Freakonomics Radio

667. Here’s Why You Are Constantly Fighting Off Scammers

A ruthless (and ruthlessly efficient) industry is using digital tools to supercharge one of the world’s oldest behaviors. We look at how the industry works, and ask the scam-fighters what they’re doing about it.   * SOURCES: * Kati Daffan [https://www.linkedin.com/in/kati-daffan-91471460/], former assistant director at the Federal Trade Commission's Division of Marketing Practices. * Marti DeLiema [https://ssw.umn.edu/marti-deliema], assistant professor of social work at the University of Minnesota. * Mark Frank [https://www.buffalo.edu/cas/communication/research/CSC.host.html/content/shared/cas/communication/faculty-staff/faculty-profiles/frank-mark.html], professor of communications at the University at Buffalo.   * RESOURCES: * "Cambodian Scam Tycoon Wanted by U.S. Extradited to China [https://www.wsj.com/world/asia/cambodian-scam-tycoon-wanted-by-u-s-extradited-to-china-b483e24c?gaa_at=eafs&gaa_n=AWEtsqf51aV6SvZziBuhLzqfuXH8FAlsq81f7fg6r1U95Y-TjRIt6b4DmOziAJgmDl0%3D&gaa_ts=69ac94e1&gaa_sig=BYK3RgQiRMrttSshZ4YoTaJ_nVUzK-bZlOM70N3h5RxL0iGhMAzzjtZSZLV9sRPyhxNUqmK6o11Ws8j_5Z95-Q%3D%3D]," by Gabriele Steinhauser (Wall Street Journal, 2026). * "The Rise and Fall Of Accused Cambodian Scam Kingpin Chen Zhi [https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2026-01-09/who-is-alleged-cambodian-scam-kingpin-chen-zhi-and-how-did-he-make-money?embedded-checkout=true]," by Low De Wei (Bloomberg, 2026). * "Protecting Older Consumers 2024-2025 [https://www.ftc.gov/system/files/ftc_gov/pdf/P144400-OlderAdultsReportDec2025.pdf]," by the Federal Trade Commission (2025). * "Meta is earning a fortune on a deluge of fraudulent ads, documents show [https://www.reuters.com/investigations/meta-is-earning-fortune-deluge-fraudulent-ads-documents-show-2025-11-06/]," by Jeff Horwitz (Reuters, 2025). * "Exposed to Scams: What Separates Victims from Non-victims? [https://longevity.stanford.edu/scamtracker/]," by Marti DeLiema, Emma Fletcher, Christine Kieffer, Gary Mottola, Rubens Pessanha, and Melissa Trumpower (Stanford Center on Longevity, 2019). * "Why do Nigerian Scammers Say They are from Nigeria? [https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/research/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/WhyFromNigeria.pdf]," by Cormac Herley (Microsoft Research, 2016). * Thinking, Fast and [https://www.amazon.com/Thinking-Fast-Slow-Daniel-Kahneman/dp/0374533555]Slow, by Daniel Kahneman (2013). * FTC Fraud Reporting Portal [https://reportfraud.ftc.gov/]. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com [https://pcm.adswizz.com] for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

666. This Is How Progress Happens

Economists don’t usually talk about “culture.” But Joel Mokyr argues that it’s the engine of innovation — and the Nobel Prize committee agreed. Stephen Dubner sits down for a thousand-year conversation (including advice!) with the new Nobel laureate.   * SOURCES: * Joel Mokyr [https://economics.northwestern.edu/people/directory/joel-mokyr.html], economic historian at Northwestern University.   * RESOURCES: * Two Paths to Prosperity: Culture and Institutions in Europe and China, 1000–2000 [https://press.princeton.edu/books/hardcover/9780691265940/two-paths-to-prosperity], by Avner Greif, Joel Mokyr, and, Guido Tabellini (2025). * "The Outsize Role of Immigrants in US Innovation [https://www.nber.org/digest/20233/outsize-role-immigrants-us-innovation?page=1&perPage=50]," by Shai Bernstein, Rebecca Diamond, Abhisit Jiranaphawiboon, Timothy McQuade, and Beatriz Pousada (NBER, 2023). * A Culture of Growth: The Origins of the Modern Economy [https://amzn.to/3Pg7wce], by Joel Mokyr (2016). * Why Nations Fail: The Origins of Power, Prosperity, and Poverty [https://amzn.to/4rZ7fJw], by Daron Acemoglu and James Robinson (2012). * "The Economics of Being Jewish [https://bpb-us-e1.wpmucdn.com/sites.northwestern.edu/dist/3/1222/files/2016/06/The-Economics-Of-Being-Jewish-2gdly5t.pdf]," by Joel Mokyr (Critical Review, 2011). Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com [https://pcm.adswizz.com] for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The Most Powerful People You’ve Never Heard Of (Update)

Just beneath the surface of the global economy, there is a hidden layer of dealmakers for whom war, chaos, and sanctions can be a great business opportunity. In this updated episode from 2025, journalists Javier Blas and Jack Farchy help us shine a light on the shadowy realm of commodity traders.   * SOURCES: * Javier Blas [https://www.bloomberg.com/authors/ASIsQsgx0V8/javier-blas?sref=6DPKmIax], opinion columnist at Bloomberg News. * Jack Farchy [https://www.linkedin.com/in/jack-farchy-5a3a6723/?originalSubdomain=uk], energy and commodities senior reporter at Bloomberg News. * RESOURCES: * The World For Sale: Money, Power, and the Traders Who Barter the Earth's Resources [https://amzn.to/438t0fN], by Javier Blas and Jack Farchy (2021) * The King of Oil: The Secret Lives of Marc Rich [https://amzn.to/3Fjj7To], by Daniel Ammann (2010). * EXTRAS: * "How the Supermarket Helped America Win the Cold War (Update) [https://freakonomics.com/podcast/how-the-supermarket-helped-america-win-the-cold-war-update/]" by Freakonomics Radio (2024). * "The First Great American Industry [https://freakonomics.com/podcast/the-first-great-american-industry/]," by Freakonomics Radio (2023). Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com [https://pcm.adswizz.com] for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

665. Werner Herzog Isn’t Afraid ...

... of bad reviews, meager financing, or artificial intelligence. But he is worried that the world is full of sloppy thinkers who mistake facts for the truth.   * SOURCES: * Werner Herzog [https://www.wernerherzog.com/films-by-werner-herzog.html], writer, filmmaker, and actor.   * RESOURCES: * The Future of Truth [https://amzn.to/4tSy4QZ], by Werner Herzog (2025). * Every Man for Himself and God Against All: A Memoir [https://amzn.to/40i3JOd], by Werner Herzog (2023).   * EXTRAS: * "When Did We All Start Watching Documentaries? [https://freakonomics.com/podcast/when-did-we-all-start-watching-documentaries/]" by Freakonomics Radio (2025). * "Werner Herzog Thinks His Films Are a Distraction [https://freakonomics.com/podcast/werner-herzog-thinks-his-films-are-a-distraction/]," by People I (Mostly) Admire (2023). Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com [https://pcm.adswizz.com] for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

664. Are Thousands of Medical Cures Hiding in Plain Sight?

Existing drugs can sometimes be repurposed to treat rare diseases. But making that match can be hard — and the financial incentives are weak. Guest host Steve Levitt tries to solve the puzzle.   * SOURCES: * Chris Snyder [https://faculty-directory.dartmouth.edu/christopher-snyder], professor of economics at Dartmouth College. * David Fajgenbaum [https://www.med.upenn.edu/apps/faculty/index.php/g275/p8205911], co-founder and president of Every Cure, physician-scientist at the University of Pennsylvania. * Heather Stone [https://www.linkedin.com/in/heather-stone-51a94a49/], health science policy analyst at the Food & Drug Administration. * Sarrin Chethik [https://www.linkedin.com/in/s-chethik/], senior policy analyst at the Market Shaping Accelerator.   * RESOURCES: * Chasing My Cure: A Doctor's Race to Turn Hope into Action; A Memoir [https://amzn.to/40inncE], by David Fajgenbaum (2019). * Strong Medicine: Creating Incentives for Pharmaceutical Research on Neglected Diseases [https://amzn.to/4tOfJEA], by Michael Kremer and Rachel Glennerster (2016). * Market Shaping Accelerator [https://www.marketshapingaccelerator.org/]. * CURE ID Registry [https://cure.ncats.io/create]. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com [https://pcm.adswizz.com] for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.