Romance & Pig Butchering Scams in Australia
Australians lost $23.6 million to romance scams in 2024. Learn about the devastating "pig butchering" variation targeting 5,000+ victims.
In 2024, Australians reported losing $23.6 million to dating and romance scams, though more than $40 million was lost to romance baiting scams in 2023. The Australian Federal Police (AFP) is warning that a manipulative scam called "pig butchering" is targeting Australians with the promise of friendship and financial windfalls.
In February 2025, the Joint Policing Cybercrime Coordination Centre (JPC3) identified more than 5,000 Australian-based phone numbers
These phone numbers were linked to messages found on an end-to-end encryption platform during an investigation into a scam compound in Manila. Think about that number. Five thousand Australians whose contact information ended up in a criminal database used to target victims. Australians aged over 55 suffered the highest individual losses, some devastating entire life savings built over decades of work.
What is Pig Butchering?
Pig butchering, also known as romance baiting and Sha Zhu Pan (杀猪盘)
A scam where offenders devote long periods of time, sometimes months, to gain the trust of victims before encouraging them to invest in the share market, cryptocurrency, or foreign currency exchanges. The name comes from the concept of "fattening up a pig before slaughter." It's a chilling metaphor that describes exactly what these criminals do: build trust and emotional connection before the financial manipulation begins.
The global growth is alarming:
In 2024, pig butchering revenue grew nearly 40% year over year, with the number of deposits to pig butchering scams growing nearly 210% over the same period. Crypto fraud was estimated at US$12.4 billion in 2024, with pig butchering scams contributing 33.2%.
These aren't isolated incidents. These are industrial-scale operations running from organised compounds with hundreds of workers targeting victims systematically.
How Pig Butchering Scams Work
Understanding the timeline helps you recognise when you're being targeted. The scam typically unfolds over months, with each phase carefully calculated to deepen your emotional and financial investment.
Phase 1: Initial Contact (Week 1)
Unlike traditional romance scams on dating apps, pig butchering often starts with cold texting on messaging apps like WhatsApp, WeChat, Line, or Telegram. The message may appear to be a wrong number or "accidental" contact. "Hi Sarah, are we still meeting for coffee tomorrow?" When you reply that they have the wrong number, they apologise and start a friendly conversation. It seems innocent, even charming.
Phase 2: Building Trust (Weeks 2-8)
The scammer engages in friendly conversation, sharing photos, personal stories, and building an emotional connection. They may express romantic interest or position themselves as a friend or mentor. They move quickly to encrypted platforms where conversations can't be monitored. They ask about your life, remember details you share, and create the feeling of genuine connection. For someone who's lonely, socially isolated, or simply open to new relationships, this feels real.
Phase 3: Lifestyle Displays (Weeks 4-12)
The scammer shares images of luxury lifestyles, successful investments, and financial gains. They position themselves as financially savvy and generous. They're not showing off. They're demonstrating that they have something you want: financial success and the knowledge to achieve it. The photos of expensive cars, watches, vacations, or homes aren't random. They're creating desire and establishing credibility.
Phase 4: Investment Introduction (Weeks 8-16)
The scammer casually mentions their investment success and offers to teach you or invite you to invest together. They make it seem like a friendly favour or romantic gesture. "I've been making good money with this trading platform. Let me show you how it works. I want to help you achieve financial freedom too." The framing is generous, not pushy. They're offering to share their success with you because they care about you.
Phase 5: Platform Introduction (Weeks 10-20)
You're directed to a fake cryptocurrency or investment platform that appears legitimate. It has professional design, real-time pricing data, customer support, and all the trappings of a legitimate exchange. Initial small investments show returns, building confidence. You deposit $500 and within days it grows to $650. The money appears in your account. You can see it. This builds trust in both the person and the platform.
Phase 6: Escalation (Weeks 12-30)
The scammer encourages larger investments. The fake platform shows increasing returns. Your initial $500 has grown to $800, then $1,200. They suggest you could achieve even better returns with a larger investment. Maybe you deposit $5,000. Then $20,000. Victims may liquidate savings, borrow money from family, or even mortgage property. Each successful deposit reinforces the illusion that this is working.
Phase 7: The Harvest (When You Try to Withdraw)
You're told you must pay fees, taxes, or penalties first. You pay those, but new fees appear. The scammer may disappear at this point, or demands continue until you have no more money to send. Either way, you realise the platform was fake, the investments never existed, and the person you trusted was a criminal who never cared about you at all.
Traditional Romance Scams vs. Pig Butchering
Traditional Romance Scams:
Start on dating apps and request money for emergencies like medical bills or travel costs to visit you. They operate on shorter timelines, usually weeks, with one-time or repeated small requests. The emotional manipulation is direct: "I love you and I need your help."
Pig Butchering Scams:
Use cold messaging on WhatsApp or WeChat rather than dating apps. They focus on investment and trading rather than emergencies. They involve cryptocurrency or forex platforms that appear legitimate. They operate on much longer timelines, stretching across months. They result in large-scale financial manipulation where victims lose tens or hundreds of thousands of dollars. The emotional manipulation is more subtle: "I care about you and I want to help you succeed financially." Both are devastating, but pig butchering represents an evolution in sophistication and financial damage.
Who Gets Targeted?
Australians aged 55 and older suffered the highest individual losses to romance baiting scams in 2023.
Culturally and linguistically diverse communities accounted for more than 30% of total losses, representing $12 million in stolen funds. Socially isolated individuals seeking connection and companionship are particularly vulnerable. So are financially comfortable individuals with savings or assets to invest.
Here's what surprises many people: tech-savvy individuals fall victim to pig butchering scams across all socioeconomic levels and digital literacy levels. Being comfortable with technology doesn't protect you from emotional manipulation. Understanding cryptocurrency doesn't prevent you from trusting someone who seems to care about you. These scams succeed because they exploit human psychology, not technical knowledge gaps.
Warning Signs to Watch For
Unexpected contact from unknown numbers, especially on WhatsApp, WeChat, or Telegram, should raise immediate suspicion. Legitimate romantic connections don't typically start with "wrong number" messages. Rapid relationship escalation with quick declarations of love, affection, or deep friendship within days or weeks indicates manipulation. Real relationships develop more gradually. Moving to encrypted platforms through requests to continue conversations on private messaging apps suggests the scammer wants to avoid platform monitoring.
Reluctance to meet in person or video call with excuses about location, work, or technical issues is a major red flag. If someone truly cares about you, they'll want to see you face to face. Investment discussion where the person mentions successful trading, cryptocurrency gains, or investment opportunities should immediately trigger skepticism when combined with romantic or friendly overtures. Luxury lifestyle displays featuring expensive cars, watches, vacations, or homes are designed to create desire and establish false credibility.
Offers to teach you trading or investing while positioning themselves as a mentor indicate pig butchering tactics. Specific platform recommendations directing you to unknown trading or cryptocurrency exchanges rather than established platforms like Coinbase or Binance suggest a fake platform they control. Pressure to invest more after initial success is the escalation phase. Withdrawal difficulties requiring fees, taxes, or penalties before you can access your money confirm the scam. Once you can't withdraw, you're never getting that money back.
How to Protect Yourself
The ACCC's number one warning for Valentine's Day is simple: never take investment advice from an online romantic interest. This single rule protects you from the vast majority of pig butchering scams. If someone you've never met in person encourages you to invest money, it's a scam regardless of how strong the emotional connection feels.
Request a live video call early in the relationship, ideally within the first week of conversation. Scammers often make excuses to avoid this because they're using stolen photos and can't appear as the person in those images. Be skeptical of random contacts because legitimate romantic connections don't start with "wrong number" messages on encrypted apps. Real people meet through dating apps, mutual friends, shared interests, or social activities.
Research any investment platform through ASIC's investor alert list before depositing money. Verify the platform is registered, read independent reviews, and search for complaints. Talk to trusted friends or family about new online relationships and investment opportunities. Isolation is a key tactic scammers use. They want you making decisions alone without outside perspectives that might recognise the manipulation.
Never send money to someone you haven't met in person regardless of the reason or emotional connection. This includes investments, emergency funds, travel money, medical bills, or any other request. Slow down when you feel rushed or pressured. Scammers create urgency and emotional intensity to prevent critical thinking. Take time to research, consult others, and consider whether what's happening makes sense.
Use reputable dating platforms with verification features rather than moving to private messaging immediately. Established dating apps have fraud detection and reporting systems. Encrypted messaging apps have no oversight. When someone wants to move off a dating app within the first few messages, ask yourself why they're avoiding a monitored platform.
What to Do If You're Being Scammed
If you realise you're involved in a romance or pig butchering scam, take action immediately. Stop all contact with the scammer even if you have emotional feelings for them. The person you think you know doesn't exist. The relationship was manufactured to steal your money. Don't send more money regardless of what they promise or threaten. Ignore all requests for fees, taxes, or penalties to release your funds. This is part of the scam. No additional payment will result in you receiving your money back.
Contact your bank if you've transferred money. Some transfers can be stopped or reversed if you act quickly enough, particularly if you used credit cards or bank transfers within the last few hours. The faster you report, the better your chances. File reports with the Australian Federal Police , Scamwatch , and ReportCyber . Your report helps authorities identify patterns and potentially disrupt criminal operations.
Save all evidence including screenshots, messages, transaction records, and the fake platform URL. Document everything before the scammer deletes accounts or websites. This evidence supports police investigations and helps protect others. Warn others by reporting the scammer's profiles on dating apps and social media to prevent additional victims from encountering the same criminal.
Seek emotional support because romance scams can be emotionally devastating. The combination of financial loss and emotional betrayal affects mental health significantly. Consider counselling or support groups for scam victims. Don't be ashamed. These are sophisticated, organised criminal operations often running from compounds with hundreds of workers using psychological manipulation techniques developed over years. Being victimised is not your fault. It doesn't mean you're stupid, gullible, or weak. It means you were targeted by professional criminals who exploit human needs for connection and financial security.
Protecting Elderly Family Members
Since Australians aged 55 and older suffer the highest individual losses, protecting elderly family members requires open communication and proactive monitoring. Have conversations about romance scams without judgment or condescension. Many older Australians feel embarrassed discussing online relationships with family members, which plays directly into scammers' hands. Create an environment where they feel comfortable sharing.
Set up SafeAus Family Protection to share scam alerts and verify suspicious messages together. This provides practical help without requiring them to admit they might be vulnerable. Encourage them to discuss new online relationships with family before making any financial commitments. Frame this as a safety check rather than questioning their judgment.
Warn about investment opportunities from online contacts in general terms rather than accusing them of being naive. Share news articles about pig butchering scams and discuss how sophisticated these operations have become. Read our protecting elderly guide for more detailed strategies on having these conversations effectively.
With $23.6 million lost to romance scams in 2024 and pig butchering growing 40% globally, these scams represent one of the most emotionally and financially devastating threats facing Australians. The AFP is actively investigating scam compounds and criminal operations, but prevention remains your best protection. Remember the ACCC's advice: never take investment advice from an online love interest. If someone you've never met in person is encouraging you to invest, it's a scam regardless of how strong the emotional connection feels or how legitimate the opportunity appears.