Pig butchering scams: spotting the WhatsApp con in time
An unknown number, a friendly ‘wrong number’ text, weeks of chatting — and then suddenly a ‘brilliant’ crypto investment. This long-running scam often costs victims their entire savings. Here's how to spot the signs in time.
It almost always starts the same way: a text from an unknown number. ‘Hi Linda, what time can we meet tomorrow?’ You reply that they've got the wrong number. They apologise, are charming, and the conversation just continues. Weeks later, that ‘wrong number’ turns out to be the start of one of today's most costly forms of fraud: pig butchering — literally ‘fattening the pig’ before the slaughter.
In short
💬 The scam almost always starts with an innocent contact moment via WhatsApp, SMS, or a dating app · ⏳ scammers invest weeks to months building trust before money ever comes up · 📈 victims get access to a fake platform where their ‘investment’ supposedly rises sharply in value · 🚫 the moment you try to withdraw, it turns out you suddenly need to pay a ‘tax,’ ‘verification fee,’ or ‘release amount’ — and then another, and another · 🏦 reporting centres and police have seen reports of this type of crypto fraud rising for years.
Why this scam works so well
Pig butchering doesn't work because the scammers use clever technology — it works because they invest time. Where a classic phishing email gets exposed within seconds, this scam spends weeks building a relationship: shared interests, daily messages, sometimes even video calls. By the time investing comes up, it doesn't feel like an offer from a stranger, but like a tip from a friend.
The fake platforms that follow often look professional: charts, prices, a slick app or website. It's all fake — the ‘gains’ you see are simply entered by the scammers to encourage you to put in more.
The red flags at a glance
What to do if you recognise this
Stop the contact and pay no more, even if it looks like you can ‘almost get it back.’ Keep the conversations and transactions as evidence and report it to a fraud reporting centre and your bank or exchange — reporting quickly can sometimes still stop a transfer. And perhaps most importantly: talk about it. Shame is exactly what scammers count on; victims often come forward too late, by which time the money is long gone.
What does this mean for you?
The golden rule stays simple: a legitimate investment never starts with an unknown number that happens to text you the wrong conversation. Only buy and store crypto through well-known, regulated exchanges — never through a platform you were handed via a chat contact.
👉 See trusted, regulated exchanges to get started safely
This article is general awareness information, not investment advice. Do you recognise any of these signs in yourself or someone around you? Contact your local fraud reporting centre or the police.
Sources: Fraudehelpdesk, Politie. Last checked: 4 July 2026.