Pig Butchering Setup Phase
The initial long-term social engineering phase of a pig-butchering investment scam, in which criminals build a deep, trusting relationship with the victim before introducing the fraudulent investment platform.
Also known as: pig butchering prelude, sha zhu pan setup, romance investment scam setup, long con setup
Last reviewed: 10 June 2026
Pig butchering scams (sha zhu pan) are among the most lucrative fraud types. The setup phase — sometimes lasting weeks or months — involves the scammer contacting the victim through a wrong-number text, dating app, or social media, then cultivating a genuine-feeling friendship or romance. The scammer invests significant time in daily messages, emotional support, and even small favours to build trust.
Once rapport is established, the scammer casually mentions a highly profitable investment or cryptocurrency opportunity. Because of the relationship context, the victim is far more receptive than they would be to a cold pitch. This phase is essentially an extended pretexting operation designed to make the victim an eager participant in their own defrauding.
Be alert to strangers who make initial contact via wrong-number texts or social media, quickly seek to move to private messaging, and steer conversations toward financial topics. Unsolicited investment advice from romantic contacts is a major red flag.
Examples
- A victim receives a 'wrong number' WhatsApp message; over six weeks the sender becomes a trusted friend before mentioning a 'family investment platform'.
- A dating-app match spends weeks building a relationship before asking the victim to try a cryptocurrency platform they 'use'.