Scams, Hacks and Frauds: Protecting your family from Internet Scams, Con Artists and Cybercrime

Pig Butchering Scams: Inside the scam Call Centres Forcing victims into Fraud

Tell us your story here! [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2503643/fan_mail/new] This week, Scams, Hacks and Frauds asks what really goes on inside an Internet scam call centre? This week we go deep into the pig butchering scam industry — and the shocking truth that many of the people running these internet scams are themselves victims. We tell the story of a chef who travelled to Southeast Asia looking for work and found himself trafficked into a scam call centre in Myanmar, forced to run pig butchering scams against his will; and a Chinese actor lured to Myanmar by a fake job offer and taken at gunpoint across the border to the Apollo Business Centre — one of the largest internet scam call centres in the region. These aren't small operations.  Scam call centres are vast, heavily resourced complexes connected via satellite internet, complete with full video studios that make pig-butchering scams look legitimate. The people staffing them are often trafficked victims facing beatings, imprisonment, and extortion... and they spend 16 hours a day running Pig Butchering Internet Scams. We also look at how social media pressure and international cooperation led to a dramatic raid that freed thousands — and what each of us can do to make internet scams harder to run... and to get an idea of the size and scope of these centres, as well as the applling conditions within them, we speak to the Strategic Human Firewall Robert Siciliano, and ask how can people better protect themselves. We publish new content every other Monday. The short time our episodes save your wallet, and help protect your family. If you like shows like "The Perfect Scam" or "Darknet Diaries" then this show might be for you.   On our website you’ll find more computer hacking, identity fraud, impersonation, consumer rights and Romance Scams.  To find these and to access our transcripts, visit us at www.scamshacksandfrauds.com [http://www.scamshacksandfrauds.com/]. The transcript and spoken audio are available under the Creative Commons, Share Alike, With Attributions license. For more information on this visit creativecommons.org [http://www.creativecommons.org].

Tech Support Scams - Scammer Jailed for Debit Card Fraud

Tell us your story here! [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2503643/fan_mail/new] Fake Tech Support scams cost their victims billions every year.  This week on Scams, Hacks and Frauds we look into these scams, we'll tell you just how they trick you into thinking there really are problems with your computer.. But we wont stop there.  We'll tell you the story of Fraudster Michael Cotter, who ran these tech support scams, and how he used fraudulent debit card transctions to keep his scam in business.  We'll then tell you how you can keep yourself safe from these scams. Tech support scams typically target the elderly, and people unfamiliar with computers.  If you know someone who's not that tech savvy, please share this episode with them to help protect them from these scams. We publish new content every other Monday. The short time our episodes save your wallet, and help protect your family. If you like shows like "The Perfect Scam" or "Darknet Diaries" then this show might be for you.   On our website you’ll find more computer hacking, identity fraud, impersonation, consumer rights and Romance Scams.  To find these and to access our transcripts, visit us at www.scamshacksandfrauds.com [http://www.scamshacksandfrauds.com/]. The transcript and spoken audio are available under the Creative Commons, Share Alike, With Attributions license. For more information on this visit creativecommons.org [http://www.creativecommons.org].

Work-From-Home Job Scams | Employment Fraud Red Flags

Tell us your story here! [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2503643/fan_mail/new] On Scams, Hacks and Frauds this week, we take you deep into a real employment scam.  What promised to be a dream work-from-home job turned out not just a nightmare but a full-on scam, with money laundering on top.   If you're looking for work or thinking about changing jobs, make sure you listen for red flags. And to help us find those fraud red flags, we're going to speak to Steven Rothberg from College Recruiter [https://www.collegerecruiter.com/blog/author/steven-rothberg].  Steven helps people find their first jobs and is an expert on navigating the employment market, so he knows a lot about employment fraud.  He'll help you understand what a real job offer looks like and what is sure to be a scam. We publish new content every other Monday. The short time our episodes save your wallet, and help protect your family. If you like shows like "The Perfect Scam" or "Darknet Diaries" then this show might be for you.   On our website you’ll find more computer hacking, identity fraud, impersonation, consumer rights and Romance Scams.  To find these and to access our transcripts, visit us at www.scamshacksandfrauds.com [http://www.scamshacksandfrauds.com/]. The transcript and spoken audio are available under the Creative Commons, Share Alike, With Attributions license. For more information on this visit creativecommons.org [http://www.creativecommons.org].

What is Money Laundering? Why is it used in Scams and Fraud?

Tell us your story here! [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2503643/fan_mail/new] Welcome to Scams, Hacks and Frauds.  Do you have a strange shop or restaurant in your town that no-one goes to but never seems to close down?  That might be a front for Money Laundering. This episode we're taking a step out of our story episodes, as it occured to Cee that although we talk about Money Laundering a lot on the show, we've never really given a good explanation on what Money Laundering is, how it works, and why Scams and Fraud usually result in criminals having to go through this process to realise their ill gotten gains. Along the way - and please do not try this at home - Cee will explain some of the more common ways that Criminals do money laundering so that if you're asked to participate in money laundering, you'll know what to look for, and why you should stay away. Cee also talks about some of his own personal experiences having to deal with money laundering checks, and why financial companies might just mysteriously close your bank account or ask strange questions if they think something strange is going on. We publish new content every other Monday. The short time our episodes save your wallet, and help protect your family. If you like shows like "The Perfect Scam" or "Darknet Diaries" then this show might be for you.   On our website you’ll find more computer hacking, identity fraud, impersonation, consumer rights and Romance Scams.  To find these and to access our transcripts, visit us at www.scamshacksandfrauds.com [http://www.scamshacksandfrauds.com/]. The transcript and spoken audio are available under the Creative Commons, Share Alike, With Attributions license. For more information on this visit creativecommons.org [http://www.creativecommons.org].

Fake Music, Fraudulent Listeners, Real Prison Time: Spotify Scammed For Millions

Tell us your story here! [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2503643/fan_mail/new] Welcome to Scams, Hacks and Frauds! In this episode, we dive deep into a fascinating true crime story about a sophisticated scam operation where Michael Smith was convicted of fraud related to fake listeners streaming AI-generated music on Spotify. This scam netted millions, exposing serious vulnerabilities in the music streaming industry. You'll learn how this scam worked, why it matters to you, and why protecting your accounts with strong passwords is essential—even for seemingly harmless platforms.  This case is just one example of how scams and fraud continue to evolve, impacting not only individuals but also large corporations. Join us as we uncover the mechanics behind this fraud and offer practical advice to help you identify and avoid scams before they happen.  Stay safe and informed with our weekly true crime stories focused on scams, hacks, and frauds. We publish new content every other Monday. The short time our episodes save your wallet, and help protect your family. If you like shows like "The Perfect Scam" or "Darknet Diaries" then this show might be for you.   On our website you’ll find more computer hacking, identity fraud, impersonation, consumer rights and Romance Scams.  To find these and to access our transcripts, visit us at www.scamshacksandfrauds.com [http://www.scamshacksandfrauds.com/]. The transcript and spoken audio are available under the Creative Commons, Share Alike, With Attributions license. For more information on this visit creativecommons.org [http://www.creativecommons.org].