The Real Scam

In this eye-opening episode of the Stolen Podcast, host Erin West interviews Chris Colocousis, a romance scam survivor who lost 90% of his retirement savings to a sophisticated cryptocurrency investment fraud known as "pig butchering."

Chris shares his detailed story of how what began as a Facebook friend request from an attractive woman led to months of manipulation, fake cryptocurrency trading platforms, and devastating financial loss. Learn about the red flags he missed, the psychological tactics scammers use, and why even crypto.com's fraud warnings couldn't stop the theft.

Key topics covered:

Romance scam red flags and manipulation tactics

How fake cryptocurrency trading apps steal money

Why moving conversations to WhatsApp is a warning sign

The failure of law enforcement and banks to recover stolen funds

How scammers use deepfakes and sophisticated technology

Steps to take if you've been victimized by financial fraud

This episode serves as both a cautionary tale and educational resource for anyone using social media or considering cryptocurrency investments. Chris's story demonstrates how these transnational organized crime networks target everyday Americans with devastating effectiveness. Anytime Radio · Find the show on Just Gospel - Mondays at 6pm CAT

In this episode of Stolen, Erin West sits down with former U.S. Secret Service agent Matt O’Neill — a pioneer in fighting cyber-enabled fraud, cryptocurrency scams, and transnational organized crime. They dig into why the U.S. is losing ground in the battle against pig butchering scams, romance scams, and large-scale investment fraud — and what actually works to disrupt these criminal networks. O’Neill shares bold, practical steps law enforcement, tech companies, and the financial sector can take right now to stop scammers, from improving cryptocurrency crime investigations to dismantling money mule networks. From the creation of the Secret Service’s Global Investigative Operations Center to the urgent need for a U.S. national anti-scam center, this conversation delivers insider strategies, cutting-edge tech solutions, and real talk about why victims of financial fraud are too often left with nowhere to turn — and how we can change that. Anytime Radio · Find the show on Just Gospel - Mondays at 6pm CAT

In this episode of Stolen, Erin West speaks with Nahid, a mother who lost everything to a romance-driven cryptocurrency scam known as “pig butchering.” What started on a dating app quickly spiraled into a nightmare of fake investments, manipulated trust, and financial ruin. Nahid courageously shares how scammers used love, deepfakes, and a counterfeit “Fidelity Options” platform to steal over a million dollars—and how law enforcement failed to help.

This episode sheds light on:

How scammers groom victims on dating apps and WhatsApp

Why Tether (USDT) is the coin of choice for pig butchering fraud

The emotional toll and stigma survivors face

The urgent need for banks, exchanges, and law enforcement to step up

Nahid’s story is heartbreaking, but it’s also a warning—and a call for systemic change. If you’ve ever wondered how these scams work, how victims get pulled in so deeply, and why reporting often feels hopeless, this episode will open your eyes. Anytime Radio · Find the show on Just Gospel - Mondays at 6pm CAT

Romance scam survivor Cecilie Fjellhøy, made famous by Netflix’s The Tinder Swindler, joins Erin West to expose the real cost of online fraud — and why justice is still out of reach for victims.

In this powerful episode of The Stolen Podcast, Erin and Cecilie dive deep into:

What really happened in the Tinder Swindler romance scam

The psychological tactics scammers use to trap victims

Why victims of fraud are ignored — or even criminalized — by law enforcement

How romance fraud survivors can fight back

Cecilie’s new Netflix series Love, Con, Revenge (launching September 5)

Building a nonprofit to help other victims navigate the system

This is not just a story about one scam. It’s a roadmap of what happens when a financial crime destroys your life — and no one shows up to help. Anytime Radio · Find the show on Just Gospel - Mondays at 6pm CAT

In this eye-opening episode of Stolen, host Erin West sits down with anti-money laundering expert Alison Jimenez to discuss the rapidly growing crisis of financial sextortion targeting teenage boys. Learn how this transnational crime works, how scammers move money, and what parents and financial institutions can do to protect children.

What You'll Learn:

How financial sextortion schemes target teenage boys through social media platforms like Instagram and Snapchat

The shocking statistics: 1 in 3 American teenage boys have been targeted, with complaints rising from 139 in 2021 to over 36,000 in 2024

How scammers use peer-to-peer payment apps (Venmo, Cash App, Zelle, Apple Pay) and gift cards to extract money from victims

The cryptocurrency trail: how money moves from U.S. victims to criminal organizations in Nigeria and West Africa

Red flags parents should watch for in their teen's payment apps

Why "safety by design" matters for financial products targeting minors

Practical steps financial institutions can take to add friction to these schemes

Expert Insights: Alison Jimenez breaks down the financial infrastructure behind sextortion scams, explaining money mule operations, Bitcoin transfers, and the regulatory landscape. She shares actionable recommendations for parents, including privacy controls, parental notifications, and how to talk to your kids about this threat.

Key Takeaways for Parents:

Most payment apps automatically enroll teens in services like Zelle without opt-out options

Scammers typically demand around $300 per victim using peer-to-peer payments or specific gift cards

The crime moves quickly—from initial contact to blackmail can happen in minutes or hours

Only 10-20% of scammers actually share images if victims don't pay, but the psychological harm is severe

Whether you're a parent, work in financial services, or care about protecting children online, this episode provides crucial information about one of the fastest-growing crimes affecting American teens today. Anytime Radio · Find the show on Just Gospel - Mondays at 6pm CAT

In this eye-opening episode of the Stolen Podcast, host Erin West interviews Chris Colocousis, a romance scam survivor who lost 90% of his retirement savings to a sophisticated cryptocurrency investment fraud known as "pig butchering."

Chris shares his detailed story of how what began as a Facebook friend request from an attractive woman led to months of manipulation, fake cryptocurrency trading platforms, and devastating financial loss. Learn about the red flags he missed, the psychological tactics scammers use, and why even crypto.com's fraud warnings couldn't stop the theft.

Key topics covered:

Romance scam red flags and manipulation tactics

How fake cryptocurrency trading apps steal money

Why moving conversations to WhatsApp is a warning sign

The failure of law enforcement and banks to recover stolen funds

How scammers use deepfakes and sophisticated technology

Steps to take if you've been victimized by financial fraud

This episode serves as both a cautionary tale and educational resource for anyone using social media or considering cryptocurrency investments. Chris's story demonstrates how these transnational organized crime networks target everyday Americans with devastating effectiveness. Anytime Radio · Find the show on Just Gospel - Mondays at 6pm CAT

In this jaw-dropping episode of Stolen, Erin West sits down with Jacob Sims—one of the most brilliant and fearless voices in the global fight against human trafficking and financial crime. Together, they unpack the explosive truth about how Cambodia has become the epicenter of next-gen fraud, fueled by a shadow economy of pig butchering scams, forced labor, and elite corruption.

From the streets of Phnom Penh to high-level policy failures, Sims breaks down how a multi-billion-dollar scam industry took over half of Cambodia's GDP—and how powerful state actors are not just complicit, but actively profiting.

If you’ve ever asked, “Who’s behind all these scams?”—this is the episode you can’t miss. Spoiler: it's not a whodunit. It's a who's-already-doing-it. Anytime Radio · Find the show on Just Gospel - Mondays at 6pm CAT

This episode explores how a Minnesota police sergeant became a cryptocurrency crime investigator after discovering Bitcoin scams targeting elderly victims in his community, ultimately developing blockchain investigation techniques that help law enforcement agencies nationwide. Sergeant Jake Tuzinski discusses pig butchering scams, cryptocurrency ATM fraud prevention, digital asset recovery methods, and the formation of a law enforcement coalition that has recovered over $3 million from crypto scammers while providing victim support and closure. Anytime Radio · Find the show on Just Gospel - Mondays at 6pm CAT

In this episode of Stolen, Erin West and Aleks Ring discuss the complexities of transnational organized crime, focusing on the role of forensic accounting, community education, and legislative advocacy in combating scams and protecting victims. They explore the challenges posed by cryptocurrency and the importance of collaboration between law enforcement and community members to address these issues effectively.

Takeaways

Transnational organized crime includes human trafficking and financial scams.

Forensic accounting is crucial in disrupting criminal financing.

Community education can significantly increase crime reporting.

Crypto ATMs pose unique risks and require public awareness.

Building relationships with local law enforcement is essential.

Legislative advocacy is necessary for victim protection.

Train the Trainer programs empower communities to combat scams.

Collaboration among law enforcement agencies enhances investigation efforts.

Open-source tools can aid in tracing cryptocurrency transactions.

Education and awareness are key to preventing financial crimes. Anytime Radio · Find the show on Just Gospel - Mondays at 6pm CAT

In this episode, Erin West and Matt Hogan discuss the complexities of financial crimes, the role of technology, and the impact on victims. They explore various scams, including job scams and cryptocurrency-related fraud, and emphasize the importance of law enforcement's role in combating these issues. The conversation highlights the need for collaboration among law enforcement, legislation, and community resources to effectively address financial crimes and support victims. Anytime Radio · Find the show on Just Gospel - Mondays at 6pm CAT