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Stolen Podcast

Stolen Podcast

By: Erin West
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 This podcast is dedicated to educating and stopping transnational financial crimes.Copyright 2025 All rights reserved.
Episodes
  • Episode 2 - Inside the Shadows: Unveiling Scam Compounds with Cezary Podkul

    Episode 2 - Inside the Shadows: Unveiling Scam Compounds with Cezary Podkul
    May 21 2025

    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 misspokewhen 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

    stolenapodcast@gmail.com 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 #stolenapodcastwitherinwest #erinwest #operationshamrock #pigbutchering #cybercrime #organizedcrime #transnationalorganizedcrime #stolenpodcast #stolenapodcast #scams #fraud #TRM #TRMLabs #scamcompounds #bamban #paocc #phillippines #presidentialantiorganizedcrimecommissionofthephilippines #cezarypodkul #thebigtrace #propublica
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    59 mins
  • Episode 1 - Unveiling The World Of Financial Scams: An Introduction to Stolen, A Podcast With Erin West

    Episode 1 - Unveiling The World Of Financial Scams: An Introduction to Stolen, A Podcast With Erin West
    May 14 2025
    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. Joined by producer Brandon Doble, 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: Meet the Hosts 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 stolenapodcast@gmail.com https://operationshamrock.org/ #stolenapodcastwitherinwest #erinwest #operationshamrock #pigbutchering #cybercrime #organizedcrime #transnationalorganizedcrime #stolenpodcast #stolenapodcast #scams #fraud
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    43 mins
  • Introducing Stolen, a Podcast with Erin West

    Introducing Stolen, a Podcast with Erin West
    Apr 30 2025
    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
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    4 mins

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