Stolen Podcast

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 national model for combating crypto-enabled crime.

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 teenage boys through social media platforms like Instagram and Snapchat
The shocking statistics: 1 in 3 American teenage boys have been targeted, with complaints rising from 139 in 2021 to over 36,000 in 2024
How scammers use peer-to-peer payment apps (Venmo, Cash App, Zelle, Apple Pay) and gift cards to extract money from victims
The cryptocurrency trail: how money moves from U.S. victims to criminal organizations in Nigeria and West Africa
Red flags parents should watch for in their teen's payment apps
Why "safety by design" matters for financial products targeting minors
Practical steps financial institutions can take to add friction to these schemes
Expert Insights: Alison Jimenez breaks down the financial infrastructure behind sextortion scams, explaining money mule operations, Bitcoin transfers, and the regulatory landscape. She shares actionable recommendations for parents, including privacy controls, parental notifications, and how to talk to your kids about this threat.
Key Takeaways for Parents:
Most payment apps automatically enroll teens in services like Zelle without opt-out options
Scammers typically demand around $300 per victim using peer-to-peer payments or specific gift cards
The crime moves quickly—from initial contact to blackmail can happen in minutes or hours
Only 10-20% of scammers actually share images if victims don't pay, but the psychological harm is severe
Whether you're a parent, work in financial services, or care about protecting children online, this episode provides crucial information about one of the fastest-growing crimes affecting American teens today.

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 defeating the scamdemic, from reframing how we talk about victims (these are PhD holders, bank presidents, and doctors—not "stupid people") to demanding accountability from American companies enabling these crimes. She explains why this isn't just fraud—it's a humanitarian disaster involving hundreds of thousands of trafficking victims and a national security threat involving the mass transfer of generational wealth into the hands of Chinese organized crime syndicates.
This episode coincides with the release of the Aspen Institute's "United Against Fraud" report and introduces Operation Shamrock's innovative victim reporting portal through TRM Labs. Whether you're in law enforcement, tech, finance, or simply a concerned citizen, Erin explains exactly what role you can play in this fight.

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 in history. From the inside workings of call centers in India to global networks run by organized crime, this conversation shines a light on the tactics scammers use, the human cost of fraud, and what it takes to fight back.
👉 If you’ve ever wondered how scammers really operate—or how one man managed to terrify call centers around the world—this is the episode you don’t want to miss.

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 million dollars—and how law enforcement failed to help.
This episode sheds light on:
How scammers groom victims on dating apps and WhatsApp
Why Tether (USDT) is the coin of choice for pig butchering fraud
The emotional toll and stigma survivors face
The urgent need for banks, exchanges, and law enforcement to step up
Nahid’s story is heartbreaking, but it’s also a warning—and a call for systemic change. If you’ve ever wondered how these scams work, how victims get pulled in so deeply, and why reporting often feels hopeless, this episode will open your eyes.

“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, and open-source data reveal the terrifying scale of abuse, from trafficked workers to children targeted worldwide. This conversation is a wake-up call: sextortion is not an isolated crime, but part of a global scam machine that demands urgent action.

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 law enforcement tools and systems fall short. Together, Erin and Mary unpack the reality of romance fraud, pig butchering scams, psychological manipulation, and why we need urgent law enforcement solutions to stop transnational organized crime.
If you want to understand how romance scams work — and why survivors like Mary are stepping into the role of investigator — this episode will open your eyes to the global scamdemic we’re facing today.

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 platforms, and devastating financial loss. Learn about the red flags he missed, the psychological tactics scammers use, and why even crypto.com's fraud warnings couldn't stop the theft.
Key topics covered:
Romance scam red flags and manipulation tactics
How fake cryptocurrency trading apps steal money
Why moving conversations to WhatsApp is a warning sign
The failure of law enforcement and banks to recover stolen funds
How scammers use deepfakes and sophisticated technology
Steps to take if you've been victimized by financial fraud
This episode serves as both a cautionary tale and educational resource for anyone using social media or considering cryptocurrency investments. Chris's story demonstrates how these transnational organized crime networks target everyday Americans with devastating effectiveness.

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’Neill shares bold, practical steps law enforcement, tech companies, and the financial sector can take right now to stop scammers, from improving cryptocurrency crime investigations to dismantling money mule networks. From the creation of the Secret Service’s Global Investigative Operations Center to the urgent need for a U.S. national anti-scam center, this conversation delivers insider strategies, cutting-edge tech solutions, and real talk about why victims of financial fraud are too often left with nowhere to turn — and how we can change that.