May 21, 2025

Episode 2 - Inside the Shadows: Unveiling Scam Compounds with Cezary Podkul

59 minutes

In this episdoe of Stolen, A Podcast, host Erin West sits down with investigative journalist Cezary Podkul to delve into the dark world of international scam compounds. Cezary introduces himself, sharing his background in finance journalism and his deep dive into cybercrime after moving to Asia. The discussion focusses on the origins and operations of scam compounds in Southeast Asia, particularly in the Philippines, Cambodia, Myanmar, and Laos. Cezary recounts his first-hand experiences visiting these sites, the shocking conditions, and the unsettling levels of violence. Erin and Cezary cover the difficulty of fighting this criminal industry, emphasizing the need for public awareness and international cooperation. The episode also touches on the Philippines' efforts to dismantle these operations and highlights Cezary's upcoming book, 'The Big Trace,' which aims to provide an authoritative look into this pressing issue.

EDITORS NOTE: We misspoke when we called the PAOCC the "Philippines Anti-Organized Crime Commission" but actually it is the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission of the Philippines.

00:00 Introduction and Guest Introduction`

01:41 Cezary Podkul's Background and Career

02:52 The Big Trace: Uncovering Scam Compounds

03:25 Discovering Scam Compounds: A Journalist's Journey

04:50 The Shocking Reality of Scam Compounds

07:47 Exploring Scam Compounds in the Philippines

10:02 Inside the Scam Compounds: A Detailed Look

11:14 The Dark Side of POGO Operations

12:40 The Violent Reality of Scam Compounds

17:20 Transforming a Crime Den into a Police Headquarters

25:04 A Survivor's Story: From Victim to Advocate

30:49 Investigating Bamban: A Unique Insight

32:38 Exploring the Scam Compound

33:06 Living Conditions in the Dormitories

35:44 Hierarchy and Lifestyle of the Bosses

36:27 Torture and Human Trafficking

38:50 The Raid and Its Aftermath

39:26 The Criminal Free Zones

42:02 Inside the Boss's Mansion

46:31 The Scale of Illicit Wealth

49:24 The Fight Against Scam Compounds

52:23 Conclusion and Call to Action

I giant thank you to our first sponsor: TRM Labs

TRM Labs - Blockchain Investigations & Risk Management -Investigate, monitor, and detect crypto and digital asset fraud and financial crime

TRM Labs

[email protected]

Cezary's upcoming book:

'The Big Trace'

Cezary’s companion newsletter for the book, which has updates on my travels:

The Big Trace Newsletter

Make Some Noise For Manilla

Cezary’s LinkedIn page for anyone who wants to connect or follow his work:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/cezarypodkul/

Operation Shamrock

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By Erin West

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