An Abuse of Technology?

This presentation explores the growing threat of romance scams, from traditional schemes to the more sophisticated "pig butchering scam"—a deceptive mix of romance and investment fraud. We’ll break down how these scams work, the key differences between them. Through real-life case studies, we’ll uncover the tactics scammers use to manipulate and deceive. The goal is to raise awareness and provide practical tips so you can recognise and protect yourself from these fraudulent schemes.

Pyramid schemes are on the rise – but do those who join up deserve prosecution or compensation? Let’s say we invite you to invest £1,000 in our new and brilliant business. We promise you an impressive return on your money, and all we ask is that you persuade a few of your friends to invest the same amount. They in turn will need to find some more investors. But remember, we’re all in this together, and everyone will end up richer. Sound too good to be true? That’s because it is. Such an offer would be an example of a pyramid scheme, which is illegal in most countries. But such schemes, often promoted on social media with promises of cash and luxurious lifestyles, are rising at an alarming rate – 59% annually – in the UK.

If you do join one, you are highly likely to lose money. UK authorities once estimated that in the UK millions of people every year lose several hundred pounds. In this talk you will discover:
- What are pyramid schemes and why they are harmful.
- How policing authorities around the world are confused about pyramid
schemes
- What to do with the increasing presence of pyramid schemes

Technology can be the friend of the investigator and enemy of the offender; either way, it has a key role to play in the investigation of crime. The session will examine a real local murder case where technology played a key role to progress the investigation, It will also discuss the complexities of the data protection act, how large social media platforms can hinder an investigation and create tensions within communities. The session will consider how the fear of crime can be fuelled by the media but also how the media can influence large social media corporations to consider the balance of privacy vs profit.