How Cyber Sleuths Tracked Down a Nigerian Scammer
Summary
Hosts Erin West and Paul Raphael traveled to Nigeria to track down sexortion scammers targeting youth. By creating fake profiles, they were blackmailed and used OSINT tools to identify a suspect in Lagos. They confronted the scammer, interviewed others, and witnessed rituals used to bless scams. The episode highlights the need for better platform safety and law enforcement action.
Topics discussed
Introduction to 404 Media and podcast support
Guests Erin West and Paul Raphael introduce the sexortion crisis
Planning the trip to Nigeria to track down scammers
Creating fake profiles to attract sexortion scammers
The scam process: from DMs to blackmail threats
Using a Bitcoin tool to capture scammer IP and location
OSINT investigation: tracing phone numbers and social media
Confirming the suspect's identity and travel security
Confronting the scammer in his village in Nigeria
Witnessing a 'Yahoo Plus' spiritual ritual for scammers
Lessons learned: the need for more arrests and deterrence
Platform responsibility and advice for victims
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