Pig butchering
Pig butchering is a long-running scam that combines fake friendship or romance with a fake investment pitch. Over weeks the scammer builds a relationship and earns trust, 'fattening the pig', before floating a supposedly can't-lose crypto or trading opportunity on a fake platform. Early 'gains' look genuine to lure larger deposits, but in the end both the money and the person disappear.
How we check this: Written and reviewed by the Hunch team; recognition signs reflect how the FTC/FBI describe this scam. · Last reviewed: 2026-08
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Example
After weeks of warm daily messages, a new online friend mentions the profits they're making on a trading app and offers to guide you. Your first small deposit appears to grow, so you invest more, until you try to withdraw and are told you owe 'taxes' or 'fees' first, and then contact stops.
How to recognize it
- A new online contact who quickly grows close, then steers talk to investing
- A trading or crypto platform you were introduced to rather than sought out
- Screenshots of impressive returns and pressure to deposit more
- Withdrawal blocked until you pay 'taxes,' 'fees,' or 'unlock' charges
How Hunch flags it
Hunch keys on signal categories like a payment or deposit ask tied to an unfamiliar platform, urgency to invest more, and lookalike or unofficial trading domains, not on the relationship content itself.
FAQ
Why is it called pig butchering?
It's a translation of a term describing how scammers 'fatten' a victim's trust and investment over time before taking everything at once.
How do I know a trading platform is fake?
Be very cautious if you were introduced to it by someone you met online, if returns look too good, or if withdrawals require paying fees first.
Can I recover money lost to pig butchering?
Recovery is difficult, but you should stop all payments immediately, report it to your bank and authorities, and beware of follow-up 'recovery' scams.