Our international litigation team has been seeing a vertible ton of a particularly sinster crypto/forex scam: The “Sha Zhu Pan” (Chinese: 杀猪盘) or, “Butchering the Pig” scam.
The typical email we receive from the victims of this forex or crypto scam is usually something like the below email, which describes a textbook “butchering the pig” scam:
I met a person on a dating app. This person suggested we switch our chat conversation over to WhatsApp. Our relationship developed and deepened over sharing life experiences and emotional stories. After a period of time, this person casually mentioned the incredible gains they were earning on their investments, and then introduced me to this forex (foreign exchange)/cryptocurrency investment opportunity.
After researching and testing the investment opportunity out and making huge gains on my initial deposits, it seemed legitimate and I sent more money to the investment firm. I was told I could be a VIP member and even make higher gains if I sent more money, so I did.
Later, I tried to withdraw money from my investment account, but a customer service representative is telling me that I owe capital gains tax [or that my account has been frozen because authorities believe it is involved in money laundering]. The customer service representative told me that if I wired more money, I could then withdraw my money and profits. So I sent more money and cryptocurrency, but I still cannot withdraw any money. Now the…
