The Prosecutor's Brief: Online Romance: The Pig Butchering Scam

Have you ever received an unexpected “wrong number” text message? Maybe it appears to be for someone else—perhaps a request for a veterinary appointment for a sick animal or a confirmation of a golf tee time? Have you noticed an increase in connection requests on your LinkedIn account or friend requests for Facebook, often by young, attractive Asian women who want to talk to you about investments in cryptocurrency?

If your answer is yes, you are experiencing step one of an elaborate romance and investment scam known as “Pig Butchering,” which is financially devastating and emotionally crushing.