Romance Scam

Pig Butchering Scams: A Step-by-Step Guide to Spotting These Devastating Crypto Frauds In February 2026, New York Attorney General Letitia James issued a consumer alert warning about a sharp rise in “pig butchering” scams. These schemes combine romance fraud with fake cryptocurrency investments to drain victims’ savings—often over weeks or months of careful grooming. According to the alert, losses have reached millions of dollars, and the transactions are almost impossible to reverse. ...

Pig Butchering Scams: Warning from New York Attorney General and How to Protect Yourself If you have received an unsolicited message from a stranger who later suggests you invest in cryptocurrency, you may be the target of a “pig butchering” scam. The term comes from the practice of fattening a pig before slaughter—here, scammers spend weeks or months building a relationship with you, gain your trust, and then convince you to pour money into a fake investment platform. Once you deposit enough, they disappear with everything. ...

What Is a “Pig Butchering” Scam? New York AG Warns of Rising Crypto Swindle On February 17, 2026, New York Attorney General Letitia James issued a consumer alert about a growing type of fraud known as “pig butchering.” The name is grim but fitting: scammers “fatten up” their victims with trust and affection before slaughtering their finances. These schemes combine elements of romance scams and fake cryptocurrency investments, and they have become increasingly common and costly. ...

Attorney General Warning: How to Spot and Avoid Pig Butchering Scams A new consumer alert from the New York Attorney General’s office puts a spotlight on “pig butchering” scams—a particularly cruel form of fraud that combines fake romance with bogus cryptocurrency investments. The term itself is crude but descriptive: scammers “fatten up” their victims with affection and false trust before slaughtering their finances. Understanding how these schemes operate can help you avoid becoming the next target. ...

The “Pig Butchering” Scam: How to Spot It and Stop It Before You Lose Money You receive a friendly, unexpected message. It might be on a dating app, social media, or even SMS. The person on the other end is charming, builds rapport over weeks, and seems genuinely interested in your life. Then, the conversation subtly turns to money—often an incredible, “can’t-miss” investment opportunity. This is the hallmark of a “pig butchering” scam, a devastating blend of romance and investment fraud that is on the rise. Recently, New York Attorney General Letitia James issued a specific warning to residents about this threat. Understanding how it works is your first and best defense. ...

The Long Con: How “Pig Butchering” Scams Fatten Victims for Slaughter You receive a friendly, seemingly accidental message on social media, a dating app, or even WhatsApp. The conversation starts casually, grows into regular chats, and over weeks or months, a relationship or friendship develops. Then, the topic of a lucrative, “can’t-miss” investment opportunity arises. If this scenario sounds familiar, you may be the target of a devastating fraud known as “pig butchering.” ...

Don’t Get “Fattened Up”: How to Spot and Stop “Pig Butchering” Scams Have you ever received a friendly, unexpected message from a stranger online? Perhaps they liked your social media profile or matched with you on a dating app. The conversation starts normally, builds over weeks or even months, and they earn your trust. Then, subtly, the topic turns to money—a “can’t-miss” investment opportunity or a sudden crisis requiring your financial help. ...