Investigating the con that combines romance scams and crypto fraud (Marketplace)

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Published 2024-02-09
Canadians are losing millions of dollars to a devastating new cyber-scam known as “pig butchering.” It's a long-term con that combines romance scams, crypto fraud and investment schemes. CBC Marketplace talks to people who've lost their life savings and the trust of their loved ones as a result of this scam. And in a surprising twist, we reveal that many of the perpetrators are victims themselves, forced into a life of scamming.

If you think you or somebody you know may be a victim of a scam, report it to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre.

#Crypto #Scam #Marketplace

00:00 - ‘Pig butchering’ playbook
13:54 - Are scammers victims, too?
18:58 - Confronting the other side
20:17 - Talking to LinkedIn and Facebook

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BAD ROMANCE: WHO'S CONNING CANADIANS?

producer/director
GREG SADLER

reporter
DAVID COMMON

research producers
TYANA GRUNDIG
KATIE PEDERSEN

associate producer
KATIE SWYERS

editor
AARON TAYLOR

camera
NORM ARNOLD
DAVID MACINTOSH
JOHN LESAVAGE
SAMUEL MARTIN
MIKAEL ENLUND
NOPAKORN THEINSIRI

additional footage
POND5

art director
DAVID ABRAHAMS

graphic designer
MICHAEL TINNING

media management
ASTORIA LUZZI

social media producers
AMARA MCLAUGHLIN
BRITT PURDY

colour correction
KYLE J. SMITH

sound mix
DANY TREMBLAY

project manager
VICTOR KERR

resource coordinators
MARC CORMIER
DRAGAN MARICIC

news rollout producer
JENNY COWLEY

packaging editor
BENNY KOSHY

packaging producer
LINDA SIBONY

promo producer
GREG SADLER

senior producer
TIFFANY FOXCROFT

executive producer
NELISHA VELLANI

FIRST BROADCAST February 9, 2024

All Comments (21)
  • Hi Strongwidget. To all you guys (male and female) that work so hard, putting a stop to the scams you can stop. I Thank each and every one of you. Please keep up the great work and when I'm able to help you out financially, I most definitely will. In the meantime, keep the excellent help coming. In my mind, you're the best channel on YouTube by far. Many thanks from a true dedicated fan in the UK. Stay safe all. Thanks. Nicholas.
  • Great work Strongwidget - so glad vou are out there fighting these lowlifes. We need to do all we can to spare the elderly and the general public from these despicable scammers! Kudos to YOU!! You deserve the Nobel prize for keeping us safe big up brother.
  • Great work Strongwidget - so glad you are out there fighting these lowlifes. We need to do all we can to spare the elderly and the general public from these despicable scammers! Kudos to YOU!! You deserve the Nobel prize for keeping us safe big up brother.
  • @petersburg3809
    Every destroyed scam office is a rescue for the humanity. I really appreciate your work. Thanks They deserve everything that coming to them. What they do to innocent people is awful. Thank you so much for what you do. It clearly is getting to them and love to see it. STRONGWIDGET
  • @kobenorris644
    Strong widget has some of the best content on this platform. This recovery was crazy and it feels like recovery just keeps getting better and better!
  • Congratulations, you've outdone yourself. This video is one of the most impressive one-punch recovery moves I've seen in a while: the coding, the clickbait, the references from other channels/people... Strong widget just knows an opportunity to recover lost money when he sees one.
  • @jodypat5054
    Only people who didn't come from YouTube are worthy of liking this Strong widget 🏆 what a journey it’s been! this £200,000 recovery has been an inspiration to us all, congrats!!! ❤️
  • Your content is awesome, and seeing someone who has 10.4k customers, and do something good for people who has less, makes STRONG WIDGET just feel so happy in side. I am glad someone like you could do something so kind for people who don't have as much.
  • @elmerford1367
    I can't imagine how hard it would be to decide to take on a re-coveryagent role of an scammed persons. The history needs to be remembered though and the help that was born through such pain and suffering. Mad respect to these Claim back Justice on the internet that take on these roles.
  • The fact the Strongwidget was facing adventures to help the people was so kind. Mad respect to you man. Appreciate all you do to help others. You are setting a great example for the community Strongwidget.
  • @indemand2
    Pig butchering example: You receive a text message from a wrong number. You reply - wrong number. They reply back something innocent. You reply with a lol. Next thing you know you’re texting each other, becomes friendly. They want to be friends. They take it to the next level. Before you know it - you’ve been pig butchered! Never reply “wrong number”. Don’t let them know it’s an active number. It can even be a seemingly innocent message… Hey I can’t make my doctors appointment. You’re a nice person so you reply Wrong Number. Or they send a text message that says - what time is the meeting? You’re a nice person and you wanna make sure other plans don’t get messed up so you reply wrong number. Wrong thing to do. Don’t be that nice guy. PT Barnum said it best.
  • It's a mark of a great recovery/character when so many people can see themselves in them. Giving a voice to what many other victim have felt before.and doing it with a heck of a job. Strongwidget👏👏💯
  • Mad respect for saying yes bro. sometimes opportunities present themself and you Gotta take them. i am kind of a Strongwidget fan, but this recovery was a great message. you both already won For participating!
  • You can Clearly tell that Strong widget is tired of playing nice guy. You can see the Anger and frustration towards these scumbags in his eyes. STRONG WIDGET I support you 100%. You are doing AWESOME work. Never give up. This is the kind of recovery agent that should get a tv show. National Platform to show the scammers their days are numbered. Thank you for what you do…
  • @DoloresPatrick
    You're the best! We Beed more people like you to get these disgusting scammers to stop preying on innocent people. Keep up the good work Strong widget! Just $4Mill in and l'm crying. Priceless absolutely Priceless. love what you do keep up the good work…
  • @evalangley3985
    Facebook should be held accountable for hosting those ads that lead victims to scams.
  • @RJ_331
    If you don't know them, don't talk to them... it's pretty simple.
  • This man spends hundreds of thousands of time just to help us. He helps those in need while also helping us. He always puts a smile on our faces and we should appreciate it. Hats off to Him! I love you dude Crazy l've never payed crazy attention to the Claim back Justice on the internet movement but when I say ancestral your a gift to our people
  • @BobRico-ew1olxc
    mad respect for him.. i can't even imagine the physical and emotional toll this challenge would put on a person. no doubt this is the best pro on youtube!!! Been watching Strong widget for about 2 years now and to see his growth is still good to accept, hes so humble and normal it’s almost like hes been on YouTube his whole life..,..
  • @marianhof9755
    Basic reality has long been " if it seems to good to be true, it most likely is"