Pig Butchering Crypto Romance Scam
Romance + fake crypto investment. FBI IC3: 47,919 complaints, $6.57B losses in 2024 (44% increase). Named because scammers "fatten" victims before "slaughter."
🚩 Red Flags
- ⚠Romantic interest brings up crypto
- ⚠Unknown/unregistered platform
- ⚠Fake profits growing unrealistically
- ⚠Fees required to "unlock" withdrawals
🛡️ Protect Yourself
- →RECOGNIZE: Romance + crypto = pig butchering
- →NEVER INVEST on platforms from romantic interests
- →VERIFY platform is registered (SEC, CFTC)
- →If can't withdraw, don't pay more fees
More Details
- “I've made so much in crypto trading”
- “Let me teach you how I invest”
- “Use this platform—it's exclusive”
- “Pay the tax fee to withdraw earnings”
Common Questions
Check SEC/CFTC registration. Red flags: guaranteed returns, can't withdraw without fees, introduced by online strangers. Use Coinbase, Kraken, or other established exchanges.
Scammers build fake romantic relationships over months, then convince victims to invest in fraudulent crypto platforms. Named for "fattening the pig before slaughter." FBI tracked 41,557 complaints and $5.8B in losses from this scheme in 2024.
Rarely. Crypto is usually irreversible. Report to FBI IC3. Be wary of "recovery services" — most are scams targeting previous victims.
Bitcoin is irreversible, hard to trace, and instant. No government, business, or utility ever legitimately demands crypto payment.
Report This Scam
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Warn Someone You Know
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Related Scams
Online Romance Scam
Scammers build fake romantic relationships, then request money. FBI IC3: 17,910 complaints, $672M losses in 2024.
Cryptocurrency Investment Scam
Fake crypto platforms promise guaranteed returns. FBI IC3: $9.3B in crypto losses across 149,686 complaints in 2024 (66% increase).
Wrong Number Text Scam
Scammers send "accidental" texts to start conversations leading to romance scams or crypto fraud.
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73% of Americans targeted(Pew, 2025)
|$470M lost to text scams in 2024(FTC)
|$16.6B total losses(FBI IC3, 2024)