Is a trading app asking me to deposit more cryptocurrency to unlock my profits a scam?
Yes. This is a pig-butchering or crypto trading scam. Your displayed profits do not exist, and any further deposit you make will also be stolen.
Last reviewed: 10 June 2026
Explanation
Pig-butchering scams — named after the practice of fattening a pig before slaughter — involve building a relationship over weeks, often through a wrong-number text or dating app, before introducing you to a cryptocurrency trading opportunity. You are guided to a convincing trading platform, often an app or website that closely mimics legitimate exchanges.
Your initial small deposit appears to grow rapidly on the platform's dashboard. When you attempt a withdrawal, you are told you must pay a tax advance, maintenance fee, or deposit more funds to reach a minimum threshold before withdrawals are processed. Every payment unlocks a new obstacle. The platform and your new contact disappear once you stop paying.
The trading dashboard is entirely fabricated. Balances are numbers on a screen controlled by the fraudsters, not real asset positions. No real trading occurs. The app or website is hosted and taken down quickly, often replaced by an identical platform under a new name.
Legitimate regulated cryptocurrency exchanges — Coinbase, Kraken, Binance, and similar — never require you to deposit additional funds to withdraw your existing balance. If you are being told otherwise, the platform is fraudulent.
Common red flags
- Platform introduced by a stranger you met through a random message or dating app
- Your balance appears to grow very quickly and consistently
- Withdrawals are blocked pending taxes, fees, or minimum deposit thresholds
- The app or website is not listed in any major app store
- Customer support only exists within the app, not through external channels
- Your contact becomes unavailable when you ask to withdraw funds
What to do now
- Stop all deposits immediately — no further payment will unlock your withdrawal
- Do not pay any claimed tax or fee — it will not result in a payout
- Capture screenshots of the platform, your balance, and all communications
- Report to your national cybercrime or fraud unit
- Report to your country's financial regulator — platforms operating without a licence are illegal
- Contact your bank or card issuer for any fiat deposits that may still be recallable
Frequently asked questions
My profits on the platform look real — how can they all be fake?
The platform is a convincing front-end interface. The numbers displayed are controlled by the fraudsters and bear no relation to any actual market. Think of it as a video game balance.
Is there any legal action I can take?
Yes — report to your national cybercrime unit, financial regulator, and the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) if you are in the US. Coordinated law enforcement actions have recovered funds in some large cases, though individual recovery is uncommon.