New York CNN--.

The FBI claims America has a "pig butchering" issue. And also it's costing sufferers numerous bucks.

"We're not talking about what's taking place at farms," stated Frank Fisher, public affairs specialist at the bureau's Albuquerque department. "We're discussing a cryptocurrency financial investment rip-off that is brushing up the nation."

The term pig butchering describes an unwary target-- the "pig"-- being deceived by scammers right into forking over money for an assured high rate of return.

Scammers "fatten up the pig by obtaining the sufferer to assume that they're buying something and get them to relocate cash into cryptocurrency," says Santa Clara Area, The golden state, area lawyer Jeff Rosen, whose workplace handles a multi-agency task force combating technology-related crimes.

As soon as crooks "fatten up" their targets' electronic wallets, they steal the money, Rosen claims.

Pig butchering operations generally begin with a basic technique, Rosen informs CNN: Fraudsters blast out countless unwanted messages every day to innocent targets by means of text as well as social media, often with an innocuous note like, "Hi, how are you?"

The fraudster operating under an incorrect identification constructs a connection with the victim, in some cases over just a couple of weeks, prior to suggesting the sufferer "invest" in cryptocurrency.

One method entails ensuring a target that the scammer has made substantial earnings in cryptocurrency, persuading the victim they shouldn't lose out on the benefits of cryptocurrency financial investments.

Those who succumb to the rip-off are coaxed into sending more and more cash, and also even given with fictitious financial declarations that make it appear their financial investments have actually made a considerable return.

"This is where the 'fattening up of the pig' can be found in," Rosen states. Eventually, "you end up being a little questionable. You try speaking to the individual that contacted you on-line and ask for your cash back. [But] that person has ghosted you."

Rosen states the holiday season is an especially profitable time for scammers as they frequently take advantage of individuals who might be really feeling lonely.

And also while the preliminary method is uncomplicated, Rosen states the actual scamming procedures his team has investigated-- which generally operate abroad consisting of in Cambodia and China-- involve highly sophisticated methods.

"They have actually been educated by psycho therapists to try to find out the very best method to control people," he states. "You're managing people that are mosting likely to use different emotional strategies to make you vulnerable and also to obtain you interested in parting with your cash."

Experts say basic awareness and persistance are vital to guarding against online predators.

"Be very careful when you take place social media and also dating apps and also somebody begins developing a relationship with you, and also desires you to begin spending," claims the FBI's Fisher. "Don't obtain butchered."

As shoppers invest billions on the internet this holiday season, the FBI states it has also seen a rise in frauds including the mega-retailer Amazon.com. "Online bad guys' rip-offs are just limited by their creative imagination, and they have a flawless sense of timing," claims Fisher.

In one type of fraud, "someone calls you and professes to be from Amazon or an additional wholesaler supplier, as well as they state there's an issue with your credit card," Fisher adds. The fraudster then requests a brand-new credit card number.

Another variant of the Amazon.com fraud entails a criminal calling a possible victim and also indicating a suspicious acquisition has been flagged on the customer's account, which has actually led to the suspension of purchasing advantages. The target is asked to make a settlement through credit card right after that to reinstate the account.

"In some cases, they'll even intimidate to report you to police concerning your acquisition," Fisher claims. "One more dead ringer. Do not succumb to this fraud."

Amazon.com's security group encourages customers that the company will never ever ask a consumer for personal details, as well as users ought to not reply to emails requesting account data or directly identifiable details.

The business claimed in a statement that it has actually functioned to get rid of hundreds of online phishing web sites as well as phone numbers associated with impersonation rip-offs, and has referred believed fraudsters to law enforcement agencies worldwide.

"Fraudsters that attempt to pose Amazon.com placed customers in danger," said Dharmesh Mehta, Amazon's vice president of Selling Companion Providers. "Although these scams happen outside our store, we will certainly continue to buy safeguarding customers and also educating the public on how to stay clear of frauds."

The FBI states other types of rip-offs on the rise this holiday are greatly aimed at defrauding elderly people. "Fraudsters often tend to concentrate on the elderly because they recognize they're trusting, and also they recognize older Americans generally have even more cash," states Fisher.

In supposed sweepstakes scams, targets are gotten in touch with and congratulated for winning a drawing reward, but they are told that they should initially send cash to cover taxes and handling charges that can be excessively high.

Legitimate "sweepstakes will certainly not do that," says Fisher. "They will not make you pay beforehand to accumulate your money."

There were approximately 60 fake sweepstakes victims in New Mexico alone in 2015 whose collective losses totaled $1 million, he says.

The FBI suggests people sign in with elderly relatives as well as friends concerning their on-line behaviors and whether they might have been targeted by cyber offenders.

"If somebody has actually approached them and also wishes to be their pal and establish a relationship," Fisher states, "ask inquiries."