Even the Bank Thought the Scammer’s Site Was Real
Nahid’s million-dollar pig butchering nightmare.
Episode 19 — In this episode of Stolen, Erin West speaks with Nahid, a mother who lost everything to a romance-driven cryptocurrency scam known as “pig butchering.”
What started on a dating app quickly spiraled into a nightmare of fake investments, manipulated trust, and financial ruin. Nahid courageously shares how scammers used love, deepfakes, and a counterfeit “Fidelity Options” platform to steal over a million dollars — and how law enforcement failed to help.
At one point, not sure she should trust the scammer, she goes to an actual bank branch to verify what he’s telling her. Two employees flag the counterfeit platform as fake, but a third assures them that it’s real. From there, she feels like she’s safe to continue her investments.
This episode sheds light on:
How scammers groom victims on dating apps and WhatsApp
Why Tether (USDT) is the coin of choice for pig butchering fraud
The emotional toll and stigma survivors face
The urgent need for banks, exchanges, and law enforcement to step up
Nahid’s story is heartbreaking, but it’s also a warning — and a call for systemic change. If you’ve ever wondered how these scams work, how victims get pulled in so deeply, and why reporting often feels hopeless, this episode will open your eyes.
“Now I have peace of mind and I start again borrowing, getting money from my credit cards and come up with that amount.”
Episode Chapters
00:00 — Introduction
01:38 — Nahid's Background and Initial Encounter with Scammer
04:52 — Mechanics of Deception: Fake Crypto Platforms
08:00 — The Illusion of Success and Trust
10:55 — Deepfake Deception and a Bank’s Unwitting Involvement
14:40 — The Turning Point: Realization of the Scam
15:47 — The Scammer Vanishes
17:10 — Attempts to Seek Help and Report the Scam
21:44 — Aftermath: Personal Investigation and Struggles
23:24 — Devastating Impact and a Call to Action for Education
Useful Links
It started with a simple “investment” of $250. Roger’s father met someone through Facebook who tipped him off to a hot investment opportunity.
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