Inside the Shadows of Scams: Unveiling Scam Compounds with Cezary Podkul (Ep 2)
Stolen Podcast21 Touko 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

Jaksot(50)

Scam Crackdown in Cambodia: How a Nation Became Ground Zero for Global Scam Slavery

Scam Crackdown in Cambodia: How a Nation Became Ground Zero for Global Scam Slavery

When no one believed them, The Eyewitness Project's Nathan and Lindsay kept reporting. Now the world is paying attention. Erin West talks with the investigative journalists whose frontline work in Cam...

1 Huhti 44min

Inside the Scam: How Social Engineers Steal Millions—and What You Can Do About It

Inside the Scam: How Social Engineers Steal Millions—and What You Can Do About It

Fraud Detective Marc Evans provides insight into how scammers use social engineering to scam individuals and businesses. Episode 46: Erin West sits down with Marc Evans, an active metropolitan fraud d...

25 Maalis 52min

It's Not Your Fault: AARP Fraud Expert Amy Nofziger on Scam Victims, Shame, and Healing

It's Not Your Fault: AARP Fraud Expert Amy Nofziger on Scam Victims, Shame, and Healing

AARP’s Amy Nofziger outlines why scams keep working, who they really target, and what actually helps people heal. Amy Nofziger has spent 24 years running AARP's Fraud Watch Network Helpline — and the ...

18 Maalis 42min

When Seeing Is No Longer Believing: Deepfakes, AI Deception, and the Scam Economy with Perry Carpenter

When Seeing Is No Longer Believing: Deepfakes, AI Deception, and the Scam Economy with Perry Carpenter

What if the person on your screen isn't real? Author and cybersecurity expert Perry Carpenter joins Erin West to break down how deepfakes, AI-generated voice cloning, and synthetic media have become t...

11 Maalis 48min

SOLUTIONS: A Former CIA Analyst's Plan to Stop America's Scam Epidemic

SOLUTIONS: A Former CIA Analyst's Plan to Stop America's Scam Epidemic

Episode 43: Ken Westbrook shares how his mother got him into fighting scams, the challenge in measuring the scale of scams, and the actions the U.S. needs to take to better fight scams. When Ken W...

4 Maalis 46min

From Credit Card Bust-Outs to Pig Butchering: A 26-Year Fraud Fighter Exposes the Gaps | Steve Lenderman

From Credit Card Bust-Outs to Pig Butchering: A 26-Year Fraud Fighter Exposes the Gaps | Steve Lenderman

Episode 42: What do synthetic identities, bust-out credit card fraud, and pig butchering scams have in common? More than you'd think. In this episode of Stolen, Erin sits down with Steve Lenderman — a...

25 Helmi 44min

Erin West Inside Cambodia’s Pig Butchering Scam Compounds: Crypto Fraud, Human Trafficking & the Global Crackdown

Erin West Inside Cambodia’s Pig Butchering Scam Compounds: Crypto Fraud, Human Trafficking & the Global Crackdown

Episode 41: Erin West returns to Cambodia to investigate whether the world’s largest pig butchering scam operations are truly shutting down—or simply regrouping. From Phnom Penh to Sihanoukville, she ...

18 Helmi 40min

SOLUTIONS: Fighting the Scamdemic with Smarter Technology

SOLUTIONS: Fighting the Scamdemic with Smarter Technology

Episode 40: Erin West and Scamnetic CEO Al Pascual discuss the growing issue of scams and the development of innovative technology solutions to combat them. They explore the importance of technology i...

11 Helmi 34min

Suosittua kategoriassa Koulutus

rss-murhan-anatomia
psykopodiaa-podcast
voi-hyvin-meditaatiot-2
adhd-podi
rss-narsisti
aamukahvilla
rss-rahamania
rss-liian-kuuma-peruna
rahapuhetta
rss-vapaudu-voimaasi
psykologia
rss-koira-haudattuna
rss-eron-alkemiaa
rss-the-leafy-lounge
rss-duodecim-lehti
rss-valo-minussa-2
leikitaanko-laakaria
jari-sarasvuo-podcast
mielipaivakirja
rss-turun-yliopisto