Love, Lies & Digital Crime: The Global Web of Romance Scams

In this episode, we uncover the dark side of the internet where romance scams flourish across major technology platforms—and the heartbreaking consequences they leave in their wake. Victims are deceived by online personas, only to find themselves emotionally betrayed and financially devastated. But the story doesn’t stop there. Freelance journalist Emily Fishbein takes us deep into the criminal underworld operating in post-coup Myanmar, where trafficked individuals are forced into running these scams under threat and coercion. Emily, now a fellow with the Pulitzer Center’s Rainforest Investigations Network, shares findings from her pre-fellowship work featured in Al Jazeera and MIT Technology Review. This episode explores the intersection of technology, organized crime, and human vulnerability, shedding light on how digital platforms have become unwitting hosts to industrial-scale scams.

The Surprising Roots of Social Media in Ham Radio

Long before Facebook and MySpace, there was another kind of social media - the world of amateur radio. Celebrating 100 years since the founding of the International Amateur Radio Union in 1925, we reveal how ham radio operators have been connecting, communicating, and innovating across the globe for a century - from disaster relief to space communication. A hobby rooted in analogue technology has evolved into a vibrant, digital, and community-driven space. Whether you're a tech enthusiast, a podcast lover, or curious about the future of social connection, tune in to hear from broadcaster and radio amateur Jim Lee (G4AEH) as we decode the past, present, and future of this unique tech tradition.

The programme is presented by Gareth Mitchell and the studio expert is Ania Lichtarowicz.

More on this week's stories:

Inside a romance scam compound—and how people get tricked into being there

Amateur radio services at the forefront

Production Manager: Liz Tuohy

Editor: Ania Lichtarowicz

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