Scam Inc from The Economist

The Economist’s Sue-Lin Wong follows a trail that starts with the collapse of a bank in rural Kansas to uncover a global, underground scam economy built around human trafficking, corruption and money laundering. Can it be stopped?

To listen to the full series subscribe to Economist Podcasts+.

Winner of the Overseas Press Club Lowell Thomas Award 2026; Two Gold Signal Awards for Money & Finance and News & Politics; Lowy Institute Media Award Winner 2025; Bloomberg News Jealousy List 2025, New York Times Best True Crime 2025;

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Last refreshed: April 27th, 2026 at 12:58 PM ⓘ

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Episodes

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Apr 28, 2025•2 min

3. The bottom line

How do you run a scam operation? Perks, outsourcing and a monthly landscaping budget—this is Scam Inc. To listen to the full series, subscribe to Economist Podcasts+ . If you’re already a subscriber to The Economist , you have full access to all our shows as part of your subscription. For more information about how to access Economist Podcasts+, please visit our FAQs page or watch our video explaining how to link your account. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information....

Feb 06, 2025•38 min•Season 1Ep. 3

2. Opportunity of a lifetime

Who are the scammers? They're not who you think. To listen to the full series, subscribe to Economist Podcasts+ . If you’re already a subscriber to The Economist , you have full access to all our shows as part of your subscription. For more information about how to access Economist Podcasts+, please visit our FAQs page or watch our video explaining how to link your account. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information....

Feb 06, 2025•36 min•Season 1Ep. 2

1. Pigs in a barrel

You wouldn’t fall for a scam—would you? A small town in Kansas is left reeling after one of its best and brightest gets sucked in. To listen to the full series, subscribe to Economist Podcasts+ . If you’re already a subscriber to The Economist , you have full access to all our shows as part of your subscription. For more information about how to access Economist Podcasts+, please visit our FAQs page or watch our video explaining how to link your account. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy fo...

Feb 06, 2025•41 min•Season 1Ep. 1

Trailer: Scam Inc

**Winner of the Peabody Award 2026** A sophisticated, predatory, multi-billion dollar industry is emerging from the shadows. It already rivals the size of the illicit drug trade. And it’s about to get bigger and much more powerful. The Economist ’s Sue-Lin Wong follows a trail that starts with the collapse of a bank in rural Kansas to uncover a global, underground scam economy built around human trafficking, corruption and money laundering. Can it be stopped? To listen to the full series subscri...

Jan 23, 2025•4 min

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