Matthew Cox | Inside True Crime Podcast

Wall Street Insider Flee's The Country!

Dec 26, 2025
Ben Port, also known as Ben Skull, is a former Wall Street insider and author who shares his wild journey from stock promotion schemes to living off the grid. He opens up about his troubled childhood, working in shady OTC markets, and confronting Russian mafiosos. Ben's crazy escapades include fleeing to Nicaragua, partying in Cabo, and his connections with the Sinaloa cartel. His gripping tales of near-misses with law enforcement and eventual reinvention into the SkullKrushers brand paint an enthralling picture of a life lived on the edge.
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ANECDOTE

From Gym Bouncer To Wall Street Sales

  • Ben Port describes starting in investor relations by faking a resume and borrowing a shirt and tie to close CEOs for marketing services.
  • He worked commission-only, hustled sales, and quickly learned the industry's grime and broken promises.
INSIGHT

How OTC Markets Enable Risky Stock Schemes

  • OTC and pink sheet markets function like the Wild West with many small or fraudulent companies needing visibility.
  • Investor relations and marketing boost visibility but also enable pump-and-dump dynamics on low-regulation tiers.
ANECDOTE

Selling A Database To Survive

  • Ben sold a client database he copied after not receiving promised commissions to survive while expecting a child.
  • That database later helped him get hired in San Francisco and scale investor-relations operations.
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