Behind the scenes of an abandoned cyber-scam compound
Summary
Reporter Leila Goldstein explores Cambodia's massive scam industry, which has become a global hub for fraud networks causing nearly $500 billion in losses. The episode details how scammers lure victims into fraudulent crypto investments and how many workers are themselves victims of human trafficking, forced to operate from compounds resembling tech campuses. Despite recent government crackdowns and international sanctions, experts warn that the sophisticated technology developed in Cambodia is now spreading to other regions, sustaining a resilient illicit ecosystem.
Topics discussed
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Intro: The global scale of the scam economy
Tour of a deserted scam compound in Cambodia
How crypto scams and forced labor operate
Sponsors: Odoo, Wise, and Brearley
Seized equipment and government statements
Analysis: The 'Silicon Valley' of organized crime
Outro and sponsor reads
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