s called “pig butchering.”
Armies of scammers operating from lawless corners of Southeast Asia connect with people all over the world through online messages. They foster elaborate, sometimes romantic, relationships, and then coax their targets into making bogus investments. Over time, they make it appear that the investments are growing to get victims to send more money. Then, they disappear.
In recent months, China has unleashed its most aggressive effort to crack down on the proliferation of the scam mills, reaching beyond its territory and netting thousands of people in mass arrests. Its main target is a notorious stretch of its border with Myanmar controlled by narcotics traffickers and warlords.
The scammers operate out of secretive, dystopian compounds. They cheat Chinese citizens out of billions of dollars each year, as well as victims across the globe.
China says four thousand, six hundred and sixty-six suspects have been repatriated from Myanmar since the crackdown began earlier this year. "This is by any measure a major operation, which speaks to the impact on China and Chinese citizens, and the seriousness with which Beijing is approaching this,"said Richard Horsey, senior adviser on Myanmar for the International Crisis Group.
While China may be turning up the heat on cybercriminals along its border, experts say scamming is so lucrative that the ringleaders are likely to simply look for more fertile ground—areas where law enforcement is lax.
讲解
China Unleashes Crackdown on ‘Pig Butchering.’ (It Isn’t What You Think.)
中国对“杀猪盘”行为重拳出击（不是你想的那个“杀猪”）
By Feliz Solomon
It’s called “pig butchering.”
这种诈骗手段被称作“杀猪盘”。
Armies of scammers operating from lawless corners of Southeast Asia connect with people all over the world through online messages. They foster elaborate, sometimes romantic, relationships, and then coax their targets into making bogus investments. Over time, they make it appear that the investments are growing to get victims to send more money. Then, they disappear.
在东南亚法律无法触及的边隅一角，骗子大军通过网络将触角伸向世界各地的人。他们精心布局，有时甚至编织情网，将猎物引入他们设下的虚假投资局。在一段时间内，这群骗子会制造投资收益不断增长的假象，以怂恿受害者投进更多的钱，接着，他们就消失得无影无踪了。
In recent months, China has unleashed its most aggressive effort to crack down on the proliferation of the scam mills, reaching beyond its territory and netting thousands of people in mass arrests. Its main target is a notorious stretch of its border with Myanmar controlled by narcotics traffickers and warlords.
近几个月来，中国发起了最猛烈的行动，以严厉打击诈骗工厂肆虐蔓延。此次行动深入到中国境外，并在大规模的逮捕行动中，将数千名诈骗犯一网打尽。这次行动主要针对中缅边境一块臭名昭著的区域，该区域由毒贩和军阀控制。
The scammers operate out of secretive, dystopian compounds. They cheat Chinese citizens out of billions of dollars each year, as well as victims across the globe.
骗子们在隐秘的、条件恶劣的园区里活动。每年从中国公民和全球受害者那里骗取数以十亿的美元。
China says four thousand, six hundred and sixty-six suspects have been repatriated from Myanmar since the crackdown began earlier this year. "This is by any measure a major operation, which speaks to the impact on China and Chinese citizens, and the seriousness with which Beijing is approaching this,"said Richard Horsey, senior adviser on Myanmar for the International Crisis Group.
中国方面表示，从今年年初开展上述行动以来，已从缅甸遣返了4666名犯罪嫌疑人。国际危机组织的缅甸高级顾问理查德·霍尔西（Richard Horsey）说：“无论以何种标准衡量，这都是一次重大行动，这表明（电信诈骗）对中国和中国民众造成了何种影响，也展现出中方处理此事的严肃态度。”
While China may be turning up the heat on cybercriminals along its border, experts say scamming is so lucrative that the ringleaders are likely to simply look for more fertile ground—areas where law enforcement is lax.
虽然中国可能会持续加大对其边境地区网络犯罪分子的打击力度，但专家表示，网络诈骗的利润如此丰厚，犯罪头目很可能会找寻更适宜作案的“沃土”——那些执法不严之地。
内容扩展
老师在讲解中提到的内容：
-
“天可度， 地可量， 唯有人心不可防。但见丹诚赤如血，谁知伪言巧似簧。” —— 《天可度·恶诈人也》白居易〔唐代〕
-
心理学家哈塞尔顿等人在《认知偏误的演化》一文中指出，“无论是在内容上还是在倾向上，认知偏误都不带有强制性”。
老师解释：那些上了当的人都是心甘情愿上的当，那些能骗到你的东西都是你真心想要去相信的东西。其中的 底层逻辑是：我们生活在一个有缺陷的娑婆世界，而我们却都向往着完美的生活，当你的能力不够解决自己的 问题时，你就会特别渴望一个强大的外力来帮你实现你的理想生活。
- “Don’t ever put your happiness in someone else’s hands. They’ll drop it. They’ll drop it every time.”
永远不要把你的幸福交到别人手里。他们会辜负你的。他们每一次都会辜负你。
生词好句
1.unleash
英 [ʌnˈliːʃ] 美 [ʌnˈliːʃ]
v. （某种强大的能量）突然释放
拓展:
At worst, nuclear war could be unleashed.
最坏的情况是，核战争可能会爆发。
2.crackdown
英 [ˈkrækdaʊn] 美 [ˈkrækdaʊn]
n. 制裁，打压
拓展:
crackdown on something 对…的打压
a crackdown on crime 对犯罪活动的打压
3.butcher
英 [ˈbʊtʃə] 美 [ˈbʊtʃər]
v. 屠宰，宰杀
拓展:
butcher the hogs/pigs 杀猪
4.army
英 [ˈɑːmi] 美 [ˈɑːrmi]
n. 军队；（本文）一大群
拓展:
an army of supporters 一大群支持者
5.scammer
英 [ˈskæmə] 美 [ˈskæmər]
n. 行骗的人
拓展:
scam v. 欺诈，诈骗
an insurance scam 保险诈骗
6.foster
英 [ˈfɒstə] 美 [ˈfɑːstər]
v. 促进，培养
拓展:
I’m trying to foster an interest in classical music in my children.
我正努力培养我的孩子们对古典音乐的兴趣。
7.elaborate
英 [iˈlæbrət] 美 [iˈlæbərət]
adj. 精心计划的，精心制作的
拓展:
They’re making the most elaborate preparations for the wedding.
他们正在为婚礼做着极为精心周到的准备。
8.coax somebody into doing something
哄骗某人做……
拓展:
coax a child into going to school 哄骗小孩子去上学
9.bogus
英 [ˈbəʊɡəs] 美 [ˈboʊɡəs]
adj. 假冒的，伪造的
拓展:
On investigation, his claim was found to be bogus.
调查发现，他的说法并不属实。
10.aggressive
英 [əˈɡresɪv] 美 [əˈɡresɪv]
adj. 积极进取的，声势浩大的（using forceful action to win）
拓展:
an aggressive election campaign 声势浩大的竞选活动
11.crack down on
制裁，打压
拓展:
crack down on something 对…进行制裁
crack down on terrorism 打击恐怖主义
12.proliferation
英 [prəˌlɪfrˈeɪʃn] 美 [prəˌlɪfˈreɪʃn]
n. （数量上的）激增
拓展:
proliferate v. 激增
Rumors about the incident proliferated on the Internet.
有关某事件的谣言在网络上甚嚣尘上。
13.mill
英 [mɪl] 美 [mɪl]
n. 制造厂，工厂
拓展:
a cotton mill 棉纺厂
a paper mill 造纸厂
- net
英 [net] 美 [net]
拓展:
n. 网；（本文）v. 用网捕捉；运用技能，成功获得
15.notorious
英 [nəʊˈtɔːriəs nəˈtɔːriəs] 美 [noʊˈtɔːriəs]
adj. 声名狼藉的，臭名昭著的
拓展:
The company is notorious for paying its bills late.
这家公司出了名地喜欢拖欠付款。
16.stretch
英 [stretʃ] 美 [stretʃ]
n.（ 水域或者土地的）一片，一段
拓展:
This particular stretch of coast is especially popular with hikers.
在这一段海岸散步的人特别多。
17.narcotics traffickers
毒贩（drug traffickers）
拓展:
trafficker n.做非法买卖的人
18.dystopian
英 [dɪsˈtəʊpiən] 美 [dɪsˈtoʊpiən]
adj. 反乌托邦的（本文指条件非常恶劣）
19.repatriate
英 [ˌriːˈpætrieɪt] 美 [ˌriːˈpeɪtrieɪt]
v. 把……遣返回国、归国
拓展:
An ancient jade teapot was repatriated to China today.
一只古玉壶今天被送回中国。
20.by any measure
不管从哪种标准来衡量，不管从哪个视角来看待
21.speak to
某种情况存在、某事是真实的
拓展:
YLYK’s popularity speaks to the fact that learning useless English is actually of great use.
友邻优课如此被同学们认可其实就说明了学无用的英文是有大用处的。
22.turn up the heat
加大力度，增加强度
拓展:
The company has turned up the heat on its employees to finish the job quickly.
这家公司加大了力度来迫使它的员工尽早完成这项工作。
23.lucrative
英 [ˈluːkrətɪv] 美 [ˈluːkrətɪv]
adj. 赚钱的，收益丰厚的
拓展:
a lucrative business 一项赚钱的生意
24.lax
英 [læks] 美 [læks]
adj. 不严格的，松懈的
拓展:
lax in (doing) something 在（做）某事方面松懈
The company has been lax in carrying out its duties.
这家公司在履行职责方面一直很松懈。
外刊原文
China Unleashes Crackdown on ‘Pig Butchering.’ (It Isn’t What You Think.)
By Feliz Solomon
It’s called “pig butchering.”
Armies of scammers operating from lawless corners of Southeast Asia—often controlled by Chinese crime bosses—connect with people all over the world through online messages. They foster elaborate, sometimes romantic, relationships, and then coax their targets into making bogus investments. Over time, they make it appear that the investments are growing to get victims to send more money. Then, they disappear.
In recent months, China has unleashed its most aggressive effort to crack down on the proliferation of the scam mills, reaching beyond its territory and netting thousands of people in mass arrests. Its main target is a notorious stretch of its border with Myanmar controlled by narcotics traffickers and warlords.
For decades, frontier fiefdoms such as those in Myanmar have been havens for gambling and trafficking of everything from drugs to wildlife to people. Now, they are dens for pig-butchering operations.
The scammers operate out of secretive, dystopian compounds, many of which are run by Chinese fugitives who fled their country to places where it was easier to flout the law. They cheat Chinese citizens out of billions of dollars each year, as well as victims across the globe. The U.S. Treasury Department in September warned Americans about the scams.
In addition to remote hillside towns in Myanmar, these heavily guarded enclaves are also found in gambling hubs such as Cambodia’s Sihanoukville and Poipet. Cambodian authorities have carried out sporadic raids with China’s help, but the problem has persisted.
The operations flourished during the Covid-19 pandemic when border trade stopped and internet use surged. They have also fueled a human-trafficking crisis.
Many of the scammers entrapping people are themselves victims of human trafficking, lured abroad by fake job ads and held captive by withholding pay and passports. The United Nations human-rights office says more than 120,000 people may be forced to work as scammers in Myanmar, with another 100,000 in Cambodia.
One Malaysian trafficking victim told The Wall Street Journal that he was trained to spend weeks or months “fattening” his victims by gaining their trust before “butchering” them. His story was similar to those told by others lured into working in the scam mills. After responding to an ad on a job-recruitment website, he said he accepted an offer for a customer-service role in Cambodia. Once there, he was driven to a prisonlike complex in Sihanoukville and forced to work as a scammer under threats of violence.
He said he had a handler who trained him, supplying him with a smartphone preloaded with fake social-media accounts, a “victim list” containing contact information of potential targets and various scripts designed to break the ice and build their trust. After several weeks, he said he convinced a driver who brought people and supplies to the compound to help him escape.
Regional migration researchers have documented trafficking from dozens of countries. Many victims come from Southeast Asia but some from as far as Brazil and Kenya.
“China is starting to signal that enough is enough,” said Inshik Sim, a Bangkok-based lead analyst for the U.N. Office on Drugs and Crime’s regional operations.
In August, China launched a “special joint operation” with three nearby countries and increased pressure on armed groups that oversee remote parts of Myanmar, convincing them to hunt down, round up and repatriate almost 5,000 Chinese nationals suspected of illicit activity.
Chinese authorities have zeroed in on several border areas that are part of Myanmar but are fully controlled by armed groups. These places have often drawn large investments from Chinese nationals—both legal and illicit. Many Chinese people, including notorious fugitives, live in these enclaves, where the Mandarin language and Chinese currency are commonplace.
According to a 2022 report in Chinese state media, authorities blocked 2.1 million fraudulent websites and some $51.6 billion in suspicious transactions over the previous year. Beijing has warned citizens to look out for dubious rebate offers, investment schemes and unsolicited contact from anyone claiming to represent a company or law enforcement.
On Oct. 12, Chinese authorities said they had transferred 2,349 “telecommunication fraud” suspects from Myanmar two days prior—the single largest such handover. China says 4,666 suspects have been repatriated from Myanmar since the crackdown began earlier this year.
“This is by any measure a major operation, which speaks to the impact on China and Chinese citizens, and the seriousness with which Beijing is approaching this,” said Richard Horsey, senior adviser on Myanmar for the International Crisis Group, a Brussels-based think tank specializing in conflict prevention.
While China may be turning up the heat on cybercriminals along its border, experts say scamming is so lucrative that the ringleaders are likely to simply look for more fertile ground—areas in weak states where law enforcement is lax.
“These groups are not going to go away easily,” said Tower, of the U.S. Institute of Peace. “They’re sitting on a massive source of capital and there are many fragile places in the world that they’ll be able to exploit.”
Reprinted by permission of The Wall Street Journal, Copyright 2023 Dow Jones & Company, Inc. All Rights Reserved Worldwide.