New York CNN--.

The FBI states America has a "pig butchering" problem. And it's setting you back targets countless dollars.

"We're not speaking about what's going on at farms," claimed Frank Fisher, public events expert at the bureau's Albuquerque division. "We're talking about a cryptocurrency financial investment fraud that is sweeping the country."

The term pig butchering refers to an innocent target-- the "pig"-- being tricked by fraudsters into handing over cash for an assured high rate of return.

Scammers "plump up the pig by getting the sufferer to think that they're purchasing something and obtain them to move money into cryptocurrency," states Santa Clara Area, The golden state, area attorney Jeff Rosen, whose workplace takes care of a multi-agency job pressure combating technology-related criminal activities.

As soon as bad guys "plump up" their sufferers' digital budgets, they take the money, Rosen says.

Pig butchering procedures generally start with a primary method, Rosen tells CNN: Scammers blow up out numerous unrequested messages every day to unsuspecting targets via text message as well as social media, frequently with a harmless note like, "Hi, how are you?"

The fraudster operating under an incorrect identification builds a connection with the target, sometimes over simply a few weeks, before suggesting the victim "spend" in cryptocurrency.

One strategy involves assuring a victim that the fraudster has actually made substantial revenues in cryptocurrency, convincing the target they shouldn't miss out on the advantages of cryptocurrency investments.

Those that fall for the scam are coaxed right into sending a growing number of cash, as well as also offered with fictitious monetary declarations that make it appear their financial investments have actually made a substantial return.

"This is where the 'fattening up of the pig' is available in," Rosen says. Ultimately, "you become a little suspicious. You attempt speaking to the individual that contacted you online as well as request your cash back. [Yet] that person has actually ghosted you."

Rosen claims the holiday season is a specifically lucrative time for fraudsters as they frequently victimize individuals that may be feeling lonesome.

And while the first method is straightforward, Rosen says the actual scamming procedures his group has examined-- which commonly operate abroad consisting of in Cambodia and also China-- involve very sophisticated approaches.

"They have actually been educated by psycho therapists to try to figure out the very best method to manipulate individuals," he claims. "You're dealing with people that are going to use various psychological strategies to make you vulnerable and also to obtain you thinking about parting with your money."

Specialists say basic recognition and also persistance are vital to defending against on-line predators.

"Be extremely careful when you go on social media sites and dating applications as well as someone starts creating a partnership with you, and also wants you to start spending," claims the FBI's Fisher. "Do not get butchered."

As consumers spend billions on the internet this holiday season, the FBI says it has actually also seen a rise in frauds involving the mega-retailer Amazon.com. "Online lawbreakers' rip-offs are just limited by their imagination, and also they have a flawless sense of timing," says Fisher.

In one kind of fraud, "someone calls you and also professes to be from Amazon or another wholesaler distributor, and also they claim there's an issue with your credit card," Fisher includes. The scammer then asks for a new credit card number.

Another variant of the Amazon fraud includes a criminal calling a potential victim and suggesting a questionable acquisition has been flagged on the individual's account, which has resulted in the suspension of acquiring privileges. The sufferer is asked to make a repayment using charge card right after that to restore the account.

"Occasionally, they'll even endanger to report you to law enforcement regarding your acquisition," Fisher says. "An additional dead ringer. Do not fall for this rip-off."

Amazon's safety and security group advises consumers that the business will certainly never ask a client for personal information, as well as individuals should not respond to e-mails asking for account data or directly recognizable information.

The company stated in a declaration that it has worked to get rid of thousands of on the internet phishing web sites and also phone numbers connected with impersonation scams, as well as has actually referred thought scammers to law enforcement agencies worldwide.

"Fraudsters who try to impersonate Amazon.com placed consumers at risk," stated Dharmesh Mehta, Amazon's vice head of state of Offering Partner Solutions. "Although these scams take place outside our store, we will remain to buy protecting consumers as well as informing the public on exactly how to prevent rip-offs."

The FBI says other kinds of scams increasing this holiday are largely targeted at ripping off senior citizens. "Scammers tend to concentrate on the elderly since they recognize they're relying on, as well as they know older Americans normally have even more money," states Fisher.

In supposed sweepstakes rip-offs, sufferers are contacted and congratulated for winning a drawing reward, but they are told that they have to first send out money to cover taxes and processing fees that can be exorbitant.

Legitimate "sweepstakes will certainly refrain that," states Fisher. "They will certainly not make you pay ahead of time to collect your money."

There were about 60 fake drawing targets in New Mexico alone in 2014 whose collective losses completed $1 million, he claims.

The FBI suggests individuals check in with senior family members as well as buddies regarding their online behaviors as well as whether they may have been targeted by cyber offenders.

"If someone has approached them and also wants to be their good friend as well as establish a partnership," Fisher claims, "ask concerns."