The Perfect Scam

After several years of investing in crypto, Glen has built up a sizeable nest egg. The money means security and the ability to buy a home. One day, when trying to log in to Coinbase, he realizes that his account is locked. Seconds later, he receives a call from "Coinbase support." The customer service agent explains that due to a major data breach and the high volume of hacks, they are now being instructed to reach out and assist customers directly. He walks Glen through the account recovery process, which is reassuring, but within a day, Glen's account is drained of $180,000.

When a couple pulls up to Gene's North Carolina home looking for their beagle puppy, he is not sure what to make of it. But soon, a steady stream of would-be pet owners arriving in the following days and weeks makes it clear that criminals are using his address to pull off their scams. Gene is patient and helpful with the disappointed families. Even after a fire destroys Gene's home, the scams continue

Christine Kiefer, Senior Director at FINRA's Office of Investor Education, dives deep into the world of task scams that are preying on job seekers. She highlights the psychological tactics used by scammers, like gamification and emotional manipulation, that keep victims hooked. Listeners learn valuable red flags to watch for, such as unusual account demands and rapid payment requests. Christine emphasizes the need for vigilance and verification, as she outlines how to protect oneself from falling victim to job-related fraud.

Robert McMillan, a Wall Street Journal cybersecurity reporter, and Joe Hooper, an FBI agent, delve into the shocking laptop-farm scam linked to North Korea. They shine a light on Christina Chapman, a woman ensnared by the scheme while seeking financial relief. The guests discuss how remote work during the pandemic enabled these scams, with North Korean operators leveraging stolen identities to infiltrate U.S. companies. They also cover the investigation's evolution, revealing the alarming scale of these operations and the real-world consequences for unsuspecting Americans.

In part 2, victims of a nationwide fraud scheme join forces on a Facebook group and share their stories with investigative journalist Lou Raguse of KARE in Minneapolis. Someone is selling water purification devices to entrepreneurs, who think they are getting in on the ground floor of a great opportunity, but then fails to deliver the promised gadgets. Lou discovers the criminal's identity is Charles Fields, a suburban Minneapolis father who uses a host of aliases to pull off the scheme. Lou and the victims' dedication, along with the discovery of key evidence in an unusual place, help law enforcement successfully bring Fields to justice.

Job seekers all over the country answer ads for sales positions at a water filtration company. The offer is promising, and the contracts look professional. The only catch is the initial $5000 investment in a water purification unit. However, when the prepaid units never arrive, people begin to realize they are victims of a scam. They form a Facebook group, band together, and convince investigative journalist Lou Raguse to take up their cause. Will they get justice?

Join Detective Scott Simons, a cyber investigation specialist from the Greenfield Police Department, and Erin West, the founder of Operation Shamrock and former prosecutor, as they unpack the dark world of cryptocurrency scams. Discover how they helped a victim recover $80,000 from a $450,000 loss. Simons shares his techniques for tracing stolen funds through crypto wallets, while West emphasizes the importance of public-private collaboration in combating transnational fraud. Their insights offer both hope and practical strategies for scam victims.

Eva Rothman shares her harrowing experience of losing her life savings in gold bars due to a tech support scam, warning others about the dangers of deceitful schemes. Her nephew, Rabbi Lyle Rothman, provides insights into the emotional toll on their family. Michael Kukoulos, a precious metals dealer, reveals how scammers exploit customers seeking gold. Detective Petty discusses his work in tackling these scams through sting operations, emphasizing the need for vigilance as gold bar scams proliferate in a world with soaring gold prices.

In part 2, a call from Reuters journalist Brian Grow confirms Diana's worst fears about what really happened to her stepfather's remains. As Brian digs deeper into the story, the truth he uncovers about Sunset Mesa Funeral Home and the body brokering scheme is worse than anyone could have imagined. The conviction of Megan Hess brings some needed closure to families devastated by her shocking betrayal of trust.

Planning a loved one's burial or cremation is a difficult experience under the best of circumstances. When Diana's stepfather, Cactus, gets sick during the early stages of Alzheimer's and sees a billboard advertising simple cremations for $695 at Sunset Mesa Funeral Home, he requests that his family cremate him and not spend a lot of money. But when Cactus dies and his cremains go missing under mysterious circumstances, it sets off a series of events that not only exacerbates the family's grief, but also tips off a lengthy investigation by Reuters journalists that rocks a small community in western Colorado and exposes the dark, unregulated side of the body trade industry.