What Is a “Pig Butchering” Scam? How to Spot and Avoid It If you’ve been getting unexpected messages from someone who seems too charming or too eager to help you invest, you might be in the early stage of a “pig butchering” scam. The name comes from scammers “fattening up” their victims with friendship or romance before stealing large sums of money—often in cryptocurrency. ...
Pig Butchering Scams: How They Work and How to Protect Yourself A new alert from the New York Attorney General sheds light on a growing cryptocurrency fraud that combines romance and investment tricks. If you spend time on dating apps, social media, or messaging platforms, you may have encountered a friendly stranger who gradually steers the conversation toward cryptocurrency investing. That stranger could be running a “pig butchering” scam—a scheme that has cost Americans billions in recent years. ...
How to Spot and Avoid ‘Pig Butchering’ Scams: A Consumer Alert In February 2026, New York Attorney General Letitia James issued a public warning about a growing type of fraud known as “pig butchering.” The name is grim but descriptive: scammers “fatten up” victims with fake relationships and small, believable returns before slaughtering them financially. The warning from the AG’s office isn’t just for New Yorkers—these scams are spreading across the country. Here’s what you need to know to protect yourself. ...
How to Spot and Avoid ‘Pig Butchering’ Scams: What to Know A recent consumer alert from New York Attorney General Letitia James warns about a growing type of fraud known as “pig butchering.” These scams combine elements of romance fraud and fake investment schemes, and they have cost victims billions in recent years. Here’s what you need to know to recognize the warning signs and protect your money. ...
What Are ‘Pig Butchering’ Scams? How to Spot and Avoid This Investment Fraud New York Attorney General Letitia James recently issued a consumer alert warning New Yorkers about a sophisticated type of fraud known as “pig butchering.” The term may sound strange, but the damage is very real: victims have lost hundreds of thousands of dollars—sometimes their entire savings—to these scams. If you use dating apps, social media, or even LinkedIn, it’s worth understanding how this scheme works and how to protect yourself. ...