Romance Crypto Scams (Pig-Butchering Schemes)
Romance crypto scams—commonly referred to as pig-butchering schemes—are one of the most dangerous forms of online investment fraud. These scams do not begin with money. They begin with trust, emotional connection, and long-term manipulation, often lasting weeks or months before any investment is introduced.
ForteClaim investigations show that victims are groomed through social platforms, personal conversations, and relationship narratives, then directed into controlled crypto trading platforms where funds become inaccessible.
This page explains how romance crypto scams work and links to platforms already reviewed and flagged by ForteClaim.
How Romance Crypto Scams Actually Work
Unlike traditional scams, romance crypto scams follow a slow, deliberate structure:
- Initial contact via Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, LinkedIn, or dating apps
- Friendly conversation and emotional bonding
- Gradual trust building and personal disclosure
- Introduction of crypto trading or “side income”
- Claims of insider knowledge, mentors, or family experts
- Guidance into a specific trading platform
- Early profits or small withdrawals
- Pressure to deposit larger amounts
- Withdrawal blocks, fees, or silence
At no point does the victim truly control the platform or the funds.
Emotional Manipulation Is the Core Weapon
Romance crypto scams rely on psychological leverage, not technical skill.
Common manipulation tactics include:
- daily check-ins and emotional reassurance
- encouragement during stress or loneliness
- promises of shared financial freedom
- minimizing doubts or warning signs
- framing losses as temporary or technical
Victims are not careless—they are emotionally invested before money is involved.
Platforms Commonly Used in Romance Crypto Scams
Once trust is established, victims are almost never sent to legitimate exchanges for actual trading. Instead, they are guided into platform-controlled environments, often described as:
- private or “invite-only” exchanges
- options or futures trading platforms
- AI-assisted or signal-based systems
- H5 mobile web trading apps
These platforms display balances and profits but do not provide independent custody or transparent withdrawals.
Romance-Linked Platforms Flagged by ForteClaim
The following platforms have been directly connected to romance-based crypto scam patterns and have been reviewed on ForteClaim:
- CBOT (cboter.com) – Facebook relationship grooming leading to Base wallet transfers and fake options trading
👉 https://forteclaim.com/cbot-review - Everwyn Quant Academy – Social trust and mentorship narrative used to promote AI-based trading
👉 https://forteclaim.com/everwynmba-com-review - Professor David’s Training Academy – TikTok recruitment, assistant pressure, and post-trade commission demands
👉 https://forteclaim.com/professor-davids-training-academy-review - Winldex Wealth / Windlex – LinkedIn credibility framing followed by restricted platform withdrawals
👉 https://forteclaim.com/winldexwealth-org-review - AdvancedStocksOnline – Influencer impersonation combined with relationship grooming
👉 https://forteclaim.com/advancedstocksonline-com-review - TPMT-EX.info / NextLeap variants – Long-term contact followed by forced deposits and escalating “fees”
👉 https://forteclaim.com/tpmt-ex-info-review
Different names, different stories—the same structure.
Why Small Withdrawals Don’t Mean Safety
One of the most deceptive tactics used in romance crypto scams is allowing:
- early profits
- small withdrawals
- “proof” transactions
This phase is intentional. It builds confidence and prepares victims to commit larger amounts. Once deposits increase, withdrawal conditions change or access is blocked entirely.
This is not a technical issue—it is the business model.
What To Do If You’re Involved in a Romance Crypto Scam
If you recognize this pattern:
- Stop sending money immediately
- Do not pay taxes, commissions, or “verification” fees
- Preserve all messages, wallet addresses, and screenshots
- Do not rely on platform support for resolution
- Report the incident to appropriate consumer or financial authorities
Attempting to recover funds by complying with demands almost always results in further losses.
ForteClaim Verdict
Romance crypto scams are deliberate, systematic, and emotionally engineered. They succeed by building trust first and exploiting it later through controlled platforms and fabricated trading environments.
If a relationship:
- leads you to a private trading platform
- discourages outside verification
- controls your ability to withdraw funds
then the risk is extreme.
Category Risk Level: Extremely High
ForteClaim Status: Priority Exposure Category