In this episode of Hashtag Trending on the weekend, host Jim Love dives deep into the world of ‘pig butchering’ scams in a powerful conversation with Erin West, a former prosecutor and the founder of Operation Shamrock. Together, they explore the devastating impact of these scams, the sophisticated and ruthless transnational organizations behind them, and the industrial-scale operations in Southeast Asia that perpetuate these crimes. Erin West shares her journey from prosecuting these crimes to establishing Operation Shamrock, an organization dedicated to educating law enforcement, seizing illicit gains, and disrupting these criminal networks. This episode sheds light on the personal stories of victims and provides actionable advice on how to support affected individuals and combat this growing threat. Don’t miss this enlightening and urgent discussion on one of the most pressing issues in cybersecurity and financial crime.
00:00 Introduction to Hashtag Trending
00:12 Understanding Pig Butchering Scams
01:47 The Human Impact of Scams
03:37 Operation Shamrock: Fighting Back
04:08 Interview with Erin West
06:28 The Rise of Industrial Fraud
09:14 Strategies to Combat Scams
09:53 The Role of Technology in Scams
10:58 Building Operation Shamrock
12:30 Supporting Victims and Law Enforcement
15:47 Raising Awareness and Education
22:42 Personal Stories and Final Thoughts
37:54 Conclusion and Call to Action
