Residents of Florida are being warned about a new crypto romance scam that’s operating under the names “pig butchering” and “pig slaughtering.” The names alone should be enough to make anyone run away, though for some reason, the scam has managed to permeate several online dating platforms and social media sites, meaning it is the latest scam of its kind to fully take form.
A New Online Crypto Scam Is A-Brewin’
These kinds of scams are nothing new, yet the fact that they’re so common suggests there are probably a lot of lonely people out there who latch onto someone the moment they think there’s interest. It’s a sad and unfortunate sight to see, but it’s even more unfortunate that so many of these individuals continue to get taken advantage of.
Jimmy Patronis – a chief financial officer – says that the way the scam operates is quite similar with several other crypto romance scams that have been uncovered in the last few years. Someone meets a potential mate online. Things start out well, they find themselves talking constantly, and then out of the blue, one of them suggests to the other they should begin investing in this new crypto opportunity they’ve discovered.
From there, the person – intrigued by the idea of making money and garnering investments – begins to put their hard-earned cash into a crypto wallet that is being monitored and controlled by illicit actors. They seem to be getting returns and thus, when they are prompted to put more money into the accounts, they immediately do so, thinking things could easily get better.
Before they have a chance to react, however, the alleged mate disappears completely along with all the money that’s been placed in the account. The scammer walks away a rich man or woman, while the potential victim is left with a broken heart, a bruised ego, and empty pockets. Patronis explained:
In Florida, we embrace emerging technology and innovation, but consumers must always stay on guard for scams, especially as new financial products like bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies become increasingly popular. Reports say cryptocurrency scams have bilked millions out of unsuspecting crypto investors, many of which were scammed through online dating apps over the course of several months. Just like with any major financial decision, consumers should do research and never transfer funds to someone they think is suspicious, untrustworthy, or whose identity they haven’t verified. You may as well kiss your money goodbye. If you feel you have been the victim of a scam, report it immediately at FraudFreeFlorida.com. Always remember: if an opportunity sounds too good to be true, it is.
Florida Needs to Watch Out
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is telling people in Florida that they should never mix online dating with investment advice.
Also, only scammers will demand crypto payments.
