Pig-butchering scam
Also called: pig butchering · romance investment scam · sha zhu pan
Definition
A pig-butchering scam is a long-con fraud where a stranger builds trust over weeks, often as a friend or romantic interest, then steers you into a fake crypto investment platform and takes everything you deposit.
How pig-butchering scam works
The name comes from the Chinese phrase sha zhu pan, describing fattening a pig before slaughter. It often starts with a wrong-number text, a dating app match or a social media message. The scammer is friendly and patient, shares lifestyle photos and mentions trading profits only casually at first.
Next you are shown an app or website that looks like a real trading platform. Small first deposits appear to grow fast, and an early small withdrawal may even work to build trust. When you deposit larger sums, the balance keeps rising on screen, but any large withdrawal is blocked by sudden taxes, fees or verification charges.
Warning signs: someone you have never met pushing a specific platform, guaranteed or unusually steady returns, a platform not available on official app stores, and pressure to pay fees before you can withdraw.
Example
Suppose a new online friend helps you open an account on a trading site and you deposit 1,000 USDT. Within two weeks the dashboard shows 1,400 USDT, and a 100 USDT withdrawal works. You add 10,000 USDT. The balance shows 15,000 USDT, but withdrawing it requires a 20 percent tax payment of 3,000 USDT first. Paying it only leads to another fee. The 11,000 USDT you sent was never traded at all.
Common mistakes
- Trusting a trading platform because a friend you have only met online recommends it.
- Treating a small successful withdrawal as proof that the platform is legitimate.
- Paying an unlock fee or tax to release a balance, which only increases the loss.
Learn and practise
FAQ
How do I check if a trading platform is real?
Look it up independently, check whether the regulator in your country lists it, and be wary of apps installed from links rather than official stores.
Can I get my money back from a pig-butchering scam?
Recovery is difficult. Report it to the police and the exchange you sent from quickly, keep all records, and ignore recovery services that ask for upfront fees, which are often a second scam.