AI, Cyberbullying, and the Mental Health Crisis | Prashasth Baliga | TEDxAsia Pacific U

Scam Overview - The presentation discusses "pig butchering," a scam that starts with random messages on WhatsApp and evolves into a sophisticated fraud involving human trafficking [1][2][3] - The scam involves grooming victims, building trust, and then enticing them to invest in fake schemes, often involving cryptocurrency [4][5][6] - Victims are lured with promises of high returns, initially seeing small profits, but are eventually defrauded of large sums, including life savings [6][7][8][9] Modus Operandi - Scammers create fake online identities and build relationships with victims over time, often showcasing a luxurious lifestyle [4][5] - The scam has evolved from targeting primarily Chinese individuals to a global operation, facilitated by human trafficking to staff scam compounds [15][16] - These scam compounds, located in special economic zones in countries like Cambodia and Myanmar, exploit trafficked individuals to conduct scams [12][17][18] Economic and Social Impact - The scam industry is estimated to be a $75 billion market, with year-on-year returns of 40% [25][26] - The scam targets vulnerable individuals, including senior citizens, leading to financial loss, mental trauma, and erosion of trust [27][28][29] - The rise of AI and deep fakes is exacerbating the problem, making it harder to distinguish between real and fake interactions [22][23][24] Countermeasures - Awareness and education are crucial to combating these scams, requiring collaboration between educational institutions, tech companies, and governments [36][37][38] - Big tech companies should be held accountable for implementing safeguards and algorithms to prevent scams [40] - Governments need to enact regulations and policies to address transnational crimes, and law enforcement should handle cases with empathy to encourage reporting [41][42]