A Georgia man met a woman on Facebook and developed an online romance with her. Then the conversations turned to cryptocurrency.
The man, from Unadilla in Dooly County, was persuaded to put his savings into what appeared to be a cryptocurrency investment, according to 13WMAZ. Court records cited by the station put his eventual loss at more than $164,000.
But the trading opportunity was not real. Authorities say the Facebook contact cultivated a romantic relationship with the man before convincing him to send money into a fake cryptocurrency scheme, a form of confidence fraud often called a relationship investment or “pig butchering” scam.
Investigators were eventually able to trace part of the cryptocurrency. The FBI seized approximately 0.28 Bitcoin valued at about $18,200 at the time of the seizure, and federal prosecutors have since won the civil forfeiture case involving those assets after no one filed a claim contesting the government’s action.
The Relationship Started on Facebook
The scheme began after the Dooly County man connected with a woman on Facebook in June 2025, according to court records cited in an earlier 13WMAZ report.
The interaction developed into an online romantic relationship before investing became part of the conversation. Prosecutors say the Facebook user then persuaded the man to put money into what he believed was a legitimate cryptocurrency trading opportunity. The financial pitch therefore came from someone who had already spent time gaining the victim’s confidence.
The FBI Followed the Cryptocurrency Trail
Court records put the victim’s loss at more than $164,000. The Dooly County case did not end with every asset disappearing beyond investigators’ reach. The FBI was able to trace part of the victim’s cryptocurrency and move to stop it from being transferred again.
Earlier reporting said agents froze roughly $24,000 worth of cryptocurrency before it could be moved. The government then seized approximately 0.28 Bitcoin, valued at around $18,200 when the forfeiture action was filed.
Cryptocurrency values fluctuate, and the court reporting identifies approximately 0.28 Bitcoin as the specific asset ultimately pursued through the federal forfeiture proceeding. Transactions on networks such as Bitcoin are recorded on a public blockchain, allowing investigators in some cases to follow transfers between wallet addresses and identify assets that reach accounts or services subject to legal process.
Federal Prosecutors Filed a Civil Forfeiture Case
The FBI’s seizure did not automatically give the cryptocurrency to the victim. Federal prosecutors first had to pursue a civil forfeiture action establishing the government’s legal right to the assets.
The complaint was filed March 24 in federal court, according to 13WMAZ. Civil forfeiture allows the government to seek property alleged to be traceable to criminal activity even when the proceeding is directed against the property rather than functioning as a criminal prosecution of an identified defendant.
The owner or anyone else claiming a lawful interest in the Bitcoin had an opportunity to respond and contest the government’s request. No claim was filed within the required deadline. 13WMAZ reported in August that federal prosecutors consequently prevailed by default, allowing the government to forfeit the Bitcoin.
More importantly, government seizure and victim reimbursement are separate stages. A forfeiture judgment places the property under government control; it does not by itself establish that the Dooly County man has already received the Bitcoin or an equivalent cash payment.
Processes exist in federal forfeiture cases through which eligible victims may seek the return of forfeited assets or proceeds, but recovery depends on the case, available property and government procedures.
A Relationship Should Never Be the Evidence That an Investment Is Legitimate
The SEC warns people to make investment decisions independently of anyone who makes unsolicited contact online, even after that person has spent weeks or months building a friendship or romantic relationship.
Before investing, research the opportunity separately from anything the online contact provides. Do not rely on their screenshots, testimonials, trading platform or links. Verify whether the person or firm offering an investment is properly registered or licensed and search for independent information about the company and website.
If an online romantic interest begins recommending cryptocurrency investments, stop before sending money. The Federal Trade Commission specifically warns against mixing online romance and investment advice, saying a person met online who wants to teach someone how to invest in cryptocurrency is a scam warning sign.
Anyone who suspects money has already been sent into a fraudulent cryptocurrency investment should stop further transfers immediately and preserve wallet addresses, transaction hashes, screenshots, usernames, websites and messages. Those details can help investigators trace where cryptocurrency moved. The fraud should be reported to the FBI through IC3.gov and, when it involves an investment, to the SEC.