‘Pig butchering’ scam leaves Florida man heartbroken and asking for help

How it works

The scammer contacts you through a messaging app or dating platform, posing as an attractive person. They develop a relationship with you over days or weeks, learning about your life and financial situation. Once trust is established, they claim to have a profitable investment opportunity, such as a gold market or cryptocurrency trade, and pressure you to send money through wire transfer or cryptocurrency. As you invest, they show fake account statements showing profits, encouraging larger deposits until they disappear with all funds.

Red flags to watch for

• New romantic contact pushes investment opportunity within weeks
• They ask you to send money or cryptocurrency to 'their' trading account
• Fake app or website shows growing profits but you cannot withdraw
• Pressure to deposit more money to unlock higher returns
• Story or appearance changes when questioned; avoids video calls

What to do

Do not send money to anyone you have not met in person, no matter how trustworthy they seem. If someone new online pushes investments, especially cryptocurrency or precious metals, stop contact immediately. Report the profile to the platform and to the FTC at reportfraud.ftc.gov. If you have already sent money, contact your bank or payment service right away to attempt a reversal.