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Pig Butchering Scams

A pig butchering, romance, or relationship scam is long-term fraud in which scammers build trust and form relationships with victims with the goal of convincing them to invest in fake cryptocurrency or other fraudulent schemes. 

Scammers often use wrong number text messages, social media, and dating apps to find their victims. These relationships are often cultivated over several months before a scammer brings up the topic of money or investments. Scammers will often use fake investment platforms that victims must log into. These fraudulent investment platforms show fake profits to victims. 

Warning Signs

  • Unsolicited contact: Often via social media, dating apps, or wrong number text messages.
  • Quick emotional connection: The scammer rushes to build trust, affection, or even romance.
  • Unverifiable platforms: Unfamiliar or suspicious trading apps or websites.
  • Offer of unlikely returns: Scams often promise lucrative returns. These returns are sometimes measured in hours or days rather than months or years.
  • Profits guaranteed: Claims that a return or investment is guaranteed. No investment is guaranteed, and legitimate investment professionals will not make these statements.
  • Secrecy: Pressure to keep transaction confidential from friends and family.
  • Dishonesty: Pressure to lie to your financial institution about why you are withdrawing, wiring, or otherwise transferring your personal funds.
  • Early Testing: You are allowed to withdraw small profits early in the fraud to build trust in the scam so that the victim will invest more money. Later, you will be unable to withdraw any further funds.
  • Excuses to avoid video calls or meeting in person: Scammers often avoid showing their real identity.
  • Request for unusual payment methods: Scammer requests payment in cryptocurrency, cash, gift cards, gold, or other untraceable means.
  • Problems withdrawing funds: When you try to withdraw money, you are met with delays, fees, or silence.

Pig Butchering / Romance Scam / Relationship Scam Checklist

  • Were you contacted out of the blue on social media, dating app, or text message?
  • Did a stranger quickly try to build a personal, emotional, or romantic connection?
  • Were you encouraged to invest in cryptocurrency?
  • Have you been directed to an unfamiliar or unregulated investment platform or app?
  • Have you been promised unusually high or guaranteed returns?
  • Does your contact avoid video calls or meeting in person?
  • Are you being pressured to invest more money or to act quickly?
  • Have you been unable to withdraw your money or told you need to pay fees first?
  • Are you being discouraged from telling your friends or family about the investment?

If you answered yes to any of these questions, you may be a victim of a scam.

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