Whale Hunting | Trafficked workers in Southeast-Asian compounds run crypto scams to siphon billions. Operation Shamrock is prying open the ‘pig-butchering’ machine — and fighting to free victims.

Hear from law enforcement, cybersecurity experts, and victims of digital crime. Erin West investigates the global rise of digital crime — and the people caught in the crossfire.

The Wall Street Journal | Investment scams are global operations. Americans want banks to do more to prevent them. Pressure is spreading to telecoms and social media, where scammers find their marks.

Verso Books | Based on years of field research, Scam provides a probing investigation of Southeast Asia’s online scam industry, told through the voices of survivors.

BlockChain Trends | Learn about digital forensics and scam schemes from Operation Shamrock’s Aleks Ring on an episode of the BlockChain Trends podcast.

ProPublica | Asian crime syndicates’ online scams cheat victims around the world out of more than $44 billion a year. U.S. banks have been unable to stop them.

FrankonFraud | Racks hold thousands of smartphones automated to imitate humans: liking posts, following accounts, watching video — seeding misinformation and scaling scams.

Forbes | What to watch out for to avoid being lured into scams. The key: Don’t respond or send money to random people who contact you online, no matter how good their story.

Data Basement Podcast | Explore pig-butchering scams with Operation Shamrock founder and cybercrime expert Erin West. Learn how scammers use AI for automation and digital currency to move their money.

Investor.gov | The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission provides resources to identify potential scams, research investments, verify credentials of investment professionals, and more.

New York Post | A Cambodia-based gang with ties to North Korea has stolen billions of dollars from Americans through romance scams and other cyber-heists, according to federal officials.

Investigate TV | Arizona authorities are warning residents about a new wave of scams using Bitcoin ATMs that have already cost victims millions of dollars.

The Economist | Online scamming compares in size and scope to the illegal drug industry. In many ways it is worse. Everyone becomes a potential target simply by going about their lives. [paywall]

Designated | Yaya Jata Fanusie interviews Operation Shamrock Founder Erin West about how pig butchering scams work and steps to take to avoid becoming a victim.

WIRED | Romance scams cost victims billions every year. As people grow increasingly isolated, scammers are using generative AI to scale their crimes.

WIRED | We talk a lot about scamming operations in Southeast Asia, but the criminal organizations that run them have expanded their operations worldwide.

Search Engine Podcast | An investigative reporter travels halfway around the world to find out who is sending him random wrong-number texts and why.

Last Week Tonight with John Oliver | John Oliver discusses a popular internet scam and why it’s easier to fall for it than you might think.