NASHVILLE — As Valentine’s Day approaches, the Tennessee Department of Commerce & Insurance (TDCI) is warning residents about the increasing prevalence of “pig butchering” romance scams, which create financial devastation for victims. These scams, which build relationships over time to gain trust before defrauding individuals, are a growing concern nationwide.
Romance and “lonely hearts” scams traditionally aim for quick profits, but “pig butchering” schemes are protracted, causing long-term financial harm. According to TDCI Assistant Commissioner Elizabeth Bowling, scammers “create a false sense of trust and friendship all in an elaborate effort to rob their victims.” She encourages Tennesseans to be skeptical, question strangers, and never share personal or financial information with those they don’t know.
The scam often begins with a seemingly innocuous text message or voicemail from an unknown number, initiating a casual conversation. Over time, perpetrators build a relationship with the victim, eventually steering the discussion toward cryptocurrency and investment opportunities. They then “fatten up” the victim over months, ultimately defrauding them of significant savings, as described in a recent warning from WLAF (https://www.1450wlaf.com/saturday-is-valentines-day-learn-to-spot-red-flags-of-romance-scams/).
The rise of artificial intelligence is exacerbating the problem, making these scams more accessible and profitable for fraudsters. AI-enabled translation removes language barriers, expanding the pool of potential victims, according to research on AI and cybersecurity. A single scammer can now manage multiple schemes simultaneously, increasing their overall earnings.
Fraudsters are purchasing readily available “romance scam toolkits” on the dark web, complete with pre-built fake personas featuring AI-generated photos, conversation scripts, and deepfake video capabilities. This dramatically lowers the skill barrier to entry, making it easier for individuals to perpetrate these crimes.
While AI is augmenting the scams, it isn’t fully automating them yet. Many scammers are themselves victims, trapped in scam centers in Southeast Asia and forced to defraud others under threat of abuse. The utilize of AI, however, is likely to increase the profit margins for the criminal syndicates operating these centers.
The FBI has also issued warnings about romance scams ahead of Valentine’s Day, noting the use of fake profiles, images, videos, and voices to target victims on social media and dating platforms (https://thehill.com/policy/technology/5735335-fbi-warning-romance-scams-valentines-day/).
Romance scams are uniquely dangerous because they exploit a fundamental human need for love and connection. With increasing rates of loneliness – declared a public health epidemic by the U.S. Surgeon General in 2023 – individuals are particularly vulnerable to these schemes. Scammers often request money through difficult-to-recover methods like gift cards, wire transfers, or cryptocurrency, frequently fabricating crises to create a sense of urgency.
Victims are often targeted repeatedly, as scammers share profiles on “sucker lists” within criminal networks. Reporting scams early to the FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center, the Federal Trade Commission, and one’s bank can increase the chances of recovering stolen funds, but the vast majority of victims will not recoup their losses.
The TDCI encourages individuals to learn the red flags of these scams and to visit their blog for more information (https://www.tn.gov/commerce/news/2026/2/11/tdci-learn-to-spot-the-red-flags-of-pig-butchering-romance-scams.html).
