The Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department (LVMPD) has issued an important alert regarding a rising online scam, targeting particularly vulnerable individuals through the use of cryptocurrency. Dubbed the "Pig Butchering" scam, the fraud involves the cultivation of a seemingly benign online rapport to eventually fleece victims of their finances. The LVMPD outlines the scam's strategy: Firstly, perpetrators masquerade as friendly faces such as potential investors or romantic interests, initiating contact through social media or dating platforms.

In the next phase of the con, victims are enticed to invest in sham cryptocurrency or other financial enterprises, complete with falsified "gains" to win over their trust. The LVMPD's warning, shared through a social media post, details how scammers eventually make off with substantial sums of money by vanishing once a victim commits a significant investment. This deceit not only capitalizes on the technological sophistication but also preys on the social and emotional vulnerabilities of its targets.

LVMPD warns the public to be cautious of unsolicited messages and too-good-to-be-true investment offers. Don't send money or cryptocurrency to anyone you haven’t met in person and verified. These scams exploit those seeking business opportunities.

If you suspect you've encountered or fallen victim to a scam, LVMPD encourages you to report it to the Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) at ic3.gov. This will allow for further investigation into the incident.