Stolen Podcast with Erin West
Stolen is a weekly podcast hosted by Erin West, a prosecutor and cybercrime investigator, that investigates the global rise of the transnational scam industry. It covers topics such as crypto fraud, investment fraud, government impersonation, romance scams, sexploitation, and human trafficking. The show explores digital crime and the people affected by it. Erin West guides listeners through the dark corners of the internet to uncover these scams.
Episodes
A Former Hacker’s Second Act: Fighting Cybercrime (Hieu Minh Ngo)
Episode 73: Hieu Ngo’s path to a career as a cybercrime investigator is anything but typical. From 2005 to 2012, Hieu was a hacker. He stole U.S. identities and resold them on the dark web. In 2012, a U.S. Secret Service investigation lured him from Vietnam to Guam, where he was arrested and eventually sentenced to serve time in a U.S. federal prison. Hieu tells Erin West about the investigation,
Scammers Leave Digital Footprints: A Detective’s Case for Why Scams Can Be Solved (Brian Mason)
Episode 72: Brian Mason of the Edmonton Police Service shares how live scam intelligence and public-private partnerships can stop scams in progress.
Erin West talks with Detective Brian Mason of the Edmonton Police Service, a leading expert in cybercrime and large-scale scam investigations in Canada. Injured in the line of duty in 2019, Mason turned to the one crime he believed was never fully inv
Smoke and Mirrors: Scam Crackdowns in Cambodia and Myanmar (Jason Tower)
Episode 71: Transnational organized crime expert Jason Tower explains why crackdowns on scam compounds aren’t stopping scams, just moving them from one region in Asia to another.
The Myanmar military targeted 3 hubs in a border area that has 43. So there’s a lot of choices. And so Myanmar military went about demolishing KK Park. — Jason Tower, Global Initiative against Organized Crime
When Congres
Small-town Police Officer Takes on the Big World of Crypto Fraud (Mike Bliss)
Episode 70: Mike Bliss didn’t know much about crypto fraud when he met his first victim in August 2025. With coaching from experienced peers, he now investigates fraud cases and helps other officers.
She said, ‘I just lost $15,000.’ She was distraught; she didn’t know what to do. And quite honestly, I didn’t know what to do. — Mike Bliss, Crypto Coalition
Erin West talks with Mike Bliss, a patro
How Iowa is Beating Scammers at Their Own Game (Matt Mortvedt and Jessica McGraw)
Episode 69: Iowa has found a way to stop elder financial fraud on the very first transaction — before the money is gone. Matt Mortvedt and Jessica McGraw of the Iowa Insurance Division join Erin West to break down their "detect, deploy, disrupt" playbook. They explain how they reach victims early, seize scam websites and the crypto wallets behind them, curb crypto ATMs, and treat every scam victim
Rewriting the Fraud Conversation to Focus on Empathy (Susan Ralston)
Episode 68: Susan Ralston outlines the evolution of fraud and why she considers it a human, emotional crime whose victims deserve empathy over judgement.
Erin West meets with Tower Federal Credit Union VP and COO to talk about changing the fraud conversation to focus on empathy. Susan’s career started at a grocery store cash register and evolved into decades of frontline fraud-fighting experience.
A Detective’s Journey from Street Patrol to Chasing Stolen Crypto (Scott Simons)
Episode 67: How an assignment with the DEA led to Detective Scott Simons becoming one of the nation’s go-to crypto tracers and the investigative lead for Operation Shamrock’s Crypto Coalition.
The Greenfield, Wisconsin officer's career took an unusual turn in 2015 when he opened one of the earliest cyber drug-trafficking cases in the history of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency. Simons taught himse
Romance Scam Revisited: Life After “The Tinder Swindler” (Cecilie Fjellhøy)
Romance scam survivor Cecilie Fjellhøy helps expose fraud — and find justice for fraud victims.
Well-known for Netflix’s The Tinder Swindler documentary, Cecilie Fjellhøy joins Erin West to expose the real cost of online fraud — and why justice is still out of reach for victims.
This isn't just a story about one scam. It’s a roadmap of what happens when a financial crime destroys your life — and n
The Last Mile: Why Banks Alone Can't Stop Pig Butchering Investment Scams (Lenny Gusel)
Episode 66: Erin West invites 20-year fraud-fighting veteran Lenny Gusel of Feedzai — former Bank of America, JP Morgan Chase, and Robinhood fraud leader — to talk about why banks are the last line of defense against pig butchering scams, not the first.
They dig into behavioral biometrics, why financial institutions can't even share fraud data within their own organizations, and why the real fix i
Scam Victim Traces $700,000 to Two Scammers in China
Episode 65: Don was a retired engineer building his dream home when a Facebook "friend of a friend" request turned into a years-long journey into the world of investment scams. Host Erin West and Don trace how a slow-building pig butchering scam that began in late 2021 cost him $700,000 — and how he did the investigative work law enforcement couldn't, or wouldn't.
Don walks through the grooming pr
They Told His Mom They'd Kidnapped Her Daughter (Patrick Coughlin)
Episode 64: When Patrick Coughlin's mother got a call telling her that her daughter had been kidnapped and would be killed unless she paid up, it wasn't real — but it was terrifyingly convincing. In this episode of Stolen, host Erin West sits down with Patrick, a former national security and cybersecurity expert, to unpack how that "grandparent scam" changed the course of his career.
Patrick walks
We Went to Nigeria to Hunt Sextortion Scammers (Paul Raffile)
Episode 63: Erin West and researcher Paul Raffile spent six days on the ground investigating the criminal network behind sextortion.
TRIGGER WARNING: This episode discusses psychological manipulation, sextortion, teen suicide, and animal cruelty. If you’re struggling, the 988 Lifeline Suicide & Crisis Lifeline is available 24x7 by call, chat, or text.
What they found:
• A scam that has been li
From Blueprint to Action: Turning a Scam Prevention Strategy Into Policy (Kate Griffin)
Episode 62: Host Erin West sits down with Kate Griffin of the Aspen Institute's Financial Security Program to unpack how she brought together 80 organizations — from banks to tech companies to nonprofits — to build the first-ever national blueprint for fighting scams.
Kate walks through how the project came together, the four key focus areas the task force identified (data sharing, law enforceme
From Casino Scam Compounds to Digital Arrests: A 30-Year Fraud Fighter's Warning (Frank McKenna)
Episode 61: Erin West connects with Frank McKenna, a 30-year fraud-consulting veteran and founder of Point Predictive, who has built four separate industry data consortiums — including efforts that now touch credit card, mortgage, ATM, and auto-lending fraud.
McKenna shares how simple, incremental data-sharing agreements can disrupt fraud rings that are already collaborating freely on platforms li
"I Thought LinkedIn Was Safe": How a Utah Woman Lost $850,000 in a Scam
Episode 60: Anola Johnson thought LinkedIn was the one platform safe from scammers — professional, vetted, serious. A connection request two days after a work trip to Paris changed that. Over the following months, a charming "oil rig engineer" supposedly stationed in Abu Dhabi convinced her to wire money again and again: $1.4 million to a supplier in Singapore, $180,000 more days later, and a $350
The Boat Into Myanmar: Mariana van Zeller Inside the Scam Compounds Nobody Sees
Episode 59: Her heart stopped when Mariana van Zeller climbed into a boat to cross into Myanmar. In this episode of Stolen, Erin West sits down with the National Geographic journalist behind Trafficked to talk about the two minutes that separate Thailand from Shwe Kokko — the gleaming, casino-lit city that a Chinese crime syndicate built on forced labor and pig butchering scams.
Mariana describes
Investment Scam Exposed: A Victim’s Journey of Fraud and Frustration
Episode 58: Despite his careful research and skepticism, scammers defrauded Syd of $50,000. Next came the challenge of dealing with law enforcement.
Erin West sits down with a former securities industry professional who lost more than $50,000 to a technically sophisticated crypto investment fraud. Syd’s story isn’t one of carelessness; he had identified several earlier scam pitches before one — bu
SOLUTIONS: One Thing AI Can't Fake — How Location Became the New Identity (Andre Ferraz -- Incognia)
Episode 57: A scammer can counterfeit your face, your voice, and your documents. What they can't fake is where your phone actually goes. That's the solution André Ferraz built. The founder of Incognia joins Erin to explain how physical-world behavior — precise to eight feet, accurate enough to tell one apartment from another in a high-rise — became a living identity that AI can't counterfeit.
They
How Smart People Get Scammed: Dr. Martina Dove Explains Kirsty's Case
Episode 56: What happens when a romance scam survivor sits down with the scientist who can explain exactly what was done to her?
Last week you heard Kirsty's story. This week, Erin brings her together with Dr. Martina Dove, a fraud psychology expert, to review the scam, step by step. The verdict is unsettling: Today's scammers don't simply mirror you. They study you, find the wounds you've spent y
Romance Fraud: One Woman’s Journey from Target to Survivor (Kirsty)
Episode 55: A six-month romance fraud dismantled Kirsty’s finances, her sense of self, and nearly her life.
In this deeply moving episode, Erin West speaks with Kirsty Guest — a single mother of four from the UK — about the romance fraud and psychological manipulation that upended life as she knew it.
Kirsty’s story is not a cautionary tale about carelessness. She is a businesswoman, a devoted pa
How Crypto, the Dark Web, and Fentanyl Deaths Are Connected (Keven Hendricks)
Episode 54: Keven Hendricks, a 20-year law enforcement veteran, pulls back the curtain on the dark web and the connections with cybercrime and drug sales.
“Cryptocurrency, whether you like it or not, is a means of moving wealth that is being used by bad guys.” — Keven Hendricks
Erin West sits down with Keven Hendricks — 20-year law enforcement veteran, former task force officer with both the FBI
You Can’t Believe Your Eyes: The Deepfake Crisis (Carl Bogan)
Episode 53: Who knew that creating a deepfake video that merged Will Smith and Cardi B into one person would become a viral success? Who knew that the creator of that video would now be focused on stopping the criminal use of the same technology?
Now you can be anybody you want to be. You can be Beyoncé at a concert. You can be skydiving as an alligator. — Carl Bogan on the simplicity of deepfak
Ep. 50: $196 Billion Stolen. And We're Still Blaming Victims (Kathy Stokes, AARP)
Erin West and AARP's Kathy Stokes flip the script on the 50th episode of Stolen.
It’s not about risky behavior. It’s that the scams are coming at us in every possible communication channel. We can’t avoid it. — Kathy Stokes, AARP
Episode 50: Erin and Kathy dig into one of the most overlooked dimensions of the scam epidemic: the language we use — and the harm it causes. AARP’s Fraud Watch Ne
Why Red Flags Look Beige in a Romance Scam (Anna Rowe)
Episode 52: UK survivor-turned-advocate Anna Rowe breaks down the brain chemistry behind romance fraud — cortisol, dopamine, trauma bonds — and why victims blame themselves instead of the criminals manipulating them.
You don’t see anything wrong. All the red flags appear beige because of what’s going on in your body. — Anna Rowe, co-founder LoveSaid.org
From the dopamine flood of love bombing to
A Criminologist’s Research-Driven Take on the Scam Crisis (David Maimon)
Episode 51: Erin West sits down with Dr. David Maimon, a Georgia State University professor and cybercrime researcher for SentiLink, to dig into what the data tells us about online fraud, where it’s headed, how scammers select victims, and why our approaches to stopping them may need to change.
Current trends are alarming:
A dramatic rise in home equity line of credit (HELOC) account fraud targe
Your Bank Might Know You’re Being Scammed Before You Do (Sharell Barshishat)
Episode 49: BioCatch's Sharell Barshishat joins Erin West to dive deep into the fascinating (and alarming) intersection of banking, fraud, and technology.
Sharell breaks down how tech is changing the fraud-fighting playbook for banking. From spotting bots at account opening to detecting a pig butchering victim’s hesitation mid-transfer, Sharell explains how technology can read what people do — not
Mansion 8: The Scam Compound We Found in the Dark — UPDATE: Now Sanctioned by the UK
Deep in Cambodia's remote border region, journalists Lindsey Kennedy and Nathan Southern found something that wasn't on any map — a sprawling scam compound now known as Mansion 8. In this episode of Stolen, host Erin West and The Eyewitness Project team break down how a field discovery became an international sanctions target, what the UK action means for pig butchering networks, and why the crack
Scam Crackdown in Cambodia: How a Nation Became Ground Zero for Global Scam Slavery
When no one believed them, The Eyewitness Project's Nathan and Lindsay kept reporting. Now the world is paying attention. Erin West talks with the investigative journalists whose frontline work in Cambodia is driving real change in how governments and law enforcement respond to transnational scam compounds.
In the first of a two-part conversation, Lindsey and Nathan trace the arc from Sihanoukvill
Inside the Scam: How Social Engineers Steal Millions—and What You Can Do About It
Fraud Detective Marc Evans provides insight into how scammers use social engineering to scam individuals and businesses.
Episode 46: Erin West sits down with Marc Evans, an active metropolitan fraud detective and the founder of Fraud Hero, for a deep dive into the mechanics of modern social engineering scams. Marc brings front-line insight into the schemes hitting hardest right now—from tech-suppo
Getting Scammed Is Not Your Fault: Fraud Expert Discusses Scam Victims, Shame, and Healing (Amy Nofziger, AARP)
Episode 45: AARP’s Amy Nofziger outlines why scams keep working, who they really target, and what actually helps people heal.
Amy Nofziger has spent 24 years running AARP's Fraud Watch Network Helpline — and the one thing she wants every victim to know is this: you are not alone, and this is not your fault.
In this episode, Erin and Amy dig into why shame keeps victims silent, why the loneliness e
When Seeing Is No Longer Believing: Deepfakes, AI Deception, and the Scam Economy with Perry Carpenter
What if the person on your screen isn't real? Author and cybersecurity expert Perry Carpenter joins Erin West to break down how deepfakes, AI-generated voice cloning, and synthetic media have become the scammer's most powerful weapons — and why your own desire to believe is their greatest asset.
Perry is the author of Faik: A Practical Guide to Living in a World of Deepfakes, Disinformation, and A
SOLUTIONS: A Former CIA Analyst's Plan to Stop America's Scam Epidemic
Episode 43: Ken Westbrook shares how his mother got him into fighting scams, the challenge in measuring the scale of scams, and the actions the U.S. needs to take to better fight scams.
When Ken Westbrook's elderly mother was targeted by a phantom hacker scam, he did what any former CIA analyst would do — he investigated. What he found shocked him: hundreds of billions of dollars draining
From Credit Card Bust-Outs to Pig Butchering: A 26-Year Fraud Fighter Exposes the Gaps | Steve Lenderman
Episode 42: What do synthetic identities, bust-out credit card fraud, and pig butchering scams have in common? More than you'd think. In this episode of Stolen, Erin sits down with Steve Lenderman — a 26-year fraud prevention veteran who's worked across credit cards, PayPal, FinTech, and payroll — for a masterclass on how financial fraud really works, and why so many institutions are still failing
Erin West Inside Cambodia’s Pig Butchering Scam Compounds: Crypto Fraud, Human Trafficking & the Global Crackdown
Episode 41: Erin West returns to Cambodia to investigate whether the world’s largest pig butchering scam operations are truly shutting down—or simply regrouping. From Phnom Penh to Sihanoukville, she walks inside abandoned scam compounds, examines the crackdown tied to Chen Zhi and Prince Group, and exposes the human trafficking driving global crypto fraud. Are these compounds finished—or just pau
SOLUTIONS: Fighting the Scamdemic with Smarter Technology
Episode 40: Erin West and Scamnetic CEO Al Pascual discuss the growing issue of scams and the development of innovative technology solutions to combat them. They explore the importance of technology in monitoring communications, verifying identities, and providing evidence to help individuals recognize scams.
Their conversation also highlights how AI and deepfake technology is making scams more e
SOLUTIONS: How Banks, Data Sharing, and Smart Friction Can Disrupt the Scam Economy
Episode 39: #whatifwecould actually slow the global scam epidemic?
In this episode of Stolen, Erin West speaks with former bank executive and fraud leader Donna Turner about the hard truths behind scam prevention — including why banks can’t solve this alone, how outdated rules are protecting criminals, and what regulators, fintech, telecom, and social platforms need to do next.
This is a candid c
CRISIS IN CAMBODIA: Shakilu has found a shelter
Update from Cambodia: Shakilu was released from the scam compound where he’d been trafficked and forced to scam, but he’s now trapped with no way to get home.
Stolen is hosted by Erin West, former Santa Clara County prosecutor and founder of Operation Shamrock.
Learn more about Operation Shamrock: operationshamrock.org
Meet Our Sponsors
BioCatch prevents financial crime by recognizing patterns i
CRISIS IN CAMBODIA: My trafficked Ugandan friend is alive and needs to get home (Ep 38)
In this episode of Stolen, Erin West shares an update she never expected to give.
Months ago, Erin was in regular contact with a young man from Uganda who had been trafficked into a scam compound in Cambodia. Beaten, confined, and forced to scam victims around the world, he disappeared in late September—leading Erin to fear the worst.
Then, a WhatsApp message arrived.
This episode unpacks what hap
SOLUTIONS: A Student-Led Answer to the AI Education Gap with Adya Tewari (Ep 37)
The future of AI education isn’t coming from a boardroom—it’s coming from a high school classroom. Erin West speaks with student innovator Adya Tewari.
Stolen is hosted by Erin West, former Santa Clara County prosecutor and founder of Operation Shamrock.
Learn more about Operation Shamrock: operationshamrock.org
Meet Our Sponsors
BioCatch prevents financial crime by recognizing patterns in human
SOLUTIONS: How Gary Warner Is Disrupting Global Scam Networks (Ep 36)
In this episode of Stolen, Erin West talks with cybercrime expert Gary Warner about the solution he helped build through Intelligence for Good—a nonprofit that provides solutions by identifying scam websites, tracing crypto wallets, and disrupting transnational fraud at scale.
Gary explains how this model works in practice: his team uncovers fake investment platforms, extract wallet addresses, and
SOLUTIONS: Taking Down a Scam Kingpin: Jake Sims on the arrest and extradition of Chen Zhi (Ep. 35)
In this episode of Stolen, Erin West is joined by researcher and investigator Jake Sims to break down the unprecedented arrest and deportation of Chen Zhi, one of the most powerful scam kingpins operating out of Cambodia. They unpack how years of investigative journalism, evidence gathering, sanctions, and sustained pressure led to real accountability—and why this case matters for the global fight
Publisher’s Clearing House Scam: How My Family Was Targeted—and Why Awareness Isn’t Enough (Ep 34)
Even scam-savvy families aren’t immune.
In this episode of Stolen, host Erin West—former prosecutor and national expert on transnational fraud—shares a deeply personal story: how her own family member was devastated by a Publisher’s Clearing House scam, despite doing “everything right.”
From coached gift card purchases at Target to fake FBI agents, burner phones, and an unrelenting flood of follow
Sextortion Is Killing Kids: Inside the Financial Sextortion Scam Targeting Teen Boys with Paul Raffile (Ep 33)
In this episode of Stolen, Erin West sits down with sextortion expert Paul Raffile to expose the fastest-growing and most lethal online scam targeting teen boys. They break down how financially motivated sextortion works, who’s behind it, why cases are exploding, and what parents, platforms, and law enforcement must do now to stop it. This is a conversation every parent needs to hear.
How a Fake Amazon Call Turned Into a Full-Blown Government Impersonation Scam (Ep 32)
Jane thought she was talking to Amazon, her bank, the FTC, and the Social Security Administration. She wasn’t.
Over the course of several days, scammers used authority, isolation, and fear to walk her—step by step—into withdrawing and shipping her own money in what felt like a legitimate government process.
In this episode of Stolen, host Erin West breaks down a highly sophisticated phone scam tha
Meta, Scam Ads, and the First Scam-Driven Border Conflict: Jake Sims Breaks It Down (Ep 31)
In this explosive episode of Stolen, Erin West sits down with Jake Sims—Harvard fellow and global expert on transnational organized crime—to unpack two massive developments: the damning Reuters leak about Meta’s scam ad revenue, and the escalating military clash on the Thai-Cambodian border tied directly to scam compounds. Jake reveals what happened inside his high-pressure GASA “fireside chat” wi
The House Is On Fire: Erin West’s 2026 Blueprint to End the Scamdemic (Ep. 30)
Erin West delivers the keynote she planned give at the American summit of the Global Anti-Scam Alliance—an unfiltered, no-fluff breakdown of the global scam crisis, Southeast Asia’s compounds, Big Tech’s profits, and why 2026 must be the year we divide and conquer. This episode exposes the truth, calls out the enablers, and lays out what must happen to finally fight the scamdemic.
Human Trafficking Survivor Small Q Exposes Pig Butchering Scam Compounds in Myanmar (Ep. 29)
Join Erin West in Entebbe, Uganda, for an extraordinary conversation with Small Q, a survivor of two of Southeast Asia's most notorious scam compounds. In this eye-opening episode, Small Q reveals the brutal reality inside pig butchering operations, where human trafficking victims are forced to execute cryptocurrency romance scams against Americans and people worldwide.
Discover the shocking tacti
The Hidden Crisis: Matt Friedman Breaks Down Modern Slavery and the Rise of Scam Compounds (Ep 28)
In this powerful episode of Stolen, Erin West sits down with global anti-trafficking expert Matt Friedman—CEO of the Mekong Club and one of the most experienced voices in the fight against modern slavery. Matt pulls back the curtain on the brutal realities of human trafficking, forced criminality inside scam compounds, and why the world is still failing the millions of people trapped in these syst
LinkedIn Job Scams Explained: Jay Jones Reveals How Fake Recruiters Steal From Desperate Job Seekers (Ep 27)
When Jay Jones was laid off and posted his "Open to Work" banner on LinkedIn, he was immediately targeted by scammers. In this episode of Stolen, host Erin West sits down with The Profiler to expose the sophisticated job scam industry preying on vulnerable job seekers. Jay reveals how fake recruiters, resume writers, and hiring managers use ATS (Applicant Tracking System) scare tactics to steal pe
Ari Redbord on the Biggest U.S. Move Yet Against Transnational Organized Crime (Ep 26)
In this episode, Erin West sits down with Ari Redbord of TRM Labs to unpack one of the biggest moves yet against global scam networks — the $15 billion forfeiture and indictment of Cambodian tycoon Chen Zhi and the Prince Group. They break down what the U.S. government did, how sanctions, forfeiture, and FinCEN actions work together, and why this is a turning point in the global fight against pig
Matt Rife Impersonation Scam: The Romance Fraud Cost Me Everything - Cristy's Story (Ep 25)
Cristy shares her heartbreaking story of falling victim to an elaborate celebrity impersonation scam. After making her Instagram profile public for one week to support her niece, she was contacted by someone claiming to be comedian Matt Rife. What began as a seemingly authentic connection—complete with voice messages, flowers, and deep conversations about mindfulness—evolved into a sophisticated r
Jake Sims Takes us Inside the Indictment That Exposed Cambodia’s Scam State (ep 24)
When the U.S. unsealed its indictment against Cambodian tycoon Chen Zhi, it didn’t just take down one man—it exposed a global scam empire built on trafficking, corruption, and stolen crypto. Erin West sits down with expert Jake Sims to unpack the historic $15 billion seizure, what it means for Cambodia’s ruling elite, and why this moment could redefine the global fight against organized cybercrime
How St. Louis Became the Model for Fighting Crypto Crime — with Detective Mike Clinton (Ep 23)
St. Louis detective Mike Clinton joins Erin West to reveal how local, state, and federal law enforcement are teaming up to take down crypto scammers. From the rise of fusion centers to the success of Operation Shamrock and the Shamrock Triage Team, this episode dives deep into how collaboration—and grit—are closing the gap between victims and justice. Learn how one detective turned chaos into a na
Financial Sextortion of Teens: How Money Moves & How to Protect Your Kids | Expert Alison Jimenez (Ep 22)
In this eye-opening episode of Stolen, host Erin West sits down with anti-money laundering expert Alison Jimenez to discuss the rapidly growing crisis of financial sextortion targeting teenage boys. Learn how this transnational crime works, how scammers move money, and what parents and financial institutions can do to protect children.
What You'll Learn:
How financial sextortion schemes target te
We're Under Attack: Erin West Explains Why Pig Butchering Is America's Hidden National Security Crisis (Ep 21)
In this powerful episode, former prosecutor Erin West lays out an urgent call to action after three and a half years of fighting the pig butchering crisis. Drawing from her 26+ years in law enforcement and recent travels to scam compounds in Southeast Asia, Erin delivers a sobering truth: things aren't getting better—they're getting exponentially worse.
Erin presents seven critical pillars for def
Scambaiter Jim Browning vs. Scammers: From Indian Call Centers to Dubai Pig Butchering Compounds (Ep 20)
In this episode of Stolen, Erin West sits down with legendary scambaiter Jim Browning, the YouTuber who infiltrates scam call centers and exposes criminals to millions of viewers. Together, they dig into how scammers trick victims through robocalls, fake tech support, and crypto ATMs—and reveal how Browning uncovered a pig butchering compound in Dubai that led to one of the largest scammer raids i
When Even the Bank Said it Looked Real: Nahid's Pig Butchering Nightmare (Ep 19)
In this episode of Stolen, Erin West speaks with Nahid, a mother who lost everything to a romance-driven cryptocurrency scam known as “pig butchering.” What started on a dating app quickly spiraled into a nightmare of fake investments, manipulated trust, and financial ruin. Nahid courageously shares how scammers used love, deepfakes, and a counterfeit “Fidelity Options” platform to steal over a mi
“Keanu Reeves Is Not in Love With You”: Becky Holmes on Celebrity Scams & Romance Fraud (Ep 18)
Romance scams aren’t just about money—they’re about psychology, shame, and stolen trust. In this episode of Stolen, Erin West talks with author Becky Holmes (Keanu Reeves Is Not in Love With You) about the rise of celebrity impostor scams, why smart and kind people fall victim, and how society’s lack of empathy fuels the crisis. A powerful, funny, and eye-opening look at the future of fraud.
Sextortion from Scam Compounds: Eric Heintz on KK Park and the Global Scamdemic (Ep 17)
Sextortion isn’t just happening online — it’s being industrialized inside scam compounds like KK Park in Southeast Asia. In this episode, Erin West talks with Eric Heintz of International Justice Mission about his groundbreaking study linking sextortion of minors to the same criminal networks running pig butchering scams and cryptocurrency fraud. They expose how forced labor, satellite imagery, an
A Scam Survivor Fights Back: How Mary took on Her Scammers with Hard Work and AI (Ep 16)
Romance scams are one of the fastest-growing forms of online fraud, costing victims billions each year. In this episode of Stolen, Erin West talks with Mary, a romance scam survivor who refused to be silenced. Instead of hiding in shame, Mary documented every message, tracked her scammers, and even used AI to fight back.
Her unconventional approach shows just how far victims are forced to go when
Cryptocurrency Romance Scam Victim Loses 90% of Retirement: Chris's Pig Butchering Story
In this eye-opening episode of the Stolen Podcast, host Erin West interviews Chris Colocousis, a romance scam survivor who lost 90% of his retirement savings to a sophisticated cryptocurrency investment fraud known as "pig butchering."
Chris shares his detailed story of how what began as a Facebook friend request from an attractive woman led to months of manipulation, fake cryptocurrency trading p
Fighting the Scamdemic: Former US Secret Service Agent Matt O'Neill on Beating Transnational Organized Crime
In this episode of Stolen, Erin West sits down with former U.S. Secret Service agent Matt O’Neill — a pioneer in fighting cyber-enabled fraud, cryptocurrency scams, and transnational organized crime. They dig into why the U.S. is losing ground in the battle against pig butchering scams, romance scams, and large-scale investment fraud — and what actually works to disrupt these criminal networks. O’
Aloha! Update from Hawaii! New episode drops Friday
Life After the Tinder Swindler: Romance Scam Survivor Cecilie Fjellhøy
Episode 13: Romance scam survivor Cecilie Fjellhøy, made famous by Netflix’s The Tinder Swindler, joins Erin West to expose the real cost of online fraud — and why justice is still out of reach for victims.
In this powerful episode of The Stolen Podcast, Erin and Cecilie dive deep into:
What really happened in the Tinder Swindler romance scam
The psychological tactics scammers use to trap vict
Inside the Scam State: Cambodia's Criminal Economy with Jacob Sims (Ep 12)
In this jaw-dropping episode of Stolen, Erin West sits down with Jacob Sims—one of the most brilliant and fearless voices in the global fight against human trafficking and financial crime. Together, they unpack the explosive truth about how Cambodia has become the epicenter of next-gen fraud, fueled by a shadow economy of pig butchering scams, forced labor, and elite corruption.
From the streets o
Trapped in a Myanmar Scam Compound: Small Q's Fight for Freedom (Ep 11)
From Uganda to Myanmar: A Journey of Resilience and Hope
Join Erin West as she delves into the harrowing yet inspiring story of Small Q, a gospel artist from Uganda. Discover how Small Q was lured by false promises of work abroad, only to find himself trapped in a scamming camp in Myanmar. Through resilience and faith, he navigated unimaginable challenges and emerged with a mission to raise awaren
How a Minnesota Police Officer Fights America's Biggest Scams: Jake Tuzinski (Ep 10)
This episode explores how a Minnesota police sergeant became a cryptocurrency crime investigator after discovering Bitcoin scams targeting elderly victims in his community, ultimately developing blockchain investigation techniques that help law enforcement agencies nationwide. Sergeant Jake Tuzinski discusses pig butchering scams, cryptocurrency ATM fraud prevention, digital asset recovery methods
Crushing Scams with Legislation and Education: Aleks Ring (ep 9)
In this episode of Stolen, Erin West and Aleks Ring discuss the complexities of transnational organized crime, focusing on the role of forensic accounting, community education, and legislative advocacy in combating scams and protecting victims. They explore the challenges posed by cryptocurrency and the importance of collaboration between law enforcement and community members to address these issu
Keep Consumers Cafe against Crypto ATM Fraud: Detective Matt Hogan (Ep 8(
Erin West and Matt Hogan discuss the complexities of financial crimes, the role of technology, and the impact on victims. They explore various scams, including job scams and cryptocurrency-related fraud, and emphasize the importance of law enforcement's role in combating them.
The conversation highlights the need for collaboration among law enforcement, legislation, and community resources to effe
Episode 7: The Psychology of Scams: Understanding Manipulation with Dr. Martina Dove
In this episode of Stolen, Erin West speaks with Dr. Martina Dove, a psychologist specializing in the study of scams and human behavior. They discuss the psychological manipulation techniques used by scammers, the impact of scams on victims, and the societal consequences of eroded trust. Dr. Dove emphasizes the importance of empathy in interventions with victims and provides insights into the evol
From Trust to Betrayal: A Cryptocurrency Journey — Part 2 of Carina's Story (Ep 6)
The Dark Side of Online Romance: Carina's Story, Part 1 (Ep 5)
In this episode of the Stolen Podcast, Erin West delves into the harrowing experience of Carina, a victim of the pig butchering scam. The conversation explores the psychological manipulation employed by scammers, the emotional connections formed during the scam, and the devastating financial consequences that ensue. Carina demonstrates how she went from one of her lowest moments to corralling her
Cracking Down on Transnational Organized Crime with Blockchain Intelligence (Ari Redbord)
In this episode of Stolen, Erin West chats with Ari Redbord, the global head of policy for TRM Labs, about helping combat transnational organized crime through blockchain intelligence.
They discuss topics such as cryptocurrency tracing, financial crime prevention, and victim recovery. The conversation delves into specific tools and technologies TRM Labs uses to assist law enforcement, including
Inside the Shadows of Scams: Unveiling Scam Compounds with Cezary Podkul (Ep 2)
Stolen host Erin West sits down with investigative journalist Cezary Podkul to delve into the dark world of international scam compounds.
Cezary shares his background in finance journalism and his deep dive into cybercrime after moving to Asia. The discussion focuses on the origins and operations of scam compounds in Southeast Asia, particularly in the Philippines, Cambodia, Myanmar, and Laos.
Ce
Unveiling the World of Financial Scams: Welcome to the Stolen Podcast with Erin West (Ep 1)
In the inaugural episode of Stolen, a podcast, Erin West shares her journey from being a local prosecutor to becoming a crusader against transnational organized crime.
Erin discusses the compelling reasons behind starting this podcast and the staggering scale of financial scams orchestrated by organized criminals. She reveals her motivation rooted in witnessing countless victims lose their life
Introducing Stolen, a Podcast with Erin West
The Podcast 'Stolen' with Erin West introduces and examines the biggest modern threat that many are unaware of is unveiled: the rapidly evolving world of digital crime and fraud. From identity theft and fake investment schemes to multinational Ponzi schemes and ransomware attacks, these crimes are vast and sophisticated. As organized crime syndicates leverage technology to perpetrate their schemes
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