The Art of Deception: How Pig Butchering Scams Crypto Scammers Use Scripts to Manipulate Victims into Fraudulent Investments

Introduction:

The rise of cryptocurrency has created new opportunities for investors, but it has also spawned a wave of sophisticated scams. Among these, the so-called Pig Butchering scams have emerged as one of the most deceptive and destructive forms of financial fraud. In these scams, fraudsters, often operating as part of organized criminal networks, meticulously groom their victims by following carefully crafted scripts designed to establish trust, manipulate emotions, and ultimately lead the victim into making fraudulent cryptocurrency investments.

The term “pig butchering” refers to the methodical way scammers “fatten up” their victims—building a relationship through constant communication, fake investment successes, and emotional manipulation—before “slaughtering” them by encouraging large investments into phony crypto platforms. The scammers’ scripts are designed to guide every interaction, from the initial contact to the moment the victim transfers their money. These scripts are expertly written to exploit psychological vulnerabilities, such as fear of missing out (FOMO), trust, and even loneliness, leading victims into a financial trap that is difficult to escape.

Pig butchering scammers use these prepared scripts to manipulate their victims, leading them step-by-step through a process that ends in financial ruin. Understanding these tactics is crucial for recognizing the signs of a scam and protecting oneself from falling prey to these sophisticated fraudsters.

The following is a real introduction script where the scammer introduces the opportunity to the victim:

ORIGINAL CHNESE

针对开户反复洗一直不愿意加金：
我的朋友，你每一次看见我的收益之后你有什么感想吗？
羡慕？祝贺？还是望尘莫及？
当你告诉我你想和我一样取得胜利的时候，当我决定指导你的时候，我下定决定一定要让
你和我一样获得自己理想的利润！
但是似乎你在让我失望。。。可能你对我不信任，害怕，这个我都能理解，但是，你有我，
我不会让你失败的！相信我！
在叔叔分享的这么准确的交易信号下，当你每一笔的交易只赚取几美金的时候，我甚至在
为自己感到难过，
我在想，难道你每一笔交易只赚取几美金让你很满足了？
你会告诉我，你没有钱投资，在我看来这些都不是阻止你前进的借口，因为一个想前进的
人，是会想办法接触一切困难！
如果现在你的每一笔交易可以赚取 100 美金，至少是可以提高你的生活质量！那样我也
会很高兴，你让我看到了你前进的决定，
有一颗追求美好生活的心！
我可以给你一个建议，你可以增加你的本金，至少这是提高你收入的最简单的办法
如果你还是每天只是赚取几美金，我很想知道你当初要求我教你投资美元期权的目的是什
么？

TRANSLATED IN ENGLISH

I have been unwilling to add funds due to repeated washes after opening an account:

My friend, what do you think every time you see my profits?
envious? congratulate? Or is it too far behind?

When you told me that you wanted to win like me, when I decided to coach you, I made up my mind to let you

You get your ideal profits just like me!

But it seems like you’re letting me down. . . Maybe you don’t trust me or are afraid, I can understand this, but you have me,

I won’t let you fail! Believe me!

With such accurate trading signals shared by my uncle, when you only earn a few dollars per transaction, I even
feel sorry for myself,

I’m wondering, are you satisfied with just earning a few dollars per transaction?

You will tell me that you have no money to invest, and in my opinion these are not excuses to stop you from moving forward, because a person who wants to move forward

People will find ways to overcome all difficulties!

If you could earn $100 for each transaction now, it would at least improve your quality of life! So do I

I’ll be glad you showed me your decision to move forward,

Have a heart that pursues a better life!

I can give you a suggestion, you can increase your principal, at least this is the easiest way to increase your income

If you still only earn a few dollars a day, I would like to know what the purpose was when you asked me to teach you how to invest in U.S. dollar options.

What?

我会觉得你拥有这么好的机会，却选择用这么珍贵的交易信号只赚几美金，甚至让我认为
你是在浪费叔叔的交易信号！你认为呢？
当然这只是我给你的一些建议，我不希望你的收入还是很微薄，因为当我来土耳其的时候
我不希望给你的经济上带来任何压力
所以这是选择帮助你的原因，
我更希望你能在叔叔分享的交易信号下赚取更多的钱，只有这样我在土耳其享受着你给我
的美食，才不会有任何压力，那样我才是最开心的！
我对你甚至有一个目标，我想让你在美元期权上获得很好的胜利，让你买一辆自己喜欢的
车子，那样我会觉得我是成功的！

******************

话术是死的，
针对客户截取某段灵活使用
如果知道客户的具体痛点，工作，家庭或者妻子，或者孩子，之类的痛点，找个点切进
去，
没有钱就叫客户贷款，借钱，改变自己的生活！ 聊客户痛点的时候要适当给客户造梦！
造一个可以触摸到的梦！

I feel that you have such a good opportunity, but you choose to use such a precious trading signal to make only a few dollars, and even make me think that you are wasting uncle’s trading signals!

What do you think?

Of course, these are just some suggestions I give you.

I don’t want your income to be very meager, because when I come to Turkey, I don’t want to put any financial pressure on you.

So this is the reason for choosing to help you.

I hope you can make more money with the trading signals shared by your uncle.

Only in this way can I enjoy the food you give me in Turkey without any pressure, and then I will be the happiest!

I even have a goal for you.

I want you to win a good victory in US dollar options and let you buy a car you like.

Then I will feel that I am successful!

******************

The words are dead.

Cut a certain paragraph for the customer and use it flexibly.

If you know the specific pain points of the customer, such as work, family or wife, or children, find a point to cut in.

If there is no money, ask the customer to borrow money and change his life!

When talking about the customer’s pain points, you should create dreams for the customer appropriately!

Create a dream you can touch!

Typical Phases of a Pig Butchering Scam

Pig butchering scams, particularly those targeting cryptocurrency investors, are carefully orchestrated frauds that unfold in distinct phases. Each phase is designed to manipulate the victim’s emotions, build trust, and ultimately lure them into making significant financial investments. These scams rely on following pre-written scripts, allowing the fraudsters to maintain control over the conversation and subtly push the victim toward the final goal—stealing their money.

Here’s a breakdown of the typical phases involved in a pig butchering scam:

1. Initial Contact and Engagement

The scam begins with a seemingly harmless initial contact, often through social media platforms, dating apps, or messaging services. Scammers typically present themselves as friendly strangers or potential romantic interests. They may pose as someone seeking friendship, companionship, or a business connection. This approach is low-pressure and designed to create a comfortable atmosphere for the victim.

The goal of this phase is simple: to open a line of communication and begin establishing rapport. Scammers are trained to adapt their communication style to match the target’s personality and interests, slowly building trust and a sense of familiarity. During this phase, no mention of investments or cryptocurrency is made, allowing the relationship to feel organic and unforced.

2. Trust Building and Relationship Development

Once communication is established, scammers move to the next phase: building trust and deepening the relationship. At this stage, the scammer invests significant time in nurturing the victim’s trust and portraying themselves as sincere, likable, and even vulnerable. This phase can last weeks or even months, as scammers are patient and willing to wait for the right moment to introduce their fraudulent scheme.

The script they follow at this point focuses on creating a bond, often using emotional hooks. The scammer may share personal stories or fake struggles, appealing to the victim’s empathy. In many cases, the scammer will craft a persona that aligns closely with the victim’s desires, values, or interests. This creates an emotional connection, making the victim more receptive to future suggestions.

3. Introduction of the Investment Opportunity

Once trust has been established, the scammer begins introducing the idea of cryptocurrency investments. They casually mention their own success in crypto trading or other investment ventures, presenting it as something that has significantly improved their life. This is usually framed as a casual suggestion rather than a direct solicitation, as the scammer emphasizes how easy and profitable their “investments” have been.

The scammer will often show the victim fake screenshots of their supposed earnings or investment accounts to provide “proof” of the returns they’ve made. They might even offer the victim a small trial investment to get them started, giving the illusion of easy and immediate profits. The purpose of this phase is to make the scammer appear knowledgeable and credible, creating a scenario where the victim feels comfortable investing without suspecting any wrongdoing.

4. Escalation and Further Investment

After the victim has made an initial investment, scammers go into overdrive. The victim may see fake gains on their supposed cryptocurrency account, further reinforcing their trust in the scammer and the investment platform. As the victim becomes more confident, the scammer encourages them to invest larger sums to “take advantage of market opportunities” or “maximize profits.”

Throughout this phase, the scammer carefully follows a script designed to apply psychological pressure. Tactics such as fear of missing out (FOMO) are heavily employed, with the scammer creating a sense of urgency around particular investment opportunities. They may also use emotional manipulation, portraying themselves as a caring or romantic partner who wants to share financial success with the victim. This phase can last as long as the scammer believes they can extract more money, with victims sometimes investing life savings, taking out loans, or liquidating assets under the illusion of earning more.

5. The Exit: Sudden Loss or Disappearance

The scam reaches its devastating conclusion when the scammer decides they’ve taken as much as they can from the victim. At this point, one of two things typically happens. Either the scammer disappears, cutting off all contact and leaving the victim in confusion, or they claim that there’s an issue with the investment platform, such as a withdrawal problem or legal complications. They may even ask for more money to “resolve” the issue, prolonging the scam for as long as possible.

In some cases, scammers create fake crises, such as a government freeze on assets or the need for additional taxes or fees to withdraw funds. Victims, already deep in the scam and desperate to recover their money, may continue to send funds, believing they are on the verge of accessing their investments. Eventually, however, the scammer either vanishes or stops responding entirely, leaving the victim to realize they’ve been defrauded.

6. Aftermath: Emotional and Financial Devastation

Once the scam has run its course, victims are often left in financial ruin, having lost significant sums of money. In addition to the financial impact, the emotional toll can be equally damaging. Many victims experience profound shame, embarrassment, and guilt for having fallen for the scam. These feelings often prevent victims from reporting the crime or seeking help, making recovery more difficult.

Scammers rely on the emotional vulnerability they’ve built over the course of the scam to isolate their victims. By the time the victim realizes what has happened, they’ve often been manipulated into believing that the scammer was a trustworthy person who genuinely cared for them. The betrayal can be devastating, leaving victims to pick up the pieces both emotionally and financially.

Understanding the phases of a pig butchering scam is crucial to recognizing the red flags before falling into the trap. These scams are meticulously planned and executed, relying on psychological manipulation and emotional exploitation to achieve their goals. By recognizing the signs early on, individuals can protect themselves from becoming victims of this highly organized and insidious form of fraud.