Stolen Podcast with Erin West

By Erin WestSociety & Culture Education True Crime

Stolen Podcast with Erin West episodes

June 11, 2025 The Dark Side of Online Romance: Carina's Story, Part 1 (Ep 5)
In this episode of the Stolen Podcast, Erin West delves into the harrowing experience of Carina, a victim of the pig butchering scam. The conversation explores the psychological manipulation employed by scammers, the emotional connections formed during the scam, and the devastating financial consequences that ensue. Carina demonstrates how she went from one of her lowest moments to corralling her confidence, her resilience and emerging stronger.
47 min
June 04, 2025 Unmasking Digital Crime: Voices from the Front Lines — Michele Ilich-Daubas (Ep 4)
In this episode of Stolen, host Erin West delves into the complex world of transnational organized crime with special guest Michele Ilich-Daubas.
Erin shares her experience at a conference by the International Association of Financial Crime Investigators, emphasizing the importance of teamwork and collaboration in combatting financial crime. Michelle, who works at a small police department in Norwich, Vermont, discusses her role in educating her community about scams and her involvement in Operation Shamrock.
Together, Erin and Michele talk about the importance of empathy and proper language when dealing with crime victims, the challenges and strategies in tracing cryptocurrency, and the crucial role of 'Survivor Stories' in understanding the impact of these crimes. This episode is a compelling exploration of the underbelly of digital crime and the importance of community awareness and law enforcement education.
00:00 Introduction to Transnational Organized Crime
02:51 The Importance of Collaboration in Financial Crime
05:47 Michelle's Journey into Crime Prevention
09:05 Understanding Pig Butchering Scams
12:00 Navigating Cryptocurrency Investigations
14:46 The Role of Survivor Stories
19:07 Language Matters in Victim Support
22:55 Educating Law Enforcement on Scams
27:10 Community Engagement and Awareness
30:07 Empathy in Addressing Victimization
33:53 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]

Michele Ilich-Daubas is a former senior legal analyst and records custodian turned crypto fraud fighter and public speaker. Dedicated to fighting the devastating and, unfortunately, prolific crime of pig butchering, her passion lies in the education of the public, especially the elderly, of the tactics used by scammers to lure individuals into these schemes. By focusing on what makes a person vulnerable, her hope is to empower potential victims with the awareness that when something does not feel right, to allow themselves a moment to stop, breath and think before reacting. And ultimately, it is her desire to bring the devastation caused by this crime to the attention of Meta Platforms (Facebook and Instagram) where these crimes are committed extensively through fake accounts and false advertising and convince Meta to join forces with Operation Shamrock to raise the level of awareness for both the public and our legislators, shining a blinding light on the scammers’ sole goal: To strip the United States of its generational wealth.

Operation Shamrock

#stolenapodcastwitherinwest #erinwest #operationshamrock #pigbutchering #cybercrime #organizedcrime #transnationalorganizedcrime #stolenpodcast #stolenapodcast #scams #fraud #TRM #TRMLabs #survivorstories #trainingthetrainers #locallawenforcement
47 min
May 28, 2025 Cracking Down on Transnational Organized Crime with Blockchain Intelligence (Ari Redbord)
In this episode of Stolen, Erin West chats with Ari Redbord, the global head of policy for TRM Labs, about helping combat transnational organized crime through blockchain intelligence.

They discuss topics such as cryptocurrency tracing, financial crime prevention, and victim recovery. The conversation delves into specific tools and technologies TRM Labs uses to assist law enforcement, including their Tracers program, and the significance of TRM's training initiatives for state and local law enforcement. They also explore the phenomenon of 'pig butchering' scams, the paradox of cryptocurrency's utility for both lawful and illicit activities, and the recent FinCEN action against Huione, a significant player in the Crypto money laundering world. The episode wraps up with insights into the collaborative community and the importance of innovative approaches in tackling international financial crimes.

00:00 Introduction and Guest Introduction
02:32 Ari's Career Journey and TRM Labs
04:10 TRM Labs and Its Mission
08:58 Understanding Blockchain and Cryptocurrency
12:13 Law Enforcement and Cryptocurrency
17:46 Challenges and Cooperation in Crypto Investigations
24:45 Sanctions and Tools Against Transnational Crime
27:35 Understanding the Patriot Act's Section 311
28:43 US Government Actions Against Transnational Scammers
30:04 TRM Labs' Role in Supporting Law Enforcement
32:09 Operation Shamrock and Chainabuse Portal
36:37 Insights from the IC3 Report on Crypto Crimes
42:03 The TRM Running Club: Building Community Through Running
46:17 Innovative Approaches to Combatting Transnational Crime
52:46 Concluding Thoughts and Future Directions

A 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
55 min
May 21, 2025 Inside the Shadows of Scams: Unveiling Scam Compounds with Cezary Podkul (Ep 2)
Stolen host Erin West sits down with investigative journalist Cezary Podkul to delve into the dark world of international scam compounds.
Cezary shares his background in finance journalism and his deep dive into cybercrime after moving to Asia. The discussion focuses 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," the correct name 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

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

Cezary's upcoming book: 'The Big Trace'
Cezary’s companion newsletter for the book, which has updates on his travels: The Big Trace Newsletter
Operation Shamrock
1 hr
May 14, 2025 Unveiling the World of Financial Scams: Welcome to the Stolen Podcast with Erin West (Ep 1)
In the inaugural episode of Stolen, a podcast, Erin West shares her journey from being a local prosecutor to becoming a crusader against transnational organized crime.

Erin discusses the compelling reasons behind starting this podcast and the staggering scale of financial scams orchestrated by organized criminals. She reveals her motivation rooted in witnessing countless victims lose their life savings and the little-known aspect of human traffickers driving these scams from compounds in Southeast Asia.

The episode sheds light on the intersection of financial crime, technology, and human trafficking. Erin also introduces Operation Shamrock, her initiative to combat these crimes through education, seizure, and disruption. The conversation aims to raise awareness and educate listeners about the pervasive and sophisticated nature of these scams, emphasizing the need for a collective fight against them.

00:00 Welcome to Stolen
01:34 The Spark Behind the Podcast
02:04 Unveiling the Financial Crime Crisis
03:24 From Prosecutor to Advocate
16:59 The Birth of Operation Shamrock
25:59 Understanding Pig Butchering
37:24 The Human Trafficking Connection
41:06 Conclusion and Next Episode Teaser

A 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
https://operationshamrock.org/

#stolenapodcastwitherinwest #erinwest #operationshamrock #pigbutchering #cybercrime #organizedcrime #transnationalorganizedcrime #stolenpodcast #stolenapodcast #scams #fraud #TRM #TRMLabs
43 min
April 30, 2025 Introducing Stolen, a Podcast with Erin West
The Podcast 'Stolen' with Erin West introduces and examines the biggest modern threat that many are unaware of is unveiled: the rapidly evolving world of digital crime and fraud. From identity theft and fake investment schemes to multinational Ponzi schemes and ransomware attacks, these crimes are vast and sophisticated. As organized crime syndicates leverage technology to perpetrate their schemes, former prosecutor Erin West and her team delve deep into the stories behind these nefarious acts. They explore how these criminals operate, the impact on society, and the urgent need to address this escalating threat. Notably, the episode highlights the increasing role of artificial intelligence in these crimes, urging listeners to stay vigilant. Tune in to 'Stolen' to uncover the hidden world of cybercrime and learn about the efforts to combat it.

00:00 Introduction: The Hidden Threat of Modern Crime
00:44 The Vast and Varied Nature of Modern Crime
01:02 Known Criminals and Their Sophisticated Operations
01:22 The Impact on Society and the Role of AI
01:56 The Digital Face of Crime
02:13 Welcome to Stolen: Unveiling the Darkness
02:39 The AI Revelation and Final Thoughts

Hosted by Erin West and Produced by Brandon Doble and Smarticle Media.

#stolenapodcast #erinwest #smarticle #smarticlemedia #purpleglasses #stolenpodcast #stolen #operationshamrock
4 min

About Stolen Podcast with Erin West

From the publisher's feed

Scams, cryptofraud, investment fraud, celebrity impersonation, romance baiting, sexploitation, crypto ATM fraud, job scams, toll scams, human trafficking...