What is a Pig Butchering Scam?
Synonyms:
| Chinese Terminology | English Terminology | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 杀猪盘 | Pig Butchering Scam | Common term, refers to scammers treating victims as “pigs,” fattening them up before draining them all at once. |
| 赌博杀猪盘 | Gambling Pig Butchering Scam | A type of pig butchering scam that combines illegal gambling with romance fraud. |
| 投注杀猪盘 | Betting Scam / Gambling Scam | General term for scams involving fake gambling platforms. |
| 投注类杀猪局 | – | Underground slang, refers specifically to pig butchering scams driven by gambling lures. |
| 养猪 / 养鱼 | Farming the Pig / Grooming | Scammers maintain a long-term “romantic relationship” with victims to build trust. |
| 黑台子 | Rigged Gambling Platform | Refers to "manipulated gambling platforms", emphasizing that outcomes are not random; commonly used in anti-fraud explanations. |
| 黑平台 | Unlicensed Gambling Site | Refers to "unlicensed gambling sites", emphasizing their illegality. |
| 诈骗平台 | Unlicensed Gambling Site | Refers to "unlicensed gambling sites", emphasizing their illegality. |
Pig-Butchering Gambling Scam is a new type of hybrid telecom fraud that combines "romance scam + fake gambling." Scammers use social platforms (such as WeChat, Momo, Tantan, Facebook, etc.) with lures like "romantic relationships," "investment opportunities," or "guaranteed gambling wins" to gradually guide victims to register on illegal gambling platforms (commonly known as black sites). Initially, victims are allowed to win small amounts to gain trust, and then they are encouraged to place high-stake bets, leading to a one-time large-scale fraud, often resulting in financial ruin for the victim.
Because the operation resembles "fattening a pig before slaughter," it is known as a "Pig-Butchering Scam."
📌 Slang Glossary:
“Pig”: Refers to a potential victim (target), e.g., “This pig is almost fattened up.”
“Pigsty”: Refers to scammer-managed chat groups or victim management systems used on social platforms.
“Bleeding”: When the victim starts making large bets and gets scammed out of a significant amount of money in one go.
“Out of control”: When the victim realizes the scam or the platform disappears, losing contact and making it impossible to continue scamming.
Operation Process of Gambling Pig-Butchering Scams
| Stage | Description |
|---|---|
| 🧲 Fishing Phase | Scammers impersonate wealthy and attractive individuals to approach victims on dating or chat platforms, actively engaging in conversation and building a fake romantic relationship. |
| 🪤 Betting Inducement | The scammer “casually” mentions a foolproof gambling platform (e.g., sports betting, lottery, baccarat apps), shows fake winning screenshots, and encourages the victim to register. |
| 🎲 Early Winning | Through backend manipulation, the victim is allowed to win small bets at first, creating trust and a sense of addiction. |
| 💸 Betting Escalation | The scammer begins urging the victim to increase bets, borrow money, or even take loans, saying things like “just one last big win before we stop.” |
| 🚫 Withdrawal Denial | Once large sums are involved, the platform prevents withdrawals using excuses such as “account frozen,” “tax payment required,” or “identity verification needed.” |
| 🧨 Final Collapse | The platform suddenly shuts down, customer service disappears, and the scammer blocks the victim—making all funds unrecoverable. |
Characteristics of Pig-Butchering Scams
| Characteristic | Description |
|---|---|
| Highly Constructed Persona | Scammers spend time building trust by acting as romantic partners, confidants, or mentors to lower the victim’s guard. |
| Use of Illegal Gambling Platforms | The platforms used are often unlicensed, fully controlled by the scammers(“black sites”).: |
| Strong Profit Temptation | Common phrases include “guaranteed profit,” “system loophole,” or “sure-win plan” to lure victims. |
| Difficult to Verify Platforms | Often fake websites or counterfeit apps (APK files) privately sent via links or chat. |
⚠ What Is a "Black Platform"?
A black platform refers to the core tool used in pig-butchering scams. It is an unlicensed gambling website or app with manipulable outcomes, designed for fraud.
These platforms often:
Mimic the interface of legitimate gambling companies, appearing “professional and reliable”;
Allow normal betting and withdrawals in the early stages, but freeze or restrict withdrawals once large sums are involved;
Feature back-end systems that can manipulate odds, match results, and account balances in real time;
Work with “fake customer support” or “fake risk control agents” for secondary fraud schemes.
🛑 A black platform is essentially the “pigpen” in gambling scams — all funds eventually get swallowed by the platform’s backend and become unrecoverable.
Common Victim Profiles
Emotionally vulnerable singles
Middle-aged and elderly people lacking financial literacy
Young individuals seeking quick wealth
Migrant workers employed away from home
Newcomers unfamiliar with online gambling platforms
Summary
Gambling Pig-Butchering Scam is a highly deceptive and destructive form of fraud that exploits both “romance” and “gambling” to gradually drain victims of their money and trust. Understanding the tactics, staying alert, and avoiding illegal gambling platforms are key to protecting one’s financial security.