“Pig-butchering scams are so-called because their targets are likened to pigs being fattened up for slaughter. Victims will typically be contacted on social media or dating sites and made to feel that they have made a romantic connection with the scammer over an extended period of time.”
Source: https://www.bitdefender.co.uk/blog/hotforsecurity/pig-butchering-scammer-targets-bbc-journalist/