Pig butchering scams, how they work and how to avoid them

This report explains pig butchering scams—social engineering schemes where scammers initiate contact via misdirected messages, cultivate trust using polished personas, and then push victims to invest in cryptocurrency on real or spoofed platforms before fabricating withdrawal barriers (fees/taxes) to steal funds. It outlines consistent red flags (unsolicited outreach, model-like profiles, rapid investment talk, crypto focus) and advises recognizing these patterns early to avoid financial loss.