Stolen Podcast

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 tactics scammers use: fake offices, planted models for video verification, and sophisticated social engineering techniques designed to build trust before stealing life savings. Small Q shares his harrowing experience of 20-hour workdays, electric taser punishments, and complete movement control inside compounds like KK Park in Myanmar.
This conversation includes a major revelation as Small Q identifies being held in two separate notorious compounds, providing crucial insights into how these criminal operations have evolved since 2020. Learn how recruiters in Uganda and across Africa lure victims with promises of legitimate data entry jobs paying $1,200 monthly—only to traffic them into forced scam labor.
Small Q discusses his path to freedom, his music of hope and resilience, and his mission to raise awareness about human trafficking and crypto scams. This episode is essential listening for fraud prevention professionals, law enforcement, potential job seekers in Africa, and anyone concerned about the intersection of human trafficking and financial crime.

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 systems.
Together, Erin and Matt dig into:
How trafficking “evolved” into forced criminality in Southeast Asian scam compounds
The staggering scale of modern slavery—and why we're rescuing only 0.2% of victims
The violence, torture, and psychological devastation inside these scam centers
Why banks, businesses, and everyday people have a bigger role to play than they realize
What it actually takes to wake up the world to this crisis
The hope, the frustration, and the path forward
If you've ever wondered how scams, trafficking, and global criminal networks intersect—or what you personally can do to help—this conversation is raw, urgent, and impossible to ignore.
Subscribe to Stolen for straight truth, survivor-centered storytelling, and bold conversations about the scamdemic and the people fighting back.

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 personal information, drain bank accounts, and commit identity theft.
Learn how scammers are infiltrating LinkedIn with fake company pages, fake jobs on real company profiles, and romance scams targeting executives. Jay shares red flags to watch for, including phrases like "beat the ATS," upfront payment requests, and confidential job postings. Whether you're a new graduate, recently laid off, or actively job hunting, this episode provides critical insights to protect yourself from job scams that cost victims thousands of dollars and pose a national security threat to the United States.

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 butchering scams and transnational organized crime.

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 romance and cryptocurrency investment fraud that cost her everything.
In this emotional episode of Stolen with host Erin West, Cristy reveals how scammers used love bombing, multiple fake personas (including a PR person and financial planner), and psychological manipulation to isolate her and gain her trust. She discusses the warning signs she missed, the devastating financial and emotional impact, and her journey toward recovery and self-forgiveness.
If you or someone you know has been targeted by celebrity impersonation scams, romance fraud, or cryptocurrency investment schemes, this episode offers crucial insights into how these operations work and why even intelligent, cautious people can fall victim.

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 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.