What is ‘pig butchering’? This new romance scam is increasingly targeting Canadians
A Canadian explainer describes pig-butchering as romantic deception and asserts more sophisticated tactics. The brief text supplies no measured trend.
CommentaryData from The GDELT Project · Reviewed and interpreted by RSRC
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Explore the coverage
Find reporting by topic, place or language. Open a record to see why it was included and what the available evidence supports.
Matching coverage over time
The chart uses every search filter above and all matching records, across every results page. The percentage denominator is all included URLs in the same dates, before theme, language, country or text filters.
Distinct included URLs matching these filters in each observation month. Select a point to explore its records. On small screens, scroll the chart horizontally.
A URL counts once per month and can appear in several months or themes. Themes describe the current record assessment; months show URL observations, not when events or each claim first appeared. Warnings, allegations and reported experiences are all included when coded. Partial months, collection gaps and changes in sources affect both measures. A higher share does not establish a higher risk to victims.
Read the graph as a table
| Observation month | Matching URLs | All included URLs | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan 2025 | 263 | 591 | 44.5% |
| Feb 2025 | 405 | 1,629 | 24.9% |
| Mar 2025 | 291 | 561 | 51.9% |
| Apr 2025 | 121 | 390 | 31.0% |
| May 2025 | 113 | 398 | 28.4% |
| Jun 2025 | 82 | 209 | 39.2% |
| Jul 2025 | 132 | 522 | 25.3% |
| Aug 2025 | 129 | 447 | 28.9% |
| Sep 2025 | 161 | 613 | 26.3% |
| Oct 2025 | 128 | 483 | 26.5% |
| Nov 2025 | 118 | 392 | 30.1% |
| Dec 2025 | 91 | 333 | 27.3% |
| Jan 2026 | 523 | 530 | 98.7% |
| Feb 2026 | 1,101 | 1,106 | 99.5% |
| Mar 2026 | 358 | 360 | 99.4% |
| Apr 2026 | 485 | 491 | 98.8% |
| May 2026 | 779 | 785 | 99.2% |
| Jun 2026 | 594 | 842 | 70.5% |
| Jul 2026 | 658 | 1,143 | 57.6% |
| Aug 2026 | 272 | 640 | 42.5% |
| Sep 2026 | 147 | 638 | 23.0% |
| Oct 2026 | 8 | 30 | 26.7% |
6,854 matching media records
Each record represents a source web page, not a verified incident. Different URLs can describe the same event. About these records.
San Valentín bajo amenaza: cómo operan las estafas románticas con inteligencia artificial
Coverage discusses AI-assisted romantic deception and prevention. Claims of increasing sophistication or scale are not evaluated causal effects in the saved text.
Prevention & supportWoman warns of romance scammers after mother loses over $200,000
A podcaster warns after her mother reportedly lost over $200,000 through online dating fraud. The personal account is not independently verified.
Reported caseNevada Secretary of State’s Office warns of Valentine’s Day romance scams
A warning, educational notice or advice item discusses romantic financial deception. The excerpt does not independently establish seasonal incidence or prevention effectiveness.
Prevention & supportWhat is ‘pig butchering’? This new romance scam is increasingly targeting Canadians
A Canadian explainer describes pig-butchering as romantic deception and asserts more sophisticated tactics. The brief text supplies no measured trend.
CommentaryTrue Love Or A Scam? Valentine's Day Prompts Warning From Netsafe
A warning, advice item or prevention notice discusses romantic deception. Brief claims of growth, vulnerability or comparative ranking are attributed and do not establish a measured population rate or effectiveness.
Prevention & supportOrganisierter Liebesbetrug verursacht Milliardenschäden
German coverage describes organized romantic-fraud operations and estimated billions in losses. The excerpt supplies no reproducible global estimate or period.
CommentaryWhat is ‘pig butchering’? This new romance scam is increasingly targeting Canadians
A Canadian explainer describes pig-butchering as romantic deception and asserts more sophisticated tactics. The brief text supplies no measured trend.
CommentaryValentine’s Day in Ontario: Romantic spots, trends and dating scam alerts
An Ontario lifestyle roundup mentions a pig-butchering romance-scam explainer. Its beauty and dating topics are not separate incidents.
Related mentionWie professionelle Heiratsschwindler im Internet die Liebe vorgaukeln | MDR.DE
A German explainer describes overseas groups feigning love to obtain money. Broad overseas references do not establish particular operation locations.
CommentaryRomance scammers will try to ruin Valentine’s Day in Connecticut and beyond
Advice cites an FTC average loss of $2,000 without a period or denominator in the excerpt. It should not be generalized to every victim.
Prevention & supportJustice. Le « routard » de l'escroquerie sentimentale, Frédérick Q, interpellé en Charente-Maritime
Gendarmes reportedly arrest Frédérick Q near Jonzac in Charente-Maritime. Labels such as serial scammer are source characterizations; the excerpt supplies no current conviction.
Reported caseSan Valentín: Policía Cibernética alerta estafas amorosas en Chihuahua
A warning, advice item or prevention notice discusses romantic deception. Brief claims of growth, vulnerability or comparative ranking are attributed and do not establish a measured population rate or effectiveness.
Prevention & supportOntario police warn of Valentine’s Day swindlers after alleged dating app scam
Toronto police report two Mississauga residents charged after dating-app contacts with people in Canada and the United States. Charges remain allegations and offender residence does not locate all victims.
Reported caseRomance scams target older adults with cryptocurrency schemes
AARP cites nearly one in ten people over fifty targeted by romantic approaches seeking money. Being targeted is not the same as losing money.
Research & trendsWhat is ‘pig butchering’? This new romance scam is increasingly targeting Canadians
A Canadian explainer describes pig-butchering as romantic deception and asserts more sophisticated tactics. The brief text supplies no measured trend.
Commentary'It's a crazy world out there': Information security officer talks online scam safety in age of AI
Coverage discusses AI-assisted romantic deception and prevention. Its claims of scale or persuasion are not independently measured in the retained text.
Prevention & supportWhat is ‘pig butchering’? This new romance scam is increasingly targeting Canadians
A Canadian explainer describes pig-butchering as romantic deception and asserts more sophisticated tactics. The brief text supplies no measured trend.
CommentaryJustice. Le « routard » de l'escroquerie sentimentale, Frédérick Q, interpellé en Charente-Maritime
Gendarmes reportedly arrest Frédérick Q near Jonzac in Charente-Maritime. Labels such as serial scammer are source characterizations; the excerpt supplies no current conviction.
Reported caseRomance fraud schemes become more sophisticated with artificial intelligence
Coverage discusses AI-assisted romantic deception and prevention. Claims of increasing sophistication or scale are not evaluated causal effects in the saved text.
Prevention & supportWhat is ‘pig butchering’? This new romance scam is increasingly targeting Canadians
A Canadian explainer describes pig-butchering as romantic deception and asserts more sophisticated tactics. The brief text supplies no measured trend.
CommentaryJustice. Le « routard » de l'escroquerie sentimentale, Frédérick Q, interpellé en Charente-Maritime
Gendarmes reportedly arrest Frédérick Q near Jonzac in Charente-Maritime. Labels such as serial scammer are source characterizations; the excerpt supplies no current conviction.
Reported caseNessel warns of Valentine's Day scammers
Michigan’s attorney general reissues advice about investment romance scams. Reissuing a warning is not a new incident.
Prevention & support'It's a crazy world out there': Information security officer talks online scam safety in age of AI
A prevention item, warning or educational event discusses romantic deception. Seasonal or growth claims in brief metadata are attributed and do not establish incidence or effectiveness.
Prevention & supportFBI Warns Of Romance Scams Ahead Of Valentine's Day
A warning, advice item or prevention notice discusses romantic deception. Brief claims of growth, vulnerability or comparative ranking are attributed and do not establish a measured population rate or effectiveness.
Prevention & support