Reuters obtained two scam handbooks seized from Philippines compounds, revealing detailed scripts for pig-butchering scams. One Chinese manual outlines a seven-day plan to defraud women by impersonating an investment professional. The bilingual guide targets men, suggesting cryptocurrency discussions. Both show how gangs craft fake personas to build romantic connections before financial theft.

These manuals demonstrate sophisticated psychological manipulation, isolating targets with affection before extracting money. The techniques align with FBI warnings about prevalent scams and UN reports on trafficking victims forced to run these operations. AI tools now supercharge the deception, making fraudulent appeals more convincing and harder to detect.

The manuals were found in compounds linked to Chinese-born Alice Guo, now serving a life sentence for human trafficking. Experts confirm the scripts mirror real-world tactics used by trafficked workers in Southeast Asia. Platforms like Tinder report using AI to flag suspicious profiles, but the speed and adaptability of these scams remain a formidable challenge.