"Pig Butchering": How Romance Scammers Groom Victims Before Steering Them to Fake Crypto Platforms
A scam known as "pig butchering" builds trust over weeks or months on dating apps and social media before luring victims into fake crypto investment platforms — and it's spreading fast worldwide.
How it works
"Pig butchering" refers to fattening the victim (the relationship) before the slaughter (the financial theft). Scammers make contact through dating apps or social media DMs, posing as a romantic interest or friend, and invest weeks or months building a relationship before ever mentioning money.
Once trust is established, they introduce a fake crypto investment app or website they claim to use themselves, encouraging a small initial deposit. Early withdrawals are often allowed to succeed, building confidence and encouraging larger deposits — until, after a substantial sum is invested, withdrawals stop working and the scammer disappears.
Warning signs
- Rapid emotional intimacy shortly after meeting online
- Persistent excuses to avoid meeting in person or video calling
- Investment opportunities brought up casually, as if incidental
- The recommended app or platform isn't on official app stores, or has an unfamiliar name
How to protect yourself
- Treat investment advice from online-only contacts with suspicion, regardless of how close the relationship feels
- Verify any platform with a third party — a bank, a trusted friend, or a financial advisor
- A successful withdrawal doesn't mean it's safe — it's often used specifically to encourage a larger deposit
- Reverse image search photos to check whether they belong to someone else
Where to report
If you suspect you've been targeted, contact your local police or a consumer protection agency as soon as possible.