By Cyril Gout
Online fraud can have a devastating impact on individuals and communities around the world. From romance fraud to investment schemes, these crimes can leave victims feeling vulnerable, ashamed, and financially ruined.
But as we work to combat these crimes, it’s essential that we rethink the language we use to describe them. Because words matter.
The term ‘pig butchering’ has been widely used to describe a type of financial abuse where someone uses an online relationship to commit investment fraud.
This phrase is not only stigmatising, but even more dehumanizing for having been coined by the criminals themselves.
By using language that focuses on the blameless victim of the crime rather than the perpetrator, we risk adding to their burden. This can have serious consequences, deterring victims from coming forward to seek help and providing information to the authorities to stop people committing crime against others.
That’s why INTERPOL is advocating for a change in language. We believe that the term ‘romance baiting’ more accurately describes these crimes.
It acknowledges the sophisticated tactics and emotional manipulation used by fraudsters to build trust with their victims. It also places the spotlight on the perpetrators rather than the people they are targeting.
This is essential for bringing perpetrators to justice and promoting a more empowering and supportive approach to victims of fraud.
We’ve seen the importance of using more thoughtful and appropriate language in areas like violent sexual offences, domestic abuse, and online child exploitation. We’ve seen the difference it makes.
It’s time we recognised that our words also matter when it comes to this devastating type of online fraud.
Cyril Gout is the acting Executive Director of Police Services for INTERPOL
