Romance scams are one of the fastest-growing forms of online fraud, costing victims billions each year. In this episode of Stolen, Erin West talks with Mary, a romance scam survivor who refused to be silenced. Instead of hiding in shame, Mary documented every message, tracked her scammers, and even used AI to fight back.

Her unconventional approach shows just how far victims are forced to go when law enforcement tools and systems fall short. Together, Erin and Mary unpack the reality of romance fraud, pig butchering scams, psychological manipulation, and why we need urgent law enforcement solutions to stop transnational organized crime.

If you want to understand how romance scams work — and why survivors like Mary are stepping into the role of investigator — this episode will open your eyes to the global scamdemic we’re facing today.

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.

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.

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.

🎥 Watch The Tinder Swindler on Netflix 📅 Watch Cecilie’s new series Love, Con, Revenge on September 5 🛡️ Visit Cecilie’s nonprofit at LoveSaid.org

Keywords: Tinder Swindler, romance scam, online fraud, Cecilie Fjellhøy, scam survivor, Netflix documentary, pig butchering scam, financial crime victims, online dating fraud, Love Con Revenge

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.

From Uganda to Myanmar: A Journey of Resilience and Hope

Join Erin West as she delves into the harrowing yet inspiring story of Small Q, a gospel artist from Uganda. Discover how Small Q was lured by false promises of work abroad, only to find himself trapped in a scamming camp in Myanmar. Through resilience and faith, he navigated unimaginable challenges and emerged with a mission to raise awareness about human trafficking.

Small Q's initial journey from Uganda in search of better opportunities. The shocking reality of being trapped in a scamming camp. The role of faith and music in Small Q's survival and healing. Efforts to raise awareness and combat human trafficking.

Guest:

Small Q, Gospel Artist and Activist

#HumanTraffickingAwareness #Resilience #GospelMusic #Inspiration #pigbutchering #scam #transnationalorganizedcrime

Subscribe now for more powerful stories of hope and resilience.

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.