The Commodity Futures Trading Commission's (CFTC) Office of Customer Outreach and Education (OCEO) aims to disseminate targeted information regarding crypto relationship investment scams via new partnerships.
American Bankers Association Foundation, a "private regulator" and other federal agencies are working with the OCEO to create and distribute an infographic to help viewers recognize and avoid "pig butchering" schemes, according to a CFTC release. In addition, the OCEO is collaborating with the U.S. Security and Exchange Commission’s Office of Investor Education and Advocacy and other organizations to develop an investor alert related to pig butchering scams.
“Partnering with federal and state regulators as well as consumer protection groups and other organizations helps spread the CFTC’s customer education message and hopefully reaches people before they can get scammed. These partnerships focus on a relationship confidence fraud the perpetrators commonly refer to as ‘pig butchering,’ that is estimated to cost Americans billions each year," said Office of Customer Education and Outreach Director Melanie Devoe in a statement.
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Pig butchering scams have increasingly replaced Ponzi schemes in the past year as criminals try to gain higher rewards from more targeted attacks.
"Pig butchering scams earn their name from the way scammers 'fatten up' their victims to extract maximum value. This typically involves cultivating a romantic relationship over time through text messages or dating apps, ultimately persuading the victim to invest in a fraudulent scheme," wrote The Block's Brian McGleenon.
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