PENNSYLVANIA, USA — Have you ever received a random text on your phone or message on social media?
It may seem innocent at first, but local authorities say you could be a victim of a new relationship scam called "pig butchering."
Pig butchering is when scammers start a conversation with a random person over text or social media to scam them out of money.
Scammers call their victims "pigs" because they will "fatten" them up by building trust over a period of months or years. The scammers take them to the "butcher" by making their victims invest or send them a large amount of money.
Then the scammers will take that money or investment and vanish.
Pennsylvania State Police say many people are becoming victims across the state and warn anyone one could be a target.
"A lot of people will just not answer or turn them down right away, but they will move on to the next person," said James Grothey, community service officer for the Pennsylvania State Police. "They're going to do their homework, they're going to look at your social media accounts, and they want someone that's lonely. That makes [a victim] an easier target in this scam."
Pennsylvania State Police say these scammers typically come from foreign countries, specifically Southeast Asia.
Officials say there are things people can do to protect themselves from these scams:
- Avoid sharing financial and personal information online.
- Never send or invest money to someone you just met online or over the phone.
- Don't overshare personal information to someone you just met.