The Daily

The Sunday Read: 'Who's Making All Those Scam Calls?'

Feb 14, 2021
Scam calls are a booming industry, costing Americans $20 billion. Meet L., a vigilante exposing scammers on YouTube, and follow his investigative journey to India. The podcast reveals heartbreaking stories, like an elderly woman's vulnerability to a tech support scam. Delve into the inner workings of call centers and the complex motivations of scam workers. A journalist's daring encounters with scammers provide chilling insights into their tactics and justifications, showcasing the darker side of human interaction in the digital age.
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ANECDOTE

Kathleen Langer's Scam Call

  • Kathleen Langer, an elderly grandmother, received a scam call offering a refund.
  • The scammer, "Roger," gained remote access to her computer and attempted to steal her bank details.
INSIGHT

The Scope of Scam Calls and Jim Browning's Work

  • Phone scams are a widespread problem, causing significant financial losses.
  • Jim Browning, a software engineer, combats these scams by hacking into scammers' computers and exposing their operations.
ANECDOTE

Yudhijit Bhattacharjee's Encounters with Scammers

  • Yudhijit Bhattacharjee, the author, has personal experience with scam calls.
  • He often receives calls from individuals with South Asian accents, making fraudulent offers.
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