London Daily

Focus on the big picture.
Thursday, Oct 23, 2025

'Pig butchering' among four convincing new scams Which? says you should know about

'Pig butchering' among four convincing new scams Which? says you should know about

"Pig butchering" and fake missing person scams - they're among the latest ways that fraudsters are out to get hold of your money.
A new wave of convincing scams is "bombarding consumers from every direction", according to consumer group Which?.

The group has issued a warning about the four most convincing scams seen so far this year, such as "pig butchering" and fake missing person appeals.

Lisa Barber, Which? tech editor, said: "It's appalling that 2023 has seen scammers continuing to thrive, as a new wave of convincing scams bombards consumers from every direction.

"Consumers can help protect themselves from scams by accessing the wide range of free, expert advice on Which?'s website, from signing up to our scam alerts service to getting answers on how to get their money back if they do fall victim to fraud."

Which? says the scams to watch out for include:

Pig butchering

The scammer and victim usually meet on a dating site and, after gaining their trust ("fattening them up") the scammer eventually asks the victim to move on to a private messaging service, removing them from the protections offered by the dating website.

The scammer claims to have been a successful investor - usually in property or cryptocurrency - and offers to invest some of the victim's money.

The victim is sometimes shown a crypto-trading platform controlled by the scammer and encouraged to sign up and deposit money.

One UK-based victim lost £107,000 to a scam like this, Which? said, believing she was investing in retirement apartments overseas.

Fake missing person appeals

People are asked to share fake online posts about missing people.

Near-identical posts are shared around the world with the location changed. Comments are turned off on the posts so that people cannot alert others to the inconsistencies.

After the post has gained many likes, it is edited to be about something different, such as an investment scam - the large number of likes add credibility.

Which? suggested sharing only posts from official organisations, such as police or missing persons charities.

PayPal scams

When people receive a "money request" from a genuine PayPal address - it might seem real but scammers can send out fake payment requests, often for high-value items, or posing as HMRC demanding "overdue" tax payments.

Do not pay PayPal invoices you do not recognise or call phone numbers in those invoices, Which? said.

Fake app scams

Apps that install malware on phones, steal data and perpetuate scams.

App stores do take steps to tackle the problem, but threats remain. When installing an app, click on the developer's name and check what other apps it has made. Also check that the app's request for permission - such as a request to use the camera - are relevant to the app's functions.

Remember also that app reviews can be fake.

People who believe they may have been scammed should contact their payment provider and report the scam to Action Fraud.

Earlier this month, the government published a new strategy aimed at dealing with fraud - banning cold calls for all financial products, such as those relating to insurance or sham crypto schemes.

There are also plans for the government to work with Ofcom to tackle number spoofing, so fraudsters cannot impersonate legitimate UK phone numbers.

These plans will allow banks to delay processing payments for longer to enable suspect transactions to be investigated.
Newsletter

Related Articles

0:00
0:00
Close
Porsche Reverses EV Strategy as New CEO Bets on Petrol and Hybrids
Singapore’s Prime Minister Warns of ‘Messy’ Transition to Post-American Global Order
Andreessen Horowitz Sets Sights on Ten-Billion-Dollar Fund for Tech Surge
US Administration Under President Donald Trump Reportedly Lifts Ban on Ukraine’s Use of Storm Shadow Missiles Against Russia
‘Frightening’ First Night in Prison for Sarkozy: Inmates Riot and Shout ‘Little Nicolas’
White House Announces No Imminent Summit Between Trump and Putin
US and Qatar Warn EU of Trade and Energy Risks from Tough Climate Regulation
Apple Challenges EU Digital Markets Act Crackdown in Landmark Court Battle
Nicolas Sarkozy begins five-year prison term at La Santé in Paris
Japan stocks surge to record as Sanae Takaichi becomes Prime Minister
This Is How the 'Heist of the Century' Was Carried Out at the Louvre in Seven Minutes: France Humiliated as Crown with 2,000 Diamonds Vanishes
China Warns UK of ‘Consequences’ After Delay to London Embassy Approval
France’s Wealthy Shift Billions to Luxembourg and Switzerland Amid Tax and Political Turmoil
"Sniper Position": Observation Post Targeting 'Air Force One' Found Before Trump’s Arrival in Florida
Shouting Match at the White House: 'Trump Cursed, Threw Maps, and Told Zelensky – "Putin Will Destroy You"'
Windows’ Own ‘Siri’ Has Arrived: You Can Now Talk to Your Computer
Thailand and Singapore Investigate Cambodian-Based Prince Group as U.S. and U.K. Sanctions Unfold
‘No Kings’ Protests Inflate Numbers — But History Shows Nations Collapse Without Strong Executive Power
Chinese Tech Giants Halt Stablecoin Launches After Beijing’s Regulatory Intervention
Manhattan Jury Holds BNP Paribas Liable for Enabling Sudanese Government Abuses
Trump Orders Immediate Release of Former Congressman George Santos After Commuting Prison Sentence
S&P Downgrades France’s Credit Rating, Citing Soaring Debt and Political Instability
Ofcom Rules BBC’s Gaza Documentary ‘Materially Misleading’ Over Narrator’s Hamas Ties
Diane Keaton’s Cause of Death Revealed as Pneumonia, Family Confirms
Former Lostprophets Frontman Ian Watkins Stabbed to Death in British Prison
"The Tsunami Is Coming, and It’s Massive": The World’s Richest Man Unveils a New AI Vision
Outsider, Heroine, Trailblazer: Diane Keaton Was Always a Little Strange — and Forever One of a Kind
Dramatic Development in the Death of 'Mango' Founder: Billionaire's Son Suspected of Murder
Two Years of Darkness: The Harrowing Testimonies of Israeli Hostages Emerging From Gaza Captivity
EU Moves to Use Frozen Russian Assets to Buy U.S. Weapons for Ukraine
Europe Emerges as the Biggest Casualty in U.S.-China Rare Earth Rivalry
HSBC Confronts Strategic Crossroads as NAB Seeks Only Retail Arm in Australia Exit
U.S. Chamber Sues Trump Over $100,000 H-1B Visa Fee
Shenzhen Expo Spotlights China’s Quantum Step in Semiconductor Self-Reliance
China Accelerates to the Forefront in Global Nuclear Fusion Race
Yachts, Private Jets, and a Picasso Painting: Exposed as 'One of the Largest Frauds in History'
Australia’s Wedgetail Spies Aid NATO Response as Russian MiGs Breach Estonian Airspace
McGowan Urges Chalmers to Cut Spending Over Tax Hike to Close $20 Billion Budget Gap
Victoria Orders Review of Transgender Prison Placement Amid Safety Concerns for Female Inmates
U.S. Treasury Mobilises New $20 Billion Debt Facility to Stabilise Argentina
French Business Leaders Decry Budget as Macron’s Pro-Enterprise Promise Undermined
Trump Claims Modi Pledged India Would End Russian Oil Imports Amid U.S. Tariff Pressure
Surging AI Startup Valuations Fuel Bubble Concerns Among Top Investors
Australian Punter Archie Wilson Tears Up During Nebraska Press Conference, Sparking Conversation on Male Vulnerability
Australia Confirms U.S. Access to Upgraded Submarine Shipyard Under AUKUS Deal
“Firepower” Promised for Ukraine as NATO Ministers Meet — But U.S. Tomahawks Remain Undecided
Brands Confront New Dilemma as Extremists Adopt Fashion Labels
The Sydney Sweeney and Jeans Storm: “The Outcome Surpassed Our Wildest Dreams”
Erika Kirk Delivers Moving Tribute at White House as Trump Awards Charlie Presidential Medal of Freedom
British Food Influencer ‘Big John’ Detained in Australia After Visa Dispute
×