Other Archives | TorHoerman Law

Question 1

Where and how should pig butchering scams be reported?

Accepted Answer

If you or a family member has been targeted in a pig butchering scam, reporting to multiple places creates a stronger record and gives authorities more to work with.

Start as soon as you suspect fraud, even if you are still piecing together the details, and keep adding information as you gather more evidence.

Each report serves a different purpose: some help law enforcement investigate, some support regulatory actions, and others help banks and exchanges flag suspicious activity.

You should also save copies or screenshots of every report and any reference numbers you receive, since a lawyer or investigator may need them later.

Places to report and how to use them include:

Local police department: File a fraud report in person or by phone and bring a simple timeline, chats, and transaction records.
FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3): Go to ic3.gov, select “File a Complaint,” and describe the scam as a pig butchering / crypto romance investment fraud, including transaction hashes and wallet addresses if possible.
Federal Trade Commission (FTC): Use ReportFraud.ftc.gov to submit a complaint under romance or investment scams, listing websites, apps, and payment details.
State attorney general and state consumer/securities agencies: File online complaints explaining that this is a pig butchering cryptocurrency scam targeting a resident of your state.
Banks and credit unions: Call the fraud department to report wires, ACH transfers, or cash withdrawals related to the scam and ask about recalls, disputes, and account protections.
Credit card companies: Dispute any card charges used to buy crypto or pay fake fees and request a fraud review.
Payment apps (Zelle, PayPal, Cash App, Venmo, etc.): Use in-app support to report deceptive transfers and ask that recipient accounts be reviewed.
Cryptocurrency exchanges: Open a support or fraud ticket, provide transaction IDs and wallet addresses, and state clearly that these transfers were part of a pig butchering scam.

Question 2

How is a pig butchering scam different from a typical romance scam?

Accepted Answer

In a traditional romance scam, the scammer forms a romantic relationship with the victim through dating or social media apps, then eventually claims to need money for various reasons, such as sudden medical bills, travel costs, or other financial hardships.

In pig butchering scams, the setup is similar at first, but instead of simply asking for help, the scammer steers the victim toward “investing,” usually in cryptocurrency or trading schemes.

Victims are approached on dating, social media, or messaging apps and gradually lured into making larger and larger investments, believing they are building wealth with someone they love or trust.

Scammers may show off a lavish lifestyle to appear successful, posting photos of cars, vacations, or luxury goods, which naturally leads to conversations about how they “invest” and how you could do the same.

They often provide a website or wallet address for the victim to transfer funds to, using platforms that look like real trading sites but are fully controlled by the scam operation.

Question 3

How can you help a family member avoid scams involving cryptocurrency?

Accepted Answer

You can help a family member avoid cryptocurrency scams by talking openly about how these schemes work and stressing that any promise of guaranteed or “risk-free” returns is a red flag.

Encourage them to adopt firm personal rules, such as never sending cryptocurrency, bank transfers, or gift cards to someone they have not met in person and never investing through a link, app, or website recommended solely by an online contact.

Offer to be a second set of eyes on “opportunities” by looking up reviews, checking domain names, and running reverse image searches on profile photos before they send money or connect a wallet.

Help them strengthen their defenses by using strong passwords, turning on two-factor authentication for exchanges and financial accounts, and regularly reviewing statements for unusual activity.

Let them know that if something feels off, they can come to you without judgment, and that it is always better to pause and ask questions than to rush into a transfer under pressure.

Finally, explain that if they ever suspect a scam, they should stop communicating with the other party, avoid sending more money, and tell you or another trusted person immediately so you can help contact banks and file reports.

Question 4

What should I know about cryptocurrency and “recovery” services after a scam?

Accepted Answer

Cryptocurrency is a digital asset that uses encrypted networks to execute, verify, and record transactions without a centralized authority, and every transfer is permanently recorded on publicly available distributed ledgers called blockchains.

Because this technology is fast and hard to reverse, scammers are always finding new ways to steal your money using cryptocurrency, often through investment scams that promise you can “make lots of money” with “zero risk.”

Many of these frauds involve business, government, or job impersonators who pretend to be someone you trust and convince you to send them money by buying and sending cryptocurrency to a wallet they control.

If you recently lost money to a cryptocurrency scam, you may be tempted to hire a third-party tracing or “recovery” company, but this often leads to more fraud and more lost money, since many of these services have no real ability to reclaim funds and simply charge high upfront fees.

If you suspect you are a victim of a cryptocurrency scam, you should notify your bank immediately and file a complaint with the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3), then speak with a reputable law firm or law enforcement contact rather than handing over more money to anyone who cold-contacts you and promises a guaranteed recovery.

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