Introducing: Scam Factory - podcast episode cover

Introducing: Scam Factory

Jan 30, 20253 min
--:--
--:--
Listen in podcast apps:

Summary

Scam Factory explores the dark world of scamming, focusing on individuals trapped in microcities designed for fraudulent activities. The podcast delves into the moral dilemmas faced by those forced to scam others for survival and their desperate attempts to escape. It raises questions about who is truly being scammed and the price of freedom.

Episode description

​​You’ve likely received one of those mysterious texts from an unknown number saying they’ve got a great new job opportunity or a crypto deal you can’t pass up. But behind those messages are thousands of people held inside specially-designed micro cities built for scammers. And if they try to leave…there is a shoot to kill order.

From Wondery, comes a new series about a family trapped inside the scam factory. Only to realize that the only way out, is to scam their way out. But who will pay the price for their freedom? And who is really being scammed?

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Transcript

Have you ever gotten a message out of the blue? Hey, how are you? Still remember me? Hi, Celine. This is Jean from Guesty. Maybe you ignore them. Or maybe you end up in conversation. Maybe they tell you about an amazing offer. I can really show you how to make some money. And maybe... That gets you into a lot of trouble. I ended up putting up to, I think, $188,000. And I said, okay, I'm ready to withdraw. I am not able to withdraw.

But this isn't a story about people like you, the people receiving these messages. This is a story about the people behind the messages, on the other. End of the line. We are creating fake profiles. Thousands of them. Using fake pictures of different people. Working in a microcity built for scammers. Making fake memes. Everything about me is fake.

But who is really being scammed? I was lied to. If you're not gonna scam, they will hurt you. And if any of these people try to leave, the order is to shoot to kill. From Wondery. the makers of Dr. Death and Kill List, comes Scam Factory, a new series about survival at the expense of others, where everyone must ask themselves, do I hurt this person I don't know?

to save myself. It was a matter of life and death, so I need to follow instructions. And one family learns the only way out is to scam their way out. I screwed up. Why did I allow him to go there? Whatever it takes, I just have to get him out of that place. But who will ultimately pay the price for their freedom? I'm afraid that I'm not going to see my youngest brother anymore.

If you don't want to cooperate with me, I will be forced to investigate you. I just told to myself, maybe this is the end of my life. I'm Denise Chan. Follow Scam Factory on the Wondery app or wherever you get your podcasts. You can listen to Scam Factory early and ad-free right now by joining Wondery Plus in the Wondery app or on Apple Podcasts. We will escape tonight. If I cannot go home then this will be my last message.

This transcript was generated by Metacast using AI and may contain inaccuracies. Learn more about transcripts.