Pig butchering scam
Pig butchering is a long con where a scammer spends weeks building trust, often as a romance or friendship, and then talks you into "investing" on a fake platform.
How it works
The name comes from the Chinese sha zhu pan: the victim is first "fattened" with attention, then "slaughtered". It starts with a "wrong number" message in a messenger, social network or dating app. The person is friendly, successful, chats a lot and is in no hurry to talk about money.
After a few weeks they "share a secret": they make money trading crypto or gold on a special platform. The site or app looks professional and shows growing profits, and a first small withdrawal even goes through. The victim puts in more and more, sometimes taking out loans.
When you try to withdraw a large amount, "taxes", "withdrawal fees" and "verification checks" appear that must be paid upfront. The numbers on screen were never real, and every deposit went to the scammers. Many of these schemes are run by organized groups, and victims often lose tens of thousands of dollars.
A new contact messages you daily for six weeks, then shows a profit screenshot and recommends a platform. You deposit $500, a week later see $750 and withdraw $100, which works. You add $10,000, the screen shows $16,000, but to withdraw you must pay a "20% tax", which is $3,200. You pay it, and no withdrawal ever comes.
The key mistake is believing a small successful withdrawal proves the platform is honest. Scammers let you take out a little so you put in more. Do not invest on the advice of someone you have never met in person, check the platform against the regulator's official register, and never pay a "withdrawal tax": it is always a sign of a scam.
Questions and answers
What is pig butchering in simple terms?
It is a scam where someone builds a close relationship over chat, then lures you into a fake investment platform and takes everything you deposit.
How do I recognize a crypto romance scam?
Red flags: a stranger messages "by mistake", gets close quickly, avoids video calls, shows off income and pushes their own trading platform or app.
Can I get my money back after a pig butchering scam?
The chances are low. Stop paying, keep the chats and addresses, and report to the police and the exchange your transfers went through. Beware of "fund recovery services": they are often a second wave of the same scam.
Related terms
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Updated: 2026-10-19