Pig Butchering Video: LastWeekTonight on YouTube, . Original title: «Pig Butchering Scams: Last Week Tonight with John Oliver (HBO)» · 24 min · Watch on YouTube · Guide: Pig Butchering
In short
Pig butchering is a long con in which scammers build a friendship or romance with a target over weeks or months, then steer them into a fake cryptocurrency trading platform. It targets lonely or isolated people, often reached through wrong-number texts, dating apps, or social media.
How the scheme works
- The scammer makes contact through a wrong-number text, a dating app, or a social or professional network.
- They research the target online and pretend to share interests or a background to build trust.
- The conversation moves to money, framed as an investment opportunity rather than a request for cash.
- The victim is told to open their own account on a trading app or platform, which looks legitimate and shows fake profits.
- The victim is encouraged to add more money as the apparent gains grow.
- When the victim tries to withdraw, they are told to pay a tax, fee, or other charge before they can access their funds, and the money is lost.
Red flags
- A text from an unknown number that seems to be meant for someone else, followed by friendly follow-up messages.
- A new online contact who quickly becomes very attentive and affectionate.
- Unsolicited investment advice, especially about cryptocurrency, from someone you have only met online.
- A trading platform you were pointed to rather than found yourself, with returns that look too good and steady.
- Requests to deposit more money before you can withdraw what you already have.
- Demands for taxes or fees to release your funds.
How to protect yourself
- Do not reply to texts from unknown numbers that appear to be meant for someone else, and do not continue conversations that drift toward money.
- Never invest on the advice of someone you have only met online, however friendly they seem.
- Verify any trading platform independently before depositing money, and be wary of apps that someone else recommended.
- Treat any fee or tax demanded before a withdrawal as a strong sign of fraud.
- Talk to a trusted friend or family member before sending money, and report losses to your national fraud reporting body or police.
What scammers say
«Wrong number messages that ask about a lunch or flight plan»«You can invest with me and I'll make you all this money»«I'll guide you through setting up your own account»
From the video
«that's the clever hook here you're not sending the scammer money they're helping you set up and control your own account»
«before she could withdraw her money she'd have to pay a hefty tax bill»
This breakdown was written automatically by AI from the video's subtitles and was not reviewed by an editor. It reflects what the video says; we do not verify the channel's claims. Found an error? Write to [email protected] · Editorial Policy