A new wave of cyber fraud is quietly devastating lives across Zimbabwe. Known as “pig butchering” scams, this elaborate and cruel form of deception is leaving their victims not only penniless, but often too embarrassed to come forward.

The scam, which derives its name from the way a pig is fattened before slaughter, typically begins online.

Scammers establish contact through social media or messaging platforms and commonly WhatsApp striking up what appear to be innocent conversations.

With time, they earn the victim’s trust posing as friendly, successful individuals who offer investment advice. Fraudsters sometimes hack an account and use it as a bait to attack using the same mode of operandi.

The most common bait is cryptocurrency. Victims are told they can make exceptional returns by investing in digital assets through a “secure platform.” In the beginning, everything seems legitimate. Fake dashboards show profits growing, which encourages victims to deposit even more of their savings.

Then, the trap is sprung. Once the scammer has drained a significant amount of money, the contact vanishes along with any trace of the investment.

The platforms used to display fake profits go offline. Bank transfers cannot be reversed. The victim is left with nothing but an empty bank account and a deep sense of betrayal.

But perhaps the most damaging consequence is psychological. Many victims feel humiliated for having trusted a stranger and are reluctant to report the crime.

This silence only emboldens the scammers and allows the problem to fester beneath the surface of public awareness.

“It is not just about the money,” said one victim, who wished to remain anonymous. “It is the shame. You feel stupid. I did not tell anyone for weeks. I did not even tell my family.”

Authorities and financial watchdogs are now warning the public to remain vigilant and avoid making financial commitments to strangers online.

Experts are also calling for stronger financial literacy programmes and more public education on recognising common scam tactics.

Community organisations like churches and schools have a vital role to play in spreading awareness. Open conversations, support groups and national campaigns can all help dismantle the stigma around being a victim of fraud. Informed citizens are the first line of defence against this growing cybercrime.

Zimbabwe is more digitally connected, the threats evolve. Pig butchering scams are not just a passing trend they are a clear and present danger.

It is time to break the silence and confront this crisis with transparency, education and community support.

Only by uniting can Zimbabwe stop the scammers from feasting on our trust and our hard-earned money.

It is not only you makawanda mabirwa.

Engineer Jacob Kudzayi Mutisi writes in his own capacity. All the views expressed in this article are entirely his own. He can be contacted on +263772278161