A BBC reporter has been given an in-depth insight into how pig butchering scams work after being targeted himself.
Scammers refer to their victims as pigs, whom they fatten up to be “butchered” – or conned, out of as much money as possible.
Cyber correspondent Joe Tidy was befriended on Instagram by fraudsters pretending to be an attractive 36-year-old woman looking for a romantic relationship.
Knowing the profile for ‘Jessica’ was fake, the reporter played along for more than two months to find out what psychological tricks the pig butchers employ to trick victims around the world into investing into fake crypto schemes.
Pig butchering scammers stole at least $3bn last year according to the FBI, with victims usually aged between 30 and 60.