線上詐騙已成為全球性問題，其規模可能已與非法毒品交易相當。《經濟學人》透過多角度分析，揭示了這一行業的複雜性及其對社會的深遠影響。以下是文章中的語言點和知識點解析。
1. 線上詐騙的型別與術語
① Pig-butchering（殺豬盤）
例句：The specific scam that Mr Hanes fell for is known as “pig-butchering”.
解析：
Pig-butchering 是一種透過建立信任後實施詐騙的策略，常見於社交媒體或約會平臺。fatten up（培養信任）→ slaughter the pig（殺豬）。
② Investment scams（投資騙局）
例句：Losses from investment scams in America increased by 22% in 2023.
解析：
Investment scams 是常見的線上詐騙形式，通常涉及虛假加密貨幣交易或高回報承諾。
③ Romance scams（戀愛詐騙）
解析：與“殺豬盤”類似，利用情感操控獲取受害者信任並騙取財物。
2. 行業規模與影響
① Enormous transfer of wealth（財富的大規模轉移）
例句：The rise of online scams represents an enormous transfer of wealth from the middle class to a criminal underworld.
解析：描述線上詐騙對社會經濟的深遠影響。
② On a par with the illegal drugs trade（與非法毒品交易相當）
例句：The global proceeds of online fraud are probably more than $500bn a year, putting scamming on a par with the illegal drugs trade.
解析：on a par with 表示“與…相當”，常用於強調嚴重性或規模。
③ Scam compounds（詐騙園區）
例句：A single fraud park in Myanmar may house thousands of scammers working for several different operations.
解析：這些園區類似“工業園”，但用於非法活動，如洗錢、網路詐騙等。
3. 騙局背後的心理操控與技術支援
① Psychological weapons（心理武器）
例句：Criminals use psychological weapons to create relationships, such as mirroring tone and paying compliments.
解析：描述如何透過情感操控實現詐騙目的。
② Detailed manuals（詳細操作手冊）
例句：Scammers were given detailed manuals about how to dupe victims.
解析：這些手冊涵蓋話題選擇、賬戶偽裝及目標篩選等內容。
③ AI-enhanced operations（人工智慧增強操作）
例句：AI makes translation easier and reduces the need to entrap English-speakers.
解析：AI 技術的應用降低了語言障礙，提高了詐騙效率。
核心句式學習
1. 對比結構
① X is more than Y, and is in all likelihood Z.（X 超過 Y，很可能是 Z。）
例句：Losses from investment scams are more than burglary or car theft, and are in all likelihood a severe underestimate.
仿寫練習：The impact of climate change is more than economic, and is in all likelihood irreversible.
② Whereas X, Y.（雖然 X，但 Y。）
例句：Whereas scam bosses previously relied on forced labour, they now hire willing employees.
仿寫練習：Whereas traditional marketing relies on mass reach, digital marketing focuses on personalization.
2. 因果關係表達
① That hints at…（這表明…）
例句：That hints at the scammers’ sophistication.
仿寫練習：The rapid adoption of electric vehicles hints at a shift in consumer preferences.
② This has led to…（這導致了…）
例句：This has led to a downward spiral into unregulated markets.
仿寫練習：The lack of regulation has led to widespread environmental damage.
原文連結：
https://www.economist.com/briefing/2025/02/06/online-scams-may-already-be-as-big-a-scourge-as-illegal-drugs
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