Recovering After a Romance-Investment (Pig-Butchering) Scam
Steps to take after losing money to a pig-butchering scam — where a relationship was cultivated online before directing you to a fraudulent investment platform.
Last reviewed: 1 June 2026
First 10 minutes
- Stop sending any money to the platform or the person who introduced you to it
- Do not pay any 'withdrawal tax', 'compliance fee', or 'insurance deposit' — these are escalation tactics, not real charges
- Screenshot the trading platform interface, account balance, and all correspondence
- Screenshot the profile and chat history of the person who introduced you
- Note down every transaction reference, crypto wallet address, and platform URL used
First 24 hours
- Contact your bank or card provider for each payment method used and report the fraud
- If cryptocurrency was sent, note wallet addresses and transaction hashes for reporting purposes
- Report to your national fraud service and, if cryptocurrency was involved, to your national financial regulator
Contact your bank or payment provider
- Contact your bank immediately for any payments made by bank transfer or card and ask about recall or chargeback options
- If funds were sent via a crypto exchange, report to the exchange's fraud team — they may be able to flag destination wallets
- Ask your bank to review all recent transactions for any additional unauthorised activity
Evidence to preserve
- Screenshots of the fraudulent platform showing your account balance and transaction history
- All messages from the person who cultivated the relationship and directed you to the platform
- Transaction records, crypto receipts, and bank statements for all payments made
Secure your accounts and devices
- If you created accounts on the fraudulent platform using your real email or phone number, monitor those channels for follow-up contact
- Change passwords on any accounts the scammer had access to
- Be alert to 'recovery agents' claiming to retrieve your funds — these are almost always secondary scams
Report it
- Report to your national fraud/cybercrime service
- Report to the platform, bank, or provider involved
- Keep any reference numbers you're given
Pig-butchering scams (also known as sha zhu pan) are among the most financially devastating fraud types because victims invest gradually over weeks or months, often believing their growing balance is real. The platform is entirely fictitious: balances are fabricated numbers, and every withdrawal attempt triggers a new fee demand.
The emotional impact is compounded because the 'relationship' cultivated alongside the investment was also manufactured. Being targeted by this type of operation is not a reflection of your intelligence or character — these are large, sophisticated criminal enterprises. Focus on the practical recovery steps, reach out to trusted support, and report everything you have to give investigators the best chance of building a case.
Frequently asked questions
The platform says I have a large balance — can I retrieve it if I pay the withdrawal tax?
No. The balance shown on the fraudulent platform is fictitious. Any 'withdrawal tax', 'compliance fee', or 'insurance deposit' demanded is simply another way to extract more money. Do not pay any further amount.
Can crypto payments be traced and recovered?
Blockchain transactions are publicly traceable, and law enforcement increasingly uses blockchain analytics to pursue large-scale fraud. Report every wallet address to your national police cybercrime unit and to the FBI IC3 (if in the US). Recovery of funds is not guaranteed but reporting helps investigators.