The Industrial City Division of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department is sounding the alarm about a rise in “pig butchering” scams within the local Asian community. These scams often target victims a second time after they have already been defrauded. Recently, a Southern California woman received an email from a company claiming to assist her in recovering the significant losses she faced from a cryptocurrency investment scam over a year ago. Detectives warn that this represents a secondary harassment tactic used by criminals, and recovering lost funds from online scams is exceedingly difficult—even with a company that seems legitimate.
Luna, who works at a beauty salon in Southern California, received an unsettling email from a company named PAYBACK-LTD. They claimed to provide services to help victims recover their lost online funds. The email referenced her report from early February 2023, complete with a case number, suggesting that they were aware of her previous victimization.
The message stated that PAYBACK-LTD operates under the supervision of the European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA) and reportedly collaborates with law enforcement agencies both in the U.S. and Europe. They claimed progress had been made in their investigations, including apprehending parts of the fraudulent network linked to victims’ cases. Expressing sympathy for those taken advantage of, they encouraged Luna to discuss her situation further, wrapping up with a polite note of appreciation and providing a contact number.
Upon reading the email, Luna initially felt a wave of excitement; maybe, just maybe, she could recover what she lost. She recalled how earlier this year, she had been ensnared in an online scam where someone posed as a Bitcoin investment expert. Trusting the person, she ended up losing tens of thousands of dollars. After reporting the matter to both the Industrial City Division and filing a complaint on the FBI’s website, she thought all hope of recovery was lost—until now, with this email claiming to offer assistance.
However, Deputy Aily Baldwin from the Sheriff’s Department quickly identified the email as a scam tactic employed by criminals targeting previous victims.
Luna shared her story, explaining that she had only been in the U.S. for a few months when she fell victim. While on a dating site, she met a man who claimed to be a successful financier from China with a wealth of experience in investments. Their shared backgrounds fostered trust, and he eventually directed her to a Bitcoin investment website, assuring her of its safety and profitability. While she was initially cautious, the immediate returns on her investment led her to pour in larger amounts—resulting in a shocking loss of substantial money just before the man vanished from contact.
Feeling betrayed, she promptly reported the incident to the Industrial City Division, where an Asian officer informed her that similar scams had plagued the community frequently, making recovery of lost funds exceedingly unlikely.
Detective Baldwin clarified that while PAYBACK-LTD is indeed a registered entity, many fraudsters are impersonating the company to exploit desperate victims further. She stressed the importance of skepticism toward such claims, noting that even law enforcement cannot promise recovery of lost funds.
Now, Luna says her trust lies solely in the information shared by the police. The ordeal has taught her to be more vigilant in the future, a valuable lesson indeed. She is resolute in her determination not to fall victim to investment scams that promise unrealistic returns again.
