A scam referred to as “pig butchering”, where online scammers use romance to find targets, is on the rise costing people thousands of dollars. NBC News’ Ken Dilanian explains what a typical scam operation looks like.

Scrolling social media can be an enjoyable way to connect with the world, but it can also be a gateway to heartbreak and financial ruin.

As more people go online to seek romantic relationships, and transferring money has gotten easier and less traceable, an increasing number across the country — particularly older people — have fallen victim to fake romance schemes.