'Pig Butchering' Scams Drain Life Savings from Chinese Immigrants in New York

H.L., a Chinese immigrant in her 50s living in Queens, New York, lost nearly everything she had to a 'pig butchering' scam. The scam began with a message from an unknown number pretending to be someone she knew named Mike.

The conversations with Mike lasted over eight months and were filled with casual chatter about daily life, shared photos, and reminiscing about experiences in China. H.L. eventually fell for his promise of lucrative investment opportunities in cryptocurrency.

She handed over $130,000 in cash to three different strangers sent by Mike, who gained her trust by pretending to be someone she knew. The money came from the sale of her home in Flushing.