Pig butchering scams: signs and what to do if you paid
Checked by The Proofmark editorial team against our methodology before publishing
The Proofmark · Our methodology
What is a pig butchering scam?
This harsh name describes a scam built on trust. We use it because people search for it. The blame lies with the scammer, not the person they tricked.
The scammer may contact you through a dating app, social media or a text. They chat first, then offer to help you invest.
There is no fixed timetable. A long friendship does not prove an offer is real. The CFTC's guide to relationship investment scams explains this pattern.
What are the warning signs?
- A new contact steers your chats towards investing.
- They choose the website or app for you.
- They show profits and push you to put in more.
- When you ask to withdraw, you are told to pay more first.
One sign alone may not prove fraud. Several together are a strong reason to stop and check with someone outside the relationship.
Why did a small withdrawal work?
A scam site may let you take out a little money. That can make you trust it with much more. A small payout does not prove that the site is safe.
The balance on a screen may also be made up. It is not proof that real trades took place. These tricks are described in the FBI's investment fraud guidance.
What if they send someone to collect cash?
Do not hand over cash to a stranger sent by your online contact. Do not share your home address or agree to a pickup.
In June 2026, the FBI warned about cash couriers in crypto investment scams. Older people were often targeted. The money was said to fund investments or pay charges to release funds.
A password or code does not make a courier safe. It may only show they work with the person who arranged the pickup. Read the FBI cash courier warning.
What should you do if you sent money?
- Stop sending money, including new fees to release it.
- Call your bank or payment provider. Ask it to check what can be stopped or recovered.
- Keep chats, web addresses and payment records. For crypto, keep wallet addresses and transaction IDs too.
- Report the scam through your country's official fraud-reporting service. In the US, you can report it to the FBI's IC3.
Do not pay a stranger who promises to recover everything. The FBI warns that fake recovery offers can cause a second loss.
How can you help someone you care about?
Listen without blame. Ask them to pause payments while you check the facts together. Focus on the money request, rather than arguing about whether the online friend cares.
You could say: “Let's ask the bank before you send more.” This gives them a clear next step without making them defend the relationship.
Want help making sense of it?
Request a free call. We can talk through the warning signs and next steps. You do not have to work it all out alone.
If money is moving now, contact your bank first. A consultation does not guarantee that lost money can be recovered.
Sources
Where to go in your country
Scams cross borders. The people who can do something about them do not. Choose your country below, or change it if our guess is wrong.
Choose your country to see local contacts. If it is not listed, you can ask our team for help.
🇬🇧 The United Kingdom
🔎 Check the firm
FCA Firm Checker — Search the firm name, its website, or the reference number it gave you.
🚨 Report it
Report Fraud (City of London Police) — Report online or call 0300 123 2040. In Scotland, call Police Scotland on 101.
↩ Ask for your money back
Financial Ombudsman Service — Complain to the firm first, then bring it here. Free, and it can order the firm to pay.
Every address above was opened and checked by us on 30 September 2026. Tell us if one has moved.
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