He scammed people for their money. He was also a victim.

Jalil Muyeke at his home in Uganda in July 2024. His captors in Myanmar ran what are called ‘pig butchering’ schemes, in which fraudsters build trust through a fake romance or friendship. — The New York Times

Internet scammers steal billions from Americans each year. In one workroom in South-East Asia, where dozens of fraudsters trolled dating apps for fresh victims, they would beat a giant drum and chant each time they successfully duped someone into sending them money.

“It was a whole celebration,” said Jalil Muyeke, a 32-year-old from Uganda who witnessed the festivities from inside a compound in Myanmar.