I simply can't stop listening to this new podcast from The Economist. Unfortunately, it's behind a paywall, so I’d like to share a few words about it and give you a chance to learn some new phrases. At the end of the post, you’ll find a glossary and tasks to check how well you remember the newly learned expressions.
So, the riveting narrative of Scam Inc. takes you deep into the world of scammers who specialise in pig butchering.
No need to panic, animal welfare warriors! 🐷 Pig butchering doesn’t involve real pigs. It’s actually a type of online scam. It’s called that because scammers take their time to "fatten up" their victims before "slaughtering" them—stealing all their money.
Listen to Scam Inc Trailer:
How does the scam work?
Step 1️⃣ Building Trust
Scammers find victims on social media or dating apps and pretend to be their friend, business partner, or even a romantic interest. They chat for weeks or months, gradually gaining their trust.
Step 2️⃣ The Big Opportunity
Once the victim fully trusts them, the scammer suggests a "fantastic investment opportunity", usually in cryptocurrency or fake businesses.
Step 3️⃣ The Scam
The victim invests money, thinking it’s a real business. Everything looks professional, but it’s all fake. The scammer disappears with the money.
Why do people fall for it?
The scammers are really good at acting friendly and caring. They make their victims feel safe and special, which lowers their guard. Even smart people like bank managers and tech-savvy professionals have been tricked!
The best way to protect yourself is to be cautious. If someone you meet online offers a great investment deal, always double-check it and never send money unless you’re 100% sure it’s legitimate.
Post Glossary
Animal welfare warriors – People who care deeply about protecting animals and their rights.
Example: Animal welfare warriors work hard to stop cruelty to animals.
Double-check – To check something again to make sure it’s correct or safe.
Example: Always double-check your work before sending it.
Fake – Not real; something made to look like the real thing.
Example: The website looked real, but it was a fake.
Fatten up – To make someone or something bigger or stronger by feeding or preparing them. In scams, it means gaining someone’s trust over time before taking advantage of them.
Example: The scammer "fattened up" the victim by being nice and helpful before asking for money.
Gaining their trust – Making someone believe in you and feel comfortable with you.
Example: The teacher gained the students' trust by always being kind and fair.
Legitimate – Real, legal, or trustworthy.Example: It’s important to make sure a company is legitimate before investing money.
Lowers their guard – When someone feels so safe that they stop being careful or suspicious.Example: The friendly messages lowered her guard, and she believed the scammer.
Riveting – Very interesting and exciting; something you can’t stop watching or listening to.
Example: The movie was so riveting that I didn’t check my phone once!
Slaughtering – Killing animals for meat. In the scam example, it means taking all the victim’s money at once.Example: The scammer "slaughters" the victim after they’ve gained full trust.
Tech-savvy – Someone who is good with technology and understands how to use computers, apps, and gadgets.Example: He’s really tech-savvy and can fix any computer problem.
Task 1: Guess the words/phrase
Read the definition and guess the word
Very interesting and exciting; something you can’t stop watching or listening to.
People who care deeply about protecting animals and their rights.
To make someone or something bigger or stronger by feeding or preparing them. In scams, it means gaining someone’s trust over time before taking advantage of them.
Killing animals for meat. In the scam example, it means taking all the victim’s money at once.
Making someone believe in you and feel comfortable with you.
Not real; something made to look like the real thing.
To feel so safe that you stop being careful or suspicious.
Someone who is good with technology and understands how to use computers, apps, and gadgets.
To check something again to make sure it’s correct or safe.
Real, legal, or trustworthy.
Task 2: Translation tasks for Polish students
Przetłumacz na angielski te słowa i wyrażenia
wciągający, fascynujący
obrońcy praw zwierząt
podkarmić, przygotować kogoś/coś
zarzynanie, rzeź
zdobywanie zaufania
fałszywy, podrobiony
obniżać czyjąś czujność, usypiać czyjąś uwagę
obeznany z technologią, technicznie biegły
sprawdzić ponownie, upewnić się
prawdziwy, legalny, wiarygodny
Answers:
Task 1 and 2
1 riveting, 2 animal welfare warriors, 3 to fatten sb/sth up, 4 slaughtering, 5 gaining someone's trust, 6 fake, 7 to lower one's guard. 8 tech-savvy, 9 to double check, 10 legitimate
留言