Why Pig Butchering Is America’s Hidden National Security Crisis
Erin West explains the scamdemic and shares seven critical pillars to defeat it.
Episode 21 — The scam industry is more than just fraud. It’s a humanitarian disaster. In this episode, former prosecutor Erin West lays out an urgent call to action after three and a half years of fighting the pig butchering crisis.
Drawing from more than 26 years in law enforcement and her recent travels to scam compounds in Southeast Asia, Erin delivers a sobering truth: Things aren't getting better — they’re getting exponentially worse.
Erin presents seven critical pillars for defeating the scamdemic, from reframing how we talk about victims (these are PhD holders, bank presidents, and doctors — not “stupid people”) to demanding accountability from the American companies enabling these crimes.
More than just fraud, the scam industry is a humanitarian disaster involving hundreds of thousands of trafficking victims and a national security threat involving the mass transfer of generational wealth into the hands of Chinese organized crime syndicates.
This episode coincides with the release of the Aspen Institute’s “United Against Fraud” report and introduces Operation Shamrock’s innovative victim reporting portal through TRM Labs.
Whether you're in law enforcement, tech, finance, or simply a concerned citizen, Erin explains exactly what role you can play in this fight.
Who Is Erin West?
The host of Stolen, Erin West is a globally recognized speaker and educator specializing in transnational organized crime, with a focus on the criminal investigation and prosecution of cryptocurrency-related cases.
Erin is the founder of Operation Shamrock, a global nonprofit uniting law enforcement, industry, and everyday citizens to disrupt the world’s fastest-growing form of transnational organized crime: pig butchering scams.
“They are laser focused on a massive movement of money from all over the world into the hands of bad actors. There is a national security threat inherent in that large of a movement of money.”
Useful Links
Aspen Institute Report: “United We Stand: A National Strategy to Prevent Scams”
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