GlossaryIntermediate
Pig Butchering Scam
A long-running relationship-based scam that gradually persuades a victim to invest in a fake platform.
A pig butchering scam builds a long-term, often romantic or friendly relationship with a victim over time, gradually persuading them to invest increasing amounts into a fraudulent trading platform, before disappearing with the funds.
The fake platform typically shows fabricated gains to encourage larger deposits, and withdrawals are eventually blocked or made impossible.
Examples
- Being encouraged by an online-only relationship to invest through an unfamiliar platform is a common pig butchering pattern.
- Fabricated on-platform gains that can't actually be withdrawn are a hallmark of this scam.