Inside the Scam State: Cambodia’s Criminal Economy
Jacob Sims shares the explosive truth about how Cambodia has become the epicenter of next-gen fraud.
Episode 12: If you’ve ever asked, “Who’s behind all these scams?”, we have answers. Spoiler: It’s not a whodunit; it’s a who’s-already-doing-it.
Erin West sits down with Jacob Sims — one of the most brilliant and fearless voices in the global fight against human trafficking and financial crime. Together, they explore how Cambodia is fueled by a shadow economy of pig butchering scams, forced labor, and elite corruption.
From the streets of Phnom Penh to high-level policy failures, Sims breaks down how a multi-billion-dollar scam industry took over half of Cambodia's GDP — and how powerful state actors are not just complicit, but actively profiting.
Listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, and other major podcast platforms.
Who Is Jacob Sims?
Jacob Sims is a leading expert on transnational crime and human rights in Southeast Asia. He is a fellow at the Harvard University Asia Center, a term member at the Council on Foreign Relations, and a formal advisor to government agencies, think tanks, and NGOs. Sims previously served as a Visiting Expert at the US Institute of Peace. In his leadership roles at the International Justice Mission, he helped spearhead the world’s initial response to the now-global crisis arising from Southeast Asia’s scam economy. His analysis and commentary feature regularly in major media outlets and global thought leadership forums.
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Stolen Episode 24: Inside the Indictment that Exposed Cambodia’s Scam State
Transnational crime expert Jake Sims explains how the October 2025 U.S. indictment of a Cambodian tycoon exposed a global scam empire built on trafficking, corruption, and stolen crypto.
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