[WATCH] Hindi ito Marites: Love scam syndicates are the new underworld

They befriend you online and earn your trust. Then, they swindle you of your life's savings.

Have you heard of “pig butchering”? This is one of the most nefarious scams going around today, and it thrives on the universal human need for love.

It starts innocently enough: someone sends you a message and befriends you. They seem interested in you and make you feel special. Then, once they’ve earned your trust, they make their pitch: they know of a lucrative investment in online currency, and they entice you to join in.

The next thing you know, you’ve been swindled of your life’s savings. Find out about “pig butchering,” and how to watch against it, from Rappler editor-at-large Marites Vitug. Hindi ito Marites! – Rappler.com

Presenter, writer: Marites Vitug
Producer: JC Gotinga
Video editor: Emerald Hidalgo
Graphic artists: David Castucianio, Guia Abogado, Marian Hukom
Supervising producer: Beth Frondoso