Stolen Podcast

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.

Aloha! Update from Hawaii! New episode drops Friday

Life After the Tinder Swindler: Romance Scam Survivor Cecilie Fjellhøy (Ep 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 victims
Why victims of fraud are ignored — or even criminalized — by law enforcement
How romance fraud survivors can fight back
Cecilie’s new Netflix series Love, Con, Revenge
Building a nonprofit to help other victims navigate the system
This is not just a story about one scam. It’s a roadmap of what happens when a financial crime destroys your life — and no one shows up to help.
🎥 Watch The Tinder Swindler on Netflix📅 Watch Cecilie’s Netflix new series Love, Con, Revenge🛡️ Visit Cecilie’s nonprofit at LoveSaid.org
 
 

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 of Phnom Penh to high-level policy failures, Sims breaks down how a multi-billion-dollar scam industry took over half of Cambodia's GDP—and how powerful state actors are not just complicit, but actively profiting.
If you’ve ever asked, “Who’s behind all these scams?”—this is the episode you can’t miss. Spoiler: it's not a whodunit. It's a who's-already-doing-it.

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 awareness about human trafficking.
Small Q's initial journey from Uganda in search of better opportunities. The shocking reality of being trapped in a scamming camp. The role of faith and music in Small Q's survival and healing. Efforts to raise awareness and combat human trafficking.
Guest:
Small Q, Gospel Artist and Activist
#HumanTraffickingAwareness #Resilience #GospelMusic #Inspiration #pigbutchering #scam #transnationalorganizedcrime
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