Pig-butchering and romance investment scams

Pig-butchering scams build a romantic or friendly relationship over weeks, then steer you into a fake crypto or investment platform.

How pig-butchering and romance investment scams work

Contact starts with a 'wrong number', dating match, or friendly DM and builds genuine-feeling trust over days or weeks.

Once invested in the relationship, you're guided to a fake trading platform showing small early 'profits'.

When you try to withdraw, fees and blocks appear - the platform and profits were never real.

Common opening lines

• “Sorry, wrong number! But you seem nice - I do crypto trading.”
• “Let me help you invest so we can build our future together.”
• “Just start small to see it works, then we grow it together.”

Example patterns

Sanitised examples - placeholders only, never real links or data.

Red flags

• romance
• investment
• too good
• emotional

What to do now

1. Pause and verify with the person directly on a known number.
2. If money moved, contact your bank immediately.
3. Report it and keep the messages as evidence.

What not to do

• Don't pay under pressure, secrecy, or emotional urgency.
• Don't send money or gift cards based on a voice, video, or story alone.
• Don't keep it secret - check with someone you trust first.

If you already responded

If you went further: if you clicked, don't enter anything and change any details you typed; if you entered card details, freeze the card with your bank; if you shared an OTP, change the password and enable app-based 2FA; if you paid, contact your bank or provider immediately; if you installed an app or gave remote access, disconnect, uninstall, and change passwords from a clean device.

How to verify safely

Be very cautious with anyone you've only met online who raises investing; verify platforms independently and never invest on a stranger's advice.

How to report

Report through official channels you find yourself - never a number or link from the message. Tell your bank or payment provider if money moved, and file with your national fraud or cybercrime body. Find the right links in the reporting directory. Open the reporting directory.

Watch for 'recovery' offers afterwards: anyone promising to get your money back for an upfront fee is running a second scam.

Sources checked

• Huntress - Pig butchering scam: signs, examples & protection
• FBI IC3 - Senior US officials impersonated in malicious messaging campaign (2025)

Last reviewed: 2026-06-05

This is general safety information, not legal, financial, or cybersecurity incident-response advice. We can't detect every scam or guarantee recovery - always verify through official channels.