It is a well-known fact that you should “fatten the pig” before slaughter. If you raise livestock, you need to feed the livestock (and feed them well) if you intend to harvest them for meat.
If this offends your sensibilities, you might want to think twice about eating bacon. The facts behind how food gets to our table can be disturbing, but that’s another story.
Scammers will also “fatten the pig” before butchering.
UNKNOWN NUMBER: "Hi Jason, what time should I pick you up from the airport?" First of all, my name is not Jason. I would ignore the text message, but I don't want someone to be stranded at the airport. ME: "You have the wrong number." UNKNOWN NUMBER: "Sorry about that. Thanks for letting me know." ME: "No problem." UNKNOWN NUMBER: "You seem like a nice person..." Somehow, one thing leads to another and a text conversation ensues.
The scammer has found a PIG, and they begin to fatten me up for the slaughter. This conversation can happen over months, creating a connection, gaining your trust. There is no direct ask for money, but perhaps a mention of an investment. Perhaps they mention a service or app that you can use to invest in. You check it out. It looks legitimate. You transfer money. The conversation continues for some time before you realize that you have been scammed out of your money. The app is a fake. The PIG has been BUTCHERED!
You might ask what this has to do with storytelling… everything! That scammer is spinning a “good” story. In this case “good” means effective, but the story is filled with deception and lies. You know that you are in the middle of story when your emotions are involved. Stories create emotions. In the case of manipulation, stories play on our emotions to prod us into a particular action that might not be in our best interest. This is a sharp contrast from the ethical use of story.
At this point, you might be angry at the person on the other end of the text message.
However, “pig butchering” is often part of a larger crime operation. The person actually sending the text might have a tragic story as well, conscripted into service.
Watch Last Week Tonight with John Oliver on Pig Butchering Scams
He has an off-the-wall comedic style meant to entertain. Not a style for everyone, but try it out.