Investment scams, particularly those involving cryptocurrency, continue to inflict significant financial damage. The **FBI**'s latest public service announcement highlights a concerning new tactic: the use of physical couriers for cash collection. ### The Anatomy of a 'Pig Butchering' Scam These elaborate schemes typically begin with fraudsters establishing contact and building trust with targets via social media, dating apps, or messaging services. Once a relationship is forged, victims are lured into what appear to be lucrative, but ultimately fake, investment opportunities. The funds victims 'invest' are then siphoned off into accounts controlled by the scammers. ### The Courier Connection When legitimate financial institutions flag suspicious money transfers, scammers are now pivoting to in-person cash pickups. They manipulate victims into believing their accounts have been 'flagged' and that cash delivery is the only way to proceed. The **FBI** states that these couriers authenticate themselves using pre-arranged passwords or specific dollar bill serial numbers.  After the cash is collected, victims are shown a simulated increase in their virtual wallet balance, creating a false sense of success. However, any attempt to withdraw these 'winnings' results in the scammers demanding more cash for fabricated taxes and penalties, again collected via couriers. This perpetuates a vicious cycle of extortion. "When the courier arrives, they show the victim the dollar bill or provide the agreed-upon password to authenticate the courier's affiliation with the scammer," the **FBI** detailed in its announcement. ### Previous Warnings and Escalating Losses This isn't the first time the **FBI** has warned about couriers in scams. Two years prior, the agency highlighted their use in tech support and government impersonation scams. The **FBI**'s **2025 Internet Crime Report** revealed that U.S. victims lost nearly $21 billion to cyber-enabled crimes last year, with investment scams accounting for a staggering 49% of all scam-related incidents and $8.6 billion in losses. ### Protecting Yourself The **FBI** urges individuals to exercise extreme caution: * **Research:** Thoroughly investigate any cryptocurrency platforms before committing funds. * **Personal Information:** Never share your home address or deliver cash to unknown individuals. * **Unsolicited Contact:** Immediately cease all communication following unsolicited 'wrong number' messages. * **'Love Bombing':** Be vigilant against 'love bombing,' a manipulation technique used to rapidly build false trust. Victims of such scams are strongly advised to file a complaint with the **FBI**'s **Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3)** immediately, providing as much detail as possible, including names, communication methods, and bank accounts involved.