OAKLAND – (INT) - Attorney General Rob Bonta is warning Californians of the proliferation of fraudulent cryptocurrency websites. Bonta is drawing attention to crypto confidence scams, sometimes referred to as “pig-butchering” scams.

Those scams are often carried out by international scammers who are difficult to prosecute and arrest.

The California Department of Justice (DOJ) is shutting down fake websites used to entice victims with fictitious investment returns.

Last year, the California Department of Justice shut down 42 fraudulent websites that scammed innocent victims out of at least $6.5 million. The average loss per victim was $146,306.

Story Date: March 10, 2025