It was the start of a $280,000 nightmare (4.Viewing)

She flaunted an image of a wealthy lifestyle​

Novak’s experience is part of a growing online scam known as “pig-butchering,” which authorities say has drained billions from US victims through fake cryptocurrency investments.

It often starts with innocuous online messages from a fraudster posing as a romantic interest to gain trust and connection. As the bond grows, the scammers introduce the idea of crypto investing, projecting images of wealth and financial success to make it seem attainable. Experts have compared it to fattening a pig before slaughter.

https://us.cnn.com/2025/11/29/us/crypto-romance-scam-pig-butchering-cec

I cried when I read the story, he's a father trying his best and got taken by a professional scammer.

I recently read that the scammers themselves are often victims of human trafficking. They’re told they’ll get a high-paying tech job in Myanmar, but when they come their passports are confiscated and they’re forced to work and live in cramped offices behind barbed-wire fences. How someone sleeps at night knowing they're hurting so many people is beyond me.