Would you like to inspect the original subtitles? These are the user uploaded subtitles that are being translated:
1
00:00:01,919 --> 00:00:03,378
PRINCE: Love.
2
00:00:03,670 --> 00:00:07,299
♪ This heart has wings ♪♪
3
00:00:07,299 --> 00:00:09,718
DEBBIE: He was my
life outside of work.
4
00:00:09,718 --> 00:00:11,929
MARGARET: Everything he
said was just so sweet.
5
00:00:12,846 --> 00:00:15,849
DEBBIE: I just want to hug
him and have him hold me.
6
00:00:15,849 --> 00:00:18,727
Like, I just want
to hug him so bad.
7
00:00:18,727 --> 00:00:21,063
KIRIKU: Every single day,
he was saying something that
8
00:00:21,063 --> 00:00:22,898
would touch my heart.
9
00:00:24,233 --> 00:00:26,276
♪ This heart has wings ♪♪
10
00:00:29,529 --> 00:00:30,948
MS: I was like a fish.
11
00:00:30,948 --> 00:00:34,618
That hook was so
far down in my belly.
12
00:00:35,244 --> 00:00:36,662
MARGARET: He's
an evil bastard.
13
00:00:36,662 --> 00:00:39,164
He is such an evil bastard.
14
00:00:39,998 --> 00:00:42,167
DEBBIE: I sold jewelry.
I sold investments.
15
00:00:42,167 --> 00:00:44,670
MS: I gave him $2.8 million.
16
00:00:47,422 --> 00:00:49,216
MARIANA: Romance scamming,
17
00:00:49,216 --> 00:00:51,802
a global crime wave that
surged during our loneliest
18
00:00:51,802 --> 00:00:56,223
months of the pandemic, wiping
out more than $300 million
19
00:00:56,223 --> 00:00:59,059
from American bank
accounts in 2020.
20
00:00:59,476 --> 00:01:00,560
WOMAN: Hello...
21
00:01:01,395 --> 00:01:03,730
MARIANA: To find out
where some of that money went,
22
00:01:03,730 --> 00:01:06,358
we'll track down
these tenacious sweet talkers
23
00:01:06,358 --> 00:01:08,527
halfway around the globe.
24
00:01:09,236 --> 00:01:10,737
How much money has
Michael sent you so far?
25
00:01:10,737 --> 00:01:12,155
PUNISHER: More than 10K.
26
00:01:12,155 --> 00:01:14,157
MARIANA: More than $10,000?
27
00:01:14,157 --> 00:01:17,035
And learn how they've
perfected their insidious,
one‐two punch.
28
00:01:17,035 --> 00:01:18,954
Before taking your money...
29
00:01:18,954 --> 00:01:21,331
♪ Sweet words to you ♪♪
30
00:01:21,331 --> 00:01:23,000
MARIANA: They steal your heart.
31
00:01:37,180 --> 00:01:43,061
♪ ♪
32
00:01:45,230 --> 00:01:46,565
MARIANA: So, we're right?
33
00:01:46,565 --> 00:01:48,317
WOMAN: Yes.
MAN: Right right.
34
00:01:48,317 --> 00:01:51,236
MARIANA: Right right.
Yeah. Okay.
35
00:01:51,236 --> 00:01:53,071
Sun‐drenched Florida.
36
00:01:53,864 --> 00:01:55,324
♪ ♪
37
00:01:55,324 --> 00:01:57,534
MARIANA: With all its
wealth and retirees.
38
00:01:57,534 --> 00:02:00,078
It's what you might call a
"target rich" environment
39
00:02:00,078 --> 00:02:01,663
for romance scammers.
40
00:02:05,709 --> 00:02:06,835
SUSAN: Okay.
41
00:02:06,835 --> 00:02:08,754
MARIANA: Do you want
to put on your glasses,
42
00:02:08,754 --> 00:02:09,671
just in case?
43
00:02:09,671 --> 00:02:11,256
SUSAN: Oh, are we ready?
44
00:02:11,673 --> 00:02:14,760
MAN: Camera speeds.
Okay, we're rolling.
45
00:02:19,014 --> 00:02:20,641
SUSAN: I've
never been married,
46
00:02:20,641 --> 00:02:23,477
but I've dated and I just
kind of felt like I wanted to
47
00:02:23,477 --> 00:02:25,479
finally meet somebody.
48
00:02:26,063 --> 00:02:29,858
DEBBIE: After Lou died,
I, I couldn't sleep well.
49
00:02:30,609 --> 00:02:32,235
MARGARET: You know,
after a divorce,
50
00:02:32,235 --> 00:02:33,779
you're feeling very lonely.
51
00:02:33,779 --> 00:02:36,239
MS: I thought, "You know,
if I'm going to try marriage,
52
00:02:36,239 --> 00:02:39,409
I'd better get going
because I'm 68 years old."
53
00:02:39,409 --> 00:02:42,245
SUSAN: So, I signed
up on Facebook Dating,
54
00:02:42,245 --> 00:02:46,541
and a half hour
after I signed up,
55
00:02:47,084 --> 00:02:49,795
um, I met Damian.
56
00:02:50,629 --> 00:02:52,589
He says he lives
just the next city over,
57
00:02:52,589 --> 00:02:55,759
he's an orthopedic surgeon,
and we're the same age.
58
00:02:55,759 --> 00:02:57,010
And...
59
00:02:57,010 --> 00:02:58,804
MARIANA: He tells
Susan he's on a
60
00:02:58,804 --> 00:03:01,139
four‐month UN peace‐keeping
mission in Yemen.
61
00:03:01,139 --> 00:03:04,101
From his photos, he's
fit and slightly graying.
62
00:03:05,227 --> 00:03:07,813
SUSAN: He's very handsome.
He's very flirty.
63
00:03:07,813 --> 00:03:09,773
I thought,
"Okay, I can flirt,
64
00:03:09,773 --> 00:03:11,400
this is fun."
65
00:03:11,400 --> 00:03:14,486
He tells me, "I'm really
extremely grateful for having
66
00:03:14,486 --> 00:03:18,031
you in my life, spending time
with me drowns out all of the
67
00:03:18,031 --> 00:03:20,575
other concerns and
lights up my life."
68
00:03:21,076 --> 00:03:23,328
MARIANA: Oh, wow.
SUSAN: Let's see...
69
00:03:23,328 --> 00:03:24,746
MARIANA: Is this your
journal that you kept...
70
00:03:24,746 --> 00:03:26,039
SUSAN: Yes.
71
00:03:26,039 --> 00:03:27,207
MARIANA: All the
conversations you had?
72
00:03:27,207 --> 00:03:28,792
SUSAN: Yes.
I wrote everything down.
73
00:03:28,792 --> 00:03:30,710
MARIANA: So, you were keeping
a journal of what you thought
74
00:03:30,710 --> 00:03:32,587
was a possible relationship
that you were going to have
with this person?
75
00:03:32,587 --> 00:03:36,133
SUSAN: Right, my
heart really was
overtaking my brain...
76
00:03:36,133 --> 00:03:37,592
MARIANA: Wow.
77
00:03:37,592 --> 00:03:41,096
SUSAN: Completely. Um, I
thought about him constantly.
78
00:03:41,096 --> 00:03:43,348
Every time the little
"ding, ding" on Google Hangouts,
79
00:03:43,348 --> 00:03:45,434
I'd go grab my phone.
80
00:03:45,434 --> 00:03:47,894
(text alerts)
81
00:03:47,894 --> 00:03:49,813
DEBBIE: When Eric
and I started writing,
82
00:03:49,813 --> 00:03:51,773
it filled up that hole.
83
00:03:51,773 --> 00:03:53,275
He listened to me.
84
00:03:53,275 --> 00:03:55,402
It was a great
healing thing for me.
85
00:03:55,402 --> 00:04:00,115
MS: He was just so romantic.
He'd write me love poems.
86
00:04:00,782 --> 00:04:03,493
MARGARET: Every single day.
87
00:04:03,493 --> 00:04:08,623
He was filling that
void in my heart that was
88
00:04:08,623 --> 00:04:10,292
my broken heart.
89
00:04:10,750 --> 00:04:12,961
SUSAN: He is completely
and totally crazy about me
90
00:04:12,961 --> 00:04:16,047
and wants to be with
me every single day.
91
00:04:16,047 --> 00:04:18,675
It's like, who
doesn't want that?
92
00:04:19,676 --> 00:04:21,136
MARIANA: But
only two weeks later,
93
00:04:21,136 --> 00:04:22,596
she senses trouble.
94
00:04:22,596 --> 00:04:24,431
SUSAN: I wake up Monday
morning and there's no videos,
95
00:04:24,431 --> 00:04:26,183
no quotes, there's nothing.
96
00:04:26,183 --> 00:04:28,477
So, I sent him a message.
97
00:04:28,477 --> 00:04:30,270
"I don't know why I
haven't heard from you."
98
00:04:30,270 --> 00:04:31,271
MARIANA: Mmm‐hmm.
99
00:04:31,271 --> 00:04:32,606
SUSAN: "I hope you're okay."
100
00:04:32,606 --> 00:04:35,317
And I have been stressing now,
the entire day.
101
00:04:35,317 --> 00:04:39,154
Is he alive?
Is he dead?
I, I don't know.
102
00:04:39,154 --> 00:04:40,322
MARIANA: The following morning,
103
00:04:40,322 --> 00:04:42,574
Susan finally gets a
message that begins with
104
00:04:42,574 --> 00:04:44,618
six crying emojis.
105
00:04:45,494 --> 00:04:48,538
SUSAN: He said to me,
"We were under attack.
106
00:04:48,538 --> 00:04:51,291
There were guys that
came into the compound.
107
00:04:51,291 --> 00:04:54,252
Uh, one guy was shot.
108
00:04:54,252 --> 00:04:56,838
I really want to
get out of this place.
109
00:04:56,838 --> 00:04:58,548
I'm scared for my life."
110
00:04:59,466 --> 00:05:05,680
He then tells me
some of his colleagues
paid their contract off
111
00:05:05,680 --> 00:05:09,059
and he said, "I
can pay them $30,000."
112
00:05:09,810 --> 00:05:11,019
MARIANA: Wow.
113
00:05:11,019 --> 00:05:13,355
SUSAN:
"And I can then go home.
114
00:05:14,439 --> 00:05:16,608
You know, you
and I are a couple,
115
00:05:16,608 --> 00:05:19,027
we're in this together."
116
00:05:19,027 --> 00:05:22,030
He said, "I thought if
maybe you could pay half,"
117
00:05:22,030 --> 00:05:24,533
he goes, "that would be great."
118
00:05:27,452 --> 00:05:29,621
MARGARET: It's so
embarrassing that it was close
119
00:05:29,621 --> 00:05:31,331
to $300,000.
120
00:05:31,331 --> 00:05:36,086
DEBBIE: $1,080,762.
MS: $2.8 million.
121
00:05:36,628 --> 00:05:39,005
NORAH: More than
6,400 Americans say they were
122
00:05:39,005 --> 00:05:41,049
scammed after
visiting dating websites.
123
00:05:41,550 --> 00:05:43,552
MARIANA: The rise of
romance scams and our
124
00:05:43,552 --> 00:05:46,513
increasing ease with
online dating go hand‐in‐hand.
125
00:05:46,972 --> 00:05:49,891
More than 44 million
Americans went on dating sites
126
00:05:49,891 --> 00:05:52,978
last year, giving
scammers plenty to work with.
127
00:05:56,356 --> 00:05:59,067
But victims are also being
targeted on social media.
128
00:05:59,943 --> 00:06:02,487
REPORTER: A 69‐year‐old
Sarasota woman will soon lose
129
00:06:02,487 --> 00:06:05,740
her house after falling victim
to an online dating scam.
130
00:06:06,700 --> 00:06:08,451
MARIANA: The median
loss of a victim in
131
00:06:08,451 --> 00:06:11,079
2020 was $2,500.
132
00:06:11,872 --> 00:06:15,667
But for victims 70 and older,
it was nearly 10 grand.
133
00:06:19,713 --> 00:06:22,173
With arrests rare and
recovering money practically
134
00:06:22,173 --> 00:06:26,094
unheard of, romance scammers
operate with near impunity,
135
00:06:27,262 --> 00:06:30,432
but every so often,
there's a high profile bust that
136
00:06:30,432 --> 00:06:33,310
provides a window into
this murky underworld.
137
00:06:34,436 --> 00:06:37,355
Earlier this year, in a
case that's still pending,
138
00:06:37,772 --> 00:06:40,734
US Law Enforcement charged
six alleged ringleaders of a
139
00:06:40,734 --> 00:06:43,653
massive
cybercriminal enterprise,
140
00:06:43,653 --> 00:06:45,322
that included
romance scamming,
141
00:06:46,031 --> 00:06:49,951
based in a West
African country of Ghana.
142
00:06:55,457 --> 00:07:01,212
(overlapping chatter)
143
00:07:02,380 --> 00:07:04,466
Ghana is booming.
144
00:07:04,466 --> 00:07:07,260
Its economy is one of the
fastest growing in the world.
145
00:07:07,969 --> 00:07:10,930
Big‐name companies like
Google and Twitter are
146
00:07:10,930 --> 00:07:13,391
planting headquarters
here to take advantage of an
147
00:07:13,391 --> 00:07:16,478
English‐speaking
population that's young,
148
00:07:16,853 --> 00:07:18,730
tech savvy, and ambitious.
149
00:07:21,733 --> 00:07:25,070
But those same traits have
also made Ghana a hot bed for
150
00:07:25,070 --> 00:07:26,821
romance scammers.
151
00:07:28,198 --> 00:07:32,160
That's why I've come to track
them down and to understand
152
00:07:32,160 --> 00:07:35,330
how they've turned online
seduction into a thriving
153
00:07:35,330 --> 00:07:36,998
criminal industry.
154
00:07:37,374 --> 00:07:38,833
♪ She a Ghana scammer ♪
155
00:07:38,833 --> 00:07:41,252
(singing in native language)
156
00:07:41,252 --> 00:07:42,712
MARIANA: One that's
even made its way into
157
00:07:42,712 --> 00:07:44,506
the country's music scene.
158
00:07:45,423 --> 00:07:51,805
(singing in native language)
159
00:07:52,972 --> 00:07:54,933
DIRECTOR: Okay. Reset.
160
00:07:54,933 --> 00:07:56,476
MARIANA: What was the music
video you're shooting here,
what is it about?
161
00:08:06,236 --> 00:08:07,946
MARIANA: Meet Boss Bouncy,
162
00:08:07,946 --> 00:08:10,198
the man behind the
song "Ghana Scammer."
163
00:08:17,205 --> 00:08:18,623
MARIANA: So, she's
a gold digger...
164
00:08:18,623 --> 00:08:19,624
BOUNCY: Yeah.
MARIANA: And a scammer?
165
00:08:21,751 --> 00:08:23,294
MARIANA: Is
scamming big in Ghana?
166
00:08:29,926 --> 00:08:31,386
MARIANA: So,
would you be able to,
167
00:08:31,386 --> 00:08:32,721
you think, introduce us to
some people that you know or
168
00:08:32,721 --> 00:08:33,763
is that not something
you feel comfortable with?
169
00:08:42,397 --> 00:08:43,565
MARIANA: But before I leave,
170
00:08:43,565 --> 00:08:45,859
Boss Bouncy
offers a little tip.
171
00:08:45,859 --> 00:08:47,986
He tells me when
scammers get paid,
172
00:08:47,986 --> 00:08:50,739
they like to celebrate,
have a few drinks.
173
00:08:51,364 --> 00:08:53,867
♪ Hey, heyshe a Ghana scammer ♪♪
174
00:08:53,867 --> 00:08:57,746
(singing in native language)
175
00:08:58,621 --> 00:09:00,582
MARIANA: Hi, good evening.
MAN: Hi.
176
00:09:01,750 --> 00:09:04,377
MARIANA: Do you work here?
MAN: I work here, yeah.
177
00:09:04,377 --> 00:09:06,129
MARIANA: The clubs
and pool halls of Accra,
178
00:09:06,129 --> 00:09:07,464
Ghana's capital.
179
00:09:07,464 --> 00:09:08,923
Do you mind if I just
go up the stairs and see,
180
00:09:08,923 --> 00:09:10,216
and then, I'll
come right down?
181
00:09:10,216 --> 00:09:12,177
Could be the perfect
places to hear things that
182
00:09:12,177 --> 00:09:14,179
shouldn't be heard.
183
00:09:20,685 --> 00:09:23,313
MARIANA: Okay.
Here's our guy. Here's the guy.
184
00:09:23,313 --> 00:09:24,939
The guy that's going
to stop and tell me.
185
00:09:24,939 --> 00:09:26,691
Hi. Okay. So, you're
the man to know here?
186
00:09:29,652 --> 00:09:31,029
MARIANA: I know, and I
just practically stalked you.
187
00:09:31,362 --> 00:09:32,322
BEN: Yeah, yeah, yeah.
188
00:09:32,322 --> 00:09:33,531
MARIANA: After a bit of hustle,
189
00:09:33,531 --> 00:09:34,866
I finally meet a guy
who says he can help.
190
00:09:36,367 --> 00:09:37,368
MARIANA: Awesome.
191
00:09:39,204 --> 00:09:40,705
MARIANA: I'll text you.
BEN: Okay.
192
00:09:43,541 --> 00:09:45,043
MARIANA: Later in the night,
193
00:09:45,043 --> 00:09:47,921
I get a message telling me to
go to a certain address and
194
00:09:47,921 --> 00:09:50,465
talk to the man playing pool.
195
00:10:07,315 --> 00:10:08,942
Hi.
196
00:10:10,068 --> 00:10:12,028
ODO: Hi.
197
00:10:12,028 --> 00:10:13,988
MARIANA: So, I know you
don't want me to call you
198
00:10:13,988 --> 00:10:15,406
by your real name, so
what should we call you?
199
00:10:17,992 --> 00:10:19,369
MARIANA: Odo.
Okay, what does that mean?
200
00:10:21,746 --> 00:10:23,123
MARIANA: Love?
ODO: Yeah.
201
00:10:23,123 --> 00:10:25,542
MARIANA: So, um, you
know why we're here.
202
00:10:25,542 --> 00:10:26,876
ODO: Yeah, yeah.
203
00:10:26,876 --> 00:10:27,961
MARIANA: Can you tell me
a little bit what you do?
204
00:10:30,130 --> 00:10:31,881
MARIANA: So how many
women have you scammed?
205
00:10:45,061 --> 00:10:47,397
MARIANA:
Finally, I've found a scammer.
206
00:10:56,447 --> 00:10:58,616
MARIANA: What was
your first fake name?
207
00:11:01,077 --> 00:11:02,120
MARIANA: Morris Jackson?
208
00:11:08,793 --> 00:11:10,378
MARIANA: I'm in Accra, Ghana,
209
00:11:10,378 --> 00:11:12,630
one of the epicenters
of romance scamming.
210
00:11:13,089 --> 00:11:16,467
This man, Odo, tells me he was
introduced to scamming by a
211
00:11:16,467 --> 00:11:18,970
friend and instantly
saw success.
212
00:11:25,685 --> 00:11:26,728
MARIANA: Pretending it was you?
213
00:11:33,443 --> 00:11:34,944
MARIANA: The story
Odo faked is a favorite
214
00:11:34,944 --> 00:11:36,529
of romance scammers.
215
00:11:36,529 --> 00:11:40,283
Work sent him to Ghana,
but since no one took
216
00:11:40,283 --> 00:11:41,951
American Express here,
217
00:11:41,951 --> 00:11:43,703
he couldn't buy
anything and needed cash.
218
00:11:52,295 --> 00:11:54,380
MARIANA: Clients,
that's what they call victims.
219
00:11:54,380 --> 00:11:57,008
And so, the first time you
ever received money was $300.
220
00:11:58,593 --> 00:11:59,594
MARIANA: From that
Canadian woman?
221
00:12:00,386 --> 00:12:02,055
MARIANA: And how much money do
you think you've made from this?
222
00:12:05,350 --> 00:12:06,351
MARIANA: Wow.
223
00:12:13,608 --> 00:12:14,484
MARIANA: These
are scripts that...
224
00:12:15,985 --> 00:12:16,819
ODO: Yeah.
MARIANA: Buy, you buy them?
225
00:12:18,488 --> 00:12:19,989
MARIANA:
These scripts are almost like
226
00:12:19,989 --> 00:12:21,741
"choose your own
adventure" books.
227
00:12:21,741 --> 00:12:24,202
Except the scammer
chooses your adventure,
228
00:12:24,202 --> 00:12:27,622
the romantic plot you'll follow,
based on the answers you give
229
00:12:27,622 --> 00:12:29,707
and the type of person
he thinks you are.
230
00:12:30,500 --> 00:12:32,460
MS: I wanted a person
to travel with.
231
00:12:32,877 --> 00:12:35,755
He, he loved doing that.
He wanted to show me the world.
232
00:12:35,755 --> 00:12:37,715
DEBBIE: He was going to be
leaving for about a month to go
233
00:12:37,715 --> 00:12:40,385
to, to the Far East to
move hardwood trees from
234
00:12:40,385 --> 00:12:41,844
Malaysia to India.
235
00:12:53,273 --> 00:12:54,732
ODO: Um.
236
00:12:58,861 --> 00:13:00,280
MARIANA: Are you okay?
ODO: Yeah.
237
00:13:00,280 --> 00:13:01,364
MARIANA: Are you okay talking
with people coming in?
238
00:13:01,364 --> 00:13:02,615
ODO: Yeah.
239
00:13:02,615 --> 00:13:03,992
MARIANA: He's taking a
risk speaking with me.
240
00:13:03,992 --> 00:13:06,619
The wrong person listening
could mean trouble.
241
00:13:07,870 --> 00:13:08,913
Got a little nervous.
242
00:13:08,913 --> 00:13:10,123
ODO: Yeah. Yeah.
243
00:13:10,123 --> 00:13:11,082
MARIANA: Because there
are people looking,
244
00:13:11,082 --> 00:13:12,625
I could see your eyes.
245
00:13:12,625 --> 00:13:13,751
You were nervous
about who got in and
what they're listening.
246
00:13:28,850 --> 00:13:30,560
MARIANA: Really?
And what, do you pay him a
percentage of what you make?
247
00:13:39,777 --> 00:13:41,612
MARIANA: Wow.
This is news to me.
248
00:13:41,612 --> 00:13:44,741
I'd assume romance scammers
worked as lone wolves.
249
00:13:44,741 --> 00:13:47,326
But he tells me it's
more like a pack,
250
00:13:47,326 --> 00:13:49,996
with an experienced boss who
knows how to go in for the kill.
251
00:13:49,996 --> 00:13:51,622
He's like a finisher?
He's the person that finishes?
252
00:13:54,000 --> 00:13:55,543
MARIANA: It's the
finisher who often writes
253
00:13:55,543 --> 00:13:58,713
the scripts and takes over the
transaction once their victim is
254
00:13:58,713 --> 00:14:00,214
ready to pay.
255
00:14:00,214 --> 00:14:02,508
Only a small percentage goes to
frontline scammers like Odo.
256
00:14:02,508 --> 00:14:04,677
Do you think I could
meet a finisher?
257
00:14:06,345 --> 00:14:07,346
MARIANA: Why?
258
00:14:11,434 --> 00:14:13,352
MARIANA: So, you wouldn't be
able to talk to your boss,
259
00:14:13,352 --> 00:14:14,771
The Finisher, about me, right?
260
00:14:15,104 --> 00:14:16,355
Because that would
put you in danger?
261
00:14:31,162 --> 00:14:35,792
♪ ♪
262
00:14:35,792 --> 00:14:37,376
MARIANA: Okay, so this
person is still in the game?
263
00:14:37,376 --> 00:14:38,461
He's still scamming?
264
00:14:38,461 --> 00:14:40,296
GRACIE: Yes, he's
still in the game.
265
00:14:41,464 --> 00:14:43,257
MARIANA: I'm driving
with a local journalist
266
00:14:43,257 --> 00:14:45,551
who's been reporting on
these scams for years.
267
00:14:46,469 --> 00:14:49,388
He's putting me in touch with
a scammer he knows in Kumasi.
268
00:14:49,388 --> 00:14:51,682
About 150 miles from Accra.
269
00:14:52,892 --> 00:14:55,603
He says the dangers Odo
mentioned are real.
270
00:14:55,603 --> 00:14:58,356
That's why he doesn't want
his identity revealed.
271
00:14:58,773 --> 00:15:00,608
GRACIE: If you talk
about scamming in Ghana,
272
00:15:00,608 --> 00:15:02,902
it's, it's huge.
273
00:15:03,194 --> 00:15:05,071
So, any attempt by anyone to,
274
00:15:05,071 --> 00:15:07,824
to want to, you know,
unravel anything,
275
00:15:08,074 --> 00:15:10,576
get insight, you could be
putting your life at risk.
276
00:15:14,872 --> 00:15:16,666
MARIANA: Tell me more about
the person we're meeting.
277
00:15:16,666 --> 00:15:18,042
GRACIE: Right.
278
00:15:18,042 --> 00:15:21,337
So, um, he goes by the
name, uh, The Punisher, and.
279
00:15:21,337 --> 00:15:22,380
MARIANA: The Punisher?
280
00:15:22,380 --> 00:15:23,798
GRACIE: The Punisher.
281
00:15:23,798 --> 00:15:26,217
And he has this one other
person that he works with.
282
00:16:02,962 --> 00:16:05,798
MARIANA: I have no
idea what to expect as I walk up
283
00:16:05,798 --> 00:16:08,426
the stairs of this upscale
apartment building.
284
00:16:18,060 --> 00:16:21,314
But instead of the armed men
and pat down that I'm used to,
285
00:16:21,314 --> 00:16:23,357
I'm invited into a living room.
286
00:16:24,025 --> 00:16:26,277
MIAMI QUEEN: Sweetheart,
I can't see you.
287
00:16:26,611 --> 00:16:27,987
Oh, there you are.
288
00:16:27,987 --> 00:16:29,614
RON (over phone): Oh, hi.
289
00:16:30,031 --> 00:16:32,825
MARIANA:
Where it looks like a
romance scam is in full swing.
290
00:16:32,825 --> 00:16:34,702
MIAMI QUEEN:
So beautiful, thank you.
291
00:16:34,702 --> 00:16:35,828
(smooches)
292
00:16:44,503 --> 00:16:46,339
(singing in native language).
293
00:16:46,339 --> 00:16:47,632
MARIANA: He's going to fix it.
294
00:16:52,553 --> 00:16:53,721
MARIANA: Are you
calling somebody?
295
00:16:53,721 --> 00:16:57,141
What if they answer?
296
00:17:04,565 --> 00:17:06,150
MIAMI QUEEN: Hey, sweetheart.
297
00:17:07,151 --> 00:17:08,444
MARIANA: I'm in Ghana,
298
00:17:08,444 --> 00:17:11,572
watching two romance
scammers at work.
299
00:17:11,572 --> 00:17:15,243
He calls himself The Punisher
and she is Miami Queen.
300
00:17:15,785 --> 00:17:17,328
(smooches)
301
00:17:17,328 --> 00:17:19,664
MIAMI QUEEN: I missed you.
302
00:17:19,664 --> 00:17:21,082
MARIANA: And to my surprise,
303
00:17:21,082 --> 00:17:23,376
they're scamming men, not women.
304
00:17:28,631 --> 00:17:32,426
MIAMI QUEEN: Yeah,
I know, but I told you I had
problems with my phone, so.
305
00:17:32,426 --> 00:17:33,427
THE PUNISHER: Okay.
306
00:17:36,597 --> 00:17:39,308
MIAMI QUEEN: Sweetheart, let
me go and take a shower, okay?
307
00:17:39,308 --> 00:17:41,435
I'll call you right
when I'm done, yeah?
308
00:17:41,435 --> 00:17:43,396
Don't go anywhere,
just wait for me.
309
00:17:45,606 --> 00:17:47,108
And we're done.
310
00:17:47,733 --> 00:17:48,901
MARIANA: So, what
just happened here?
311
00:17:48,901 --> 00:17:51,153
You started to call
somebody, right?
312
00:17:51,153 --> 00:17:52,572
THE PUNISHER: Mmm‐hmm.
313
00:17:52,572 --> 00:17:54,448
MARIANA: And then when he
accepts, if it's a video,
314
00:17:54,448 --> 00:17:55,491
you pass it on to her?
315
00:17:55,491 --> 00:17:56,576
MIAMI QUEEN: Yeah.
316
00:17:56,576 --> 00:17:57,994
MARIANA: When you're
communicating,
317
00:17:57,994 --> 00:17:59,495
he thinks he's communicating
the whole time with her.
318
00:17:59,495 --> 00:18:00,705
THE PUNISHER: Yeah.
MIAMI QUEEN: Yeah.
319
00:18:00,705 --> 00:18:01,914
MARIANA: But he's
communicating with you?
320
00:18:01,914 --> 00:18:02,915
MIAMI QUEEN: Mmm‐hmm.
321
00:18:02,915 --> 00:18:04,750
MARIANA: And then you're just.
322
00:18:04,750 --> 00:18:07,128
MIAMI QUEEN:
Mine is just to look beautiful
and make him feel sweets.
323
00:18:07,128 --> 00:18:09,338
How much I love him.
324
00:18:10,047 --> 00:18:11,674
MARIANA: Most of
romance scamming is
325
00:18:11,674 --> 00:18:14,093
messaging, just typing.
326
00:18:14,093 --> 00:18:16,554
But they've rented a space
tonight for these occasional
327
00:18:16,554 --> 00:18:19,557
video calls, hoping to
satisfy their clients.
328
00:18:20,766 --> 00:18:23,185
How many people do you guys
know that are scammers?
329
00:18:23,185 --> 00:18:24,604
THE PUNISHER:
A whole lot of people.
330
00:18:24,604 --> 00:18:26,230
MIAMI QUEEN: Oh, my God,
you can't count them.
331
00:18:26,230 --> 00:18:27,857
THE PUNISHER: We have, we
have, we have friend scammers.
332
00:18:27,857 --> 00:18:28,941
MARIANA: Like dozens?
Hundreds?
333
00:18:28,941 --> 00:18:30,109
MIAMI QUEEN: Dozens.
334
00:18:30,109 --> 00:18:31,027
MARIANA: All your
friends are doing it?
335
00:18:31,027 --> 00:18:32,445
MIAMI QUEEN: Yeah.
336
00:18:32,445 --> 00:18:34,363
THE PUNISHER: I have friends
who are rich, very rich.
337
00:18:34,363 --> 00:18:35,740
MIAMI QUEEN:
They've built houses.
338
00:18:35,740 --> 00:18:37,033
Big, big cars.
339
00:18:37,033 --> 00:18:39,660
THE PUNISHER:
Everybody's making money.
340
00:18:39,952 --> 00:18:41,662
MARIANA: Wiring money,
gift cards,
341
00:18:41,662 --> 00:18:43,789
or straight up
cash are preferred.
342
00:18:45,333 --> 00:18:48,419
But payment in Bitcoin
is also becoming popular.
343
00:18:52,465 --> 00:18:53,591
MARIANA: So, you're pretending
to be a woman and scamming men?
344
00:18:56,969 --> 00:18:59,096
MARIANA: It's easier
to get money from men,
345
00:18:59,096 --> 00:19:02,975
he says, and there's simply more
men using online dating sites.
346
00:19:06,062 --> 00:19:08,105
And yet, back in the States,
347
00:19:08,105 --> 00:19:12,026
far fewer men than
women report being victims.
348
00:19:13,319 --> 00:19:15,613
And this person you're
talking to, Michael,
349
00:19:15,613 --> 00:19:18,908
has no idea that you're
actually a man in Ghana?
350
00:19:30,169 --> 00:19:31,128
MARIANA: Right.
351
00:19:33,381 --> 00:19:36,133
THE PUNISHER: I think Michael
has been too good to me.
352
00:19:36,133 --> 00:19:38,636
MARIANA: How much money has
Michael sent you so far?
353
00:19:38,636 --> 00:19:40,096
THE PUNISHER: More than 10‐K.
354
00:19:40,096 --> 00:19:42,473
MARIANA: More than $10,000?
For what? What do you say?
355
00:19:48,813 --> 00:19:49,897
MARIANA: Wow.
356
00:19:49,897 --> 00:19:52,233
THE PUNISHER: Okay.
So, I do this.
357
00:19:52,233 --> 00:19:54,235
MARIANA: Are you
actually calling him?
358
00:19:54,610 --> 00:19:55,861
THE PUNISHER: Yes.
359
00:19:56,821 --> 00:19:57,738
MARIANA: Where is he?
360
00:19:57,738 --> 00:19:59,490
THE PUNISHER: Virginia.
361
00:19:59,490 --> 00:20:00,658
MARIANA: Oh.
362
00:20:00,658 --> 00:20:02,118
THE PUNISHER: So,
Michael is not online.
363
00:20:02,118 --> 00:20:03,452
MARIANA: Oh, okay.
364
00:20:03,452 --> 00:20:05,621
No dice, but had
Michael picked up,
365
00:20:05,621 --> 00:20:08,082
he would have seen this video
recording of a young woman.
366
00:20:12,128 --> 00:20:13,629
MARIANA: But if you talk,
it doesn't match.
367
00:20:17,341 --> 00:20:20,136
MARIANA: Oh, my God. Wow.
So, you have the video
and then you're just typing?
368
00:20:21,846 --> 00:20:22,888
MARIANA: Where did
you get this video?
369
00:20:24,014 --> 00:20:25,057
MARIANA: Oh, you buy it?
370
00:20:26,308 --> 00:20:27,768
MARIANA: Like scripts,
371
00:20:27,768 --> 00:20:30,855
these videos are part of a
scammer's professional tool kit.
372
00:20:30,855 --> 00:20:33,315
An underground
industry unto itself.
373
00:20:34,066 --> 00:20:36,610
(phone ringing)
374
00:20:37,695 --> 00:20:39,447
MIAMI QUEEN: Hey, baby.
375
00:20:39,447 --> 00:20:40,656
Hey, honey.
376
00:20:40,656 --> 00:20:41,782
Hey, sweetheart.
377
00:20:41,782 --> 00:20:44,660
I love you.
378
00:20:46,996 --> 00:20:48,831
Hi. I missed you.
379
00:20:52,918 --> 00:20:55,004
MARIANA: I keep
watching them through the night,
380
00:20:55,004 --> 00:20:56,505
but no money has come in.
381
00:20:56,505 --> 00:20:59,049
Not even from Michael.
382
00:20:59,467 --> 00:21:01,927
So, they say it's time to
take it to the next level.
383
00:21:01,927 --> 00:21:04,221
♪ Going all night'cause I ain't no slouch ♪♪
384
00:21:26,744 --> 00:21:28,704
MARIANA: Black magic,
385
00:21:28,704 --> 00:21:32,833
The Punisher will take
us to the woman who will
put a love spell on Michael,
386
00:21:32,833 --> 00:21:37,171
one that will fill his
heart and empty his wallet.
387
00:21:43,803 --> 00:21:45,930
♪ ♪
388
00:22:01,821 --> 00:22:03,364
MARIANA: They call her "Nana,"
389
00:22:03,364 --> 00:22:06,075
a title of high respect
in the local language.
390
00:22:08,869 --> 00:22:11,080
(speaking in native language).
391
00:22:11,080 --> 00:22:13,332
MARIANA: She plays
a vital role in a home‐grown
392
00:22:13,332 --> 00:22:17,795
black magic‐infused scamming
culture called "Sakawa."
393
00:22:18,337 --> 00:22:21,757
It links traditional West
African rituals and blessings to
394
00:22:21,757 --> 00:22:24,218
the God‐given fortunes
of cyber fraud,
395
00:22:24,885 --> 00:22:27,596
the kind aimed at
foreigners in far‐off lands.
396
00:22:39,275 --> 00:22:41,026
MARIANA: Scammers
like The Punisher are often
397
00:22:41,026 --> 00:22:42,319
called Sakawa boys.
398
00:22:42,319 --> 00:22:45,447
And today, he really
needs her powers to work.
399
00:23:21,650 --> 00:23:23,152
MARIANA: So, you think that now
that you've met with the priest,
400
00:23:23,152 --> 00:23:24,403
you're going to
receive the money.
401
00:23:30,284 --> 00:23:32,286
MARIANA: How much money
have you made, do you think,
from scamming?
402
00:23:48,010 --> 00:23:49,845
MARIANA: 20 grand
is a lot of money,
403
00:23:49,845 --> 00:23:52,723
especially in Ghana.
404
00:23:52,973 --> 00:23:55,726
But it's pocket change compared
to what some of the bigger
405
00:23:55,726 --> 00:23:58,062
operators are raking in.
406
00:23:58,646 --> 00:24:01,815
That's who I'm still
trying to find,
407
00:24:01,815 --> 00:24:04,526
one of the alpha ones
of the scamming world.
408
00:24:04,526 --> 00:24:07,404
A figure known as The Finisher.
409
00:24:14,203 --> 00:24:16,956
So, I think this is it.
410
00:24:17,915 --> 00:24:19,458
Yeah.
411
00:24:19,458 --> 00:24:21,752
So, a lot of these romance
scams are now being done by
412
00:24:21,752 --> 00:24:24,171
sort of larger
criminal networks.
413
00:24:24,171 --> 00:24:27,925
And one of the leaders
of one of these groups
has agreed to meet us.
414
00:24:34,056 --> 00:24:37,768
The groundwork for this meeting
started back a week ago.
415
00:24:38,018 --> 00:24:41,021
My local producer had been
digging and connected with a man
416
00:24:41,021 --> 00:24:43,857
named Pussycat, who
claimed to be a finisher.
417
00:24:51,615 --> 00:24:55,536
We first met him without
cameras on a rooftop in Accra.
418
00:24:55,536 --> 00:24:56,912
He said little.
419
00:24:56,912 --> 00:24:59,206
I could tell he was skittish.
420
00:25:02,292 --> 00:25:05,504
I left dubious that we
would hear from him again.
421
00:25:05,921 --> 00:25:09,133
But to my surprise, yesterday,
he called and gave us this
422
00:25:09,133 --> 00:25:11,218
address off the coast.
423
00:25:13,804 --> 00:25:16,557
Hi. I'm the journalist.
424
00:25:16,557 --> 00:25:18,559
You said I could come and
meet you with your crew.
425
00:25:31,655 --> 00:25:32,698
MARIANA: Okay.
426
00:25:42,875 --> 00:25:44,626
MARIANA: Oh, wow.
427
00:25:44,626 --> 00:25:46,336
Does she actually exist?
Is this a real person?
428
00:25:49,465 --> 00:25:51,258
MARIANA: To my right is Kiriku,
429
00:25:51,258 --> 00:25:53,427
the master of forged documents.
430
00:25:54,678 --> 00:25:57,514
If a client wants proof of
anything, he's the man to go to.
431
00:26:02,853 --> 00:26:04,396
MARIANA: To his right is Prince.
432
00:26:04,396 --> 00:26:05,939
He's the hunter.
433
00:26:05,939 --> 00:26:07,357
So, you're the first
person in this,
434
00:26:07,357 --> 00:26:09,276
you start looking on
different dating sites.
435
00:26:10,861 --> 00:26:15,491
MARIANA: His talent?
Choosing the right bait, while
casting the widest net 'cause
436
00:26:15,491 --> 00:26:17,576
there's a lot of
different fish in the sea.
437
00:26:26,919 --> 00:26:28,087
MARIANA: Then comes
the impersonator,
438
00:26:28,087 --> 00:26:29,588
he goes by the name Shadow.
439
00:26:31,632 --> 00:26:32,674
MARIANA: Sort of like
the actor, I guess?
440
00:26:34,176 --> 00:26:36,470
SHADOW (female voice):
Hey, hi James. How are you?
441
00:26:36,470 --> 00:26:38,889
MARIANA: That's his
voice when he scams men.
442
00:26:38,889 --> 00:26:41,058
SHADOW (female voice):
All right, honey. Bye.
443
00:26:42,226 --> 00:26:43,393
MARIANA: And finally,
444
00:26:43,393 --> 00:26:45,604
the guy who brought
me here, Pussycat.
445
00:26:46,522 --> 00:26:47,856
And what is yours then?
446
00:26:50,192 --> 00:26:51,151
MARIANA: So, it's
like The Finisher?
447
00:26:51,151 --> 00:26:52,277
PUSSYCAT: The Finisher.
448
00:26:52,277 --> 00:26:54,029
MARIANA: At last, The Finisher.
449
00:26:54,029 --> 00:26:56,198
You start the goal of it all,
which is getting the money?
450
00:26:56,198 --> 00:26:57,282
PUSSYCAT: Yes. Yes.
451
00:27:01,954 --> 00:27:04,498
MARIANA:
"Format" he says,
it's another word for "script."
452
00:27:06,834 --> 00:27:07,793
MARIANA: Right.
453
00:27:11,338 --> 00:27:12,339
MARIANA: Right.
454
00:27:15,134 --> 00:27:16,426
MARIANA: So, you don't need
something to copy and paste.
455
00:27:16,426 --> 00:27:17,344
You have it all in your head.
456
00:27:17,344 --> 00:27:18,637
PUSSYCAT: No, I have them here.
457
00:27:18,637 --> 00:27:20,264
MARIANA: It's his
long experience mining the
458
00:27:20,264 --> 00:27:23,058
psyche of clients that gives
The Finisher the insights to
459
00:27:23,058 --> 00:27:24,476
write these fake scenarios.
460
00:27:32,317 --> 00:27:33,527
MARIANA: Uh‐hmm.
461
00:27:33,527 --> 00:27:35,404
Whether you call them
scripts or formats,
462
00:27:35,404 --> 00:27:38,782
they are the
beating heart of this scam's
multi‐million‐dollar industry.
463
00:27:44,621 --> 00:27:45,789
MARIANA: You're that convincing?
PUSSYCAT: Sure.
464
00:27:50,210 --> 00:27:51,461
MARIANA: You think so?
PUSSYCAT: Yeah.
465
00:28:04,266 --> 00:28:06,435
PUSSYCAT: That's okay.
MARIANA: That's okay.
466
00:28:06,810 --> 00:28:08,103
What do you mean?
You don't want him to say more?
467
00:28:08,103 --> 00:28:09,897
PUSSYCAT: Yes. Yeah.
468
00:28:11,648 --> 00:28:13,942
MARIANA: Pussycat
immediately cuts things off,
469
00:28:13,942 --> 00:28:17,779
but I get it, small gifts might
lure me to reciprocate with
470
00:28:17,779 --> 00:28:21,700
bigger gifts and someday,
maybe a cash loan.
471
00:28:22,159 --> 00:28:23,827
PUSSYCAT: This is how we do it.
472
00:28:24,161 --> 00:28:25,746
MARIANA: Though
they aren't willing to give out
473
00:28:25,746 --> 00:28:28,123
their formats, they let
me listen in on a call.
474
00:28:28,123 --> 00:28:29,291
In Texas?
475
00:28:29,708 --> 00:28:31,543
KIRIKU: Yeah.
MARIANA: And it's a man as well?
KIRIKU: Yeah.
476
00:28:31,543 --> 00:28:34,379
MARIANA: Yes.
It's another male victim.
477
00:28:34,379 --> 00:28:35,422
How old?
478
00:28:35,422 --> 00:28:36,798
PRINCE: 53.
479
00:28:36,798 --> 00:28:38,634
MARIANA: I'm
quickly realizing that targeting
480
00:28:38,634 --> 00:28:41,678
men is actually
quite common here.
481
00:28:41,678 --> 00:28:45,223
Even though we
hear almost exclusively
about female victims.
482
00:28:50,729 --> 00:28:52,940
MARIANA: They're
all telling me the same thing,
483
00:28:52,940 --> 00:28:55,400
not only do men have more money,
484
00:28:55,400 --> 00:28:57,986
they're much easier to fool.
485
00:28:58,820 --> 00:29:03,325
PRINCE (female voice) :
Hello? Hello? Can you hear me?
486
00:29:07,913 --> 00:29:10,832
SHADOW (female voice): Hey.
Hi, darling. How are you?
487
00:29:11,583 --> 00:29:12,918
How are you doing?
488
00:29:12,918 --> 00:29:14,586
JAMES (over phone):Why can't I see you?
489
00:29:14,586 --> 00:29:16,088
SHADOW (female voice):
Oh, I have a little
problem with my camera.
490
00:29:16,088 --> 00:29:18,090
JAMES (over phone): That sucks.
491
00:29:18,090 --> 00:29:20,258
SHADOW (female voice)
Yes. Sorry, okay?
492
00:29:20,258 --> 00:29:22,094
Hey, what's up?
493
00:29:22,094 --> 00:29:23,804
I miss you.
494
00:29:23,804 --> 00:29:25,097
JAMES (over phone):But when are you coming up?
495
00:29:25,097 --> 00:29:26,264
SHADOW (female voice): Okay.
496
00:29:26,264 --> 00:29:30,602
I'm going to be up
in like half an hour.
497
00:29:30,602 --> 00:29:33,021
JAMES (over phone): In a halfan hour, you are coming up?
498
00:29:33,021 --> 00:29:37,067
Will it take you an hourand a half to get here?
499
00:29:37,067 --> 00:29:39,903
PRINCE: He's asking you
when are you coming up.
500
00:29:45,117 --> 00:29:46,618
JAMES (over phone): A month ago
501
00:29:46,952 --> 00:29:48,245
SHADOW (female voice):
Ah, okay. I know.
502
00:29:48,245 --> 00:29:50,122
But, you know, because
of the coronavirus.
503
00:29:50,122 --> 00:29:52,249
JAMES (over phone): Oh,you have the virus now?
504
00:29:52,249 --> 00:29:53,750
SHADOW (female voice):
Oh. No, no, no, no, no.
505
00:29:53,750 --> 00:29:55,669
I don't have the
virus personally,
506
00:29:55,669 --> 00:29:57,921
but it's in here in Africa.
507
00:30:03,885 --> 00:30:06,430
MARIANA: Looks like
someone has gone off script.
508
00:30:06,722 --> 00:30:08,223
PRINCE (female voice): Hello?
509
00:30:13,979 --> 00:30:17,024
♪ ♪
510
00:30:21,862 --> 00:30:23,905
JAMES (over phone): A month ago
511
00:30:23,905 --> 00:30:25,115
SHADOW (female voice):
Ah, okay. I know.
512
00:30:25,115 --> 00:30:26,575
But, you know, because
of the coronavirus,
513
00:30:26,575 --> 00:30:28,243
it's in here in Africa.
514
00:30:36,626 --> 00:30:39,171
MARIANA:
I'm with a den of
romance scammers in Ghana.
515
00:30:39,171 --> 00:30:42,340
They're working together
to scam a man in Texas.
516
00:30:43,050 --> 00:30:44,760
PRINCE (female voice): Hello?
517
00:30:44,760 --> 00:30:46,845
MARIANA: But because they're
juggling dozens of active
clients,
518
00:30:46,845 --> 00:30:48,847
they briefly lose
lose track of the script.
519
00:30:49,473 --> 00:30:53,226
PRINCE (female voice):
Hello? Can you hear me?
520
00:30:55,812 --> 00:30:57,481
Hello?
521
00:31:02,486 --> 00:31:06,114
PRINCE (female voice):
I would like to come over,
like, this weekend.
522
00:31:06,114 --> 00:31:10,118
But I don't have
enough gas in my car.
523
00:31:10,494 --> 00:31:14,539
And I had to use that
little box you sent me to
get some little medications.
524
00:31:17,542 --> 00:31:19,377
JAMES (over phone): All right.
525
00:31:19,377 --> 00:31:21,713
PRINCE (female voice):
Okay. Bye for now.
526
00:31:21,713 --> 00:31:23,048
JAMES (over phone): Bye.
527
00:31:23,048 --> 00:31:25,050
PRINCE (female voice): Love you.
528
00:31:28,512 --> 00:31:29,888
MARIANA: I still
don't understand how they
529
00:31:29,888 --> 00:31:31,973
explain their strange accents.
530
00:31:31,973 --> 00:31:35,477
But maybe they're right,
men looking for love are
531
00:31:35,477 --> 00:31:37,896
just easier to fool.
532
00:31:38,480 --> 00:31:39,898
So, in this format,
533
00:31:39,898 --> 00:31:42,192
it's an American girl willing
to go see this person.
534
00:31:42,192 --> 00:31:43,693
ALL: Yes.
535
00:31:43,693 --> 00:31:44,778
MARIANA: And is waiting for
you and is sending you money
536
00:31:44,778 --> 00:31:45,821
to go and see him.
537
00:31:45,821 --> 00:31:47,155
PRINCE: Yes.
538
00:31:47,155 --> 00:31:48,115
MARIANA: And what's his name?
539
00:31:48,115 --> 00:31:49,741
PRINCE: His first name is James.
540
00:31:49,741 --> 00:31:51,076
MARIANA: How much
money has James sent?
541
00:31:51,076 --> 00:31:52,661
PRINCE: 100 bucks.
MARIANA: $100, $100?
542
00:31:56,456 --> 00:31:57,791
MARIANA: And what does
James think you look like?
543
00:31:57,791 --> 00:31:59,584
PRINCE: Beautiful woman.
544
00:32:00,418 --> 00:32:02,712
I've been sending
him videos, too.
545
00:32:02,712 --> 00:32:04,631
MARIANA: So, it's not difficult
to find photos and videos of.
546
00:32:11,972 --> 00:32:13,348
MARIANA: Because that
would ruin your business.
547
00:32:13,348 --> 00:32:14,599
PUSSYCAT: That is my strength.
548
00:32:20,063 --> 00:32:22,023
MARIANA: If you could have a job
as an actual graphic designer,
549
00:32:22,023 --> 00:32:24,818
a professional graphic designer,
would you rather do that?
550
00:32:25,152 --> 00:32:26,653
KIRIKU: Yeah, that's
what I wanted to do.
551
00:32:38,248 --> 00:32:41,334
MARIANA:
Volume, expertise, efficiency.
552
00:32:41,960 --> 00:32:43,795
Sure, they make mistakes.
553
00:32:43,795 --> 00:32:45,547
SHADOW (female voice):
Hello baby, can you hear me?
554
00:32:45,547 --> 00:32:47,340
MARIANA: But with
their strength in numbers,
555
00:32:47,340 --> 00:32:51,178
they can regroup, readjust, and
scale up their romantic pursuits
556
00:32:51,178 --> 00:32:54,514
over and over and over again.
557
00:32:56,349 --> 00:32:59,394
DEBBIE: After he confessed,
I felt so stupid.
558
00:33:00,061 --> 00:33:02,564
I had been a former Air
Force Intelligence Officer.
559
00:33:02,564 --> 00:33:04,191
I had been a senior
bank manager.
560
00:33:04,191 --> 00:33:05,734
I'd had legal training.
561
00:33:05,734 --> 00:33:08,278
I was running a company.
562
00:33:08,695 --> 00:33:12,199
MS: People say, "Don't send
money to a stranger."
563
00:33:12,199 --> 00:33:14,910
Well, he wasn't a
stranger by that point.
564
00:33:14,910 --> 00:33:19,873
This guy knew more about me than
probably any man had ever known.
565
00:33:20,665 --> 00:33:23,210
MARGARET: He texted
me back one day and said,
566
00:33:23,210 --> 00:33:25,670
"I'm a poor Black man
from Africa."
567
00:33:27,005 --> 00:33:33,386
My whole world just fell apart,
completely shattered.
568
00:33:37,807 --> 00:33:39,017
MARIANA: Hi, Ben.
SUSAN: Hi, Ben.
569
00:33:39,017 --> 00:33:40,393
BEN (over phone):Hi. How's it going?
570
00:33:40,393 --> 00:33:41,603
SUSAN: It's great, how are you?
571
00:33:41,603 --> 00:33:43,230
BEN (over phone):I'm doing well.
572
00:33:43,480 --> 00:33:44,731
MARIANA: Back in the States,
573
00:33:44,731 --> 00:33:46,316
I again meet up with Susan.
574
00:33:46,316 --> 00:33:49,027
She wants me to witness
something she's been eager to do
575
00:33:49,027 --> 00:33:50,237
for quite some time.
576
00:33:50,695 --> 00:33:53,406
BEN: Sounds like you've run
into to some questionable,
577
00:33:53,406 --> 00:33:55,116
uh, lovers.
578
00:33:55,408 --> 00:33:57,869
MARIANA: She's
enlisted the help of Ben Taylor,
579
00:33:57,869 --> 00:34:01,414
a scam buster who exposes many
of their tricks on his popular
580
00:34:01,414 --> 00:34:02,624
YouTube channel.
581
00:34:02,999 --> 00:34:04,876
BEN: Today we're going to talk
about a scam that happens to you
582
00:34:04,876 --> 00:34:06,586
when you're online
looking for someone to have a
583
00:34:06,586 --> 00:34:07,963
good time with.
584
00:34:07,963 --> 00:34:09,839
MARIANA: He's part
of a growing number of cyber
585
00:34:09,839 --> 00:34:12,801
vigilantes disrupting
the work of scammers,
586
00:34:14,177 --> 00:34:16,179
some have been able
to freeze assets,
587
00:34:16,179 --> 00:34:19,432
shut down their bank accounts,
even hack into their computers.
588
00:34:20,725 --> 00:34:22,727
BEN: So, tell me a
little bit about these,
589
00:34:22,727 --> 00:34:24,562
these folks that have
reached out to you.
590
00:34:24,562 --> 00:34:25,855
BEN (over phone):How did it begin?
591
00:34:25,855 --> 00:34:28,566
SUSAN: I signed up
on Facebook Dating,
592
00:34:28,566 --> 00:34:30,443
SUSAN (over phone):I met Damian.
593
00:34:30,443 --> 00:34:32,028
And after two weeks of chatting,
594
00:34:32,028 --> 00:34:35,282
he asked for $15,000
to help him get home.
595
00:34:36,199 --> 00:34:37,450
BEN: Wow.
596
00:34:37,701 --> 00:34:39,869
MARIANA: In fact,
when I interviewed Susan before
597
00:34:39,869 --> 00:34:43,331
I left for Ghana, she told me
that nearly every man she met
598
00:34:43,331 --> 00:34:46,042
online after Damian
was also a scammer.
599
00:34:46,543 --> 00:34:48,461
SUSAN: I met Ryan.
600
00:34:48,461 --> 00:34:50,171
And then I met Joe.
601
00:34:50,171 --> 00:34:53,300
And Joe and Kenny played
their game very well.
602
00:34:54,301 --> 00:34:55,844
It's guy after guy,
after guy, after guy.
603
00:34:55,844 --> 00:34:59,806
Probably 90% of them are fake.
604
00:35:00,765 --> 00:35:02,392
MARIANA:
Frustrated and fed up,
605
00:35:02,392 --> 00:35:04,394
she decided to fight back.
606
00:35:04,686 --> 00:35:06,646
BEN: So, you've talked to some
of these gentlemen on the phone,
607
00:35:06,646 --> 00:35:08,106
is that right?
608
00:35:08,106 --> 00:35:09,983
SUSAN: One calls me every
morning and every evening;
609
00:35:09,983 --> 00:35:12,027
he thinks I'm going to go get
610
00:35:12,027 --> 00:35:15,864
$8,000 out of my bank and
take it to the Bitcoin location.
611
00:35:16,406 --> 00:35:18,408
BEN: Well, are you
going to do it?
612
00:35:18,408 --> 00:35:20,118
SUSAN: I'm going to
pretend to do it.
613
00:35:20,118 --> 00:35:21,202
BEN (over phone): Okay.
614
00:35:21,202 --> 00:35:23,038
MARIANA:
The scammer named Paul says
615
00:35:23,038 --> 00:35:25,415
he's working on an oil rig
in the Gulf of Mexico.
616
00:35:25,999 --> 00:35:28,084
BEN: I'm doing some reverse
image searches to see if I
617
00:35:28,084 --> 00:35:29,461
can find this guy anywhere.
618
00:35:29,461 --> 00:35:30,545
SUSAN (over phone): Okay.
619
00:35:30,545 --> 00:35:32,255
BEN: I haven't
found anything yet.
620
00:35:33,340 --> 00:35:34,716
Oh, hold on.
621
00:35:35,508 --> 00:35:37,052
I think I've just
found something.
622
00:35:37,552 --> 00:35:40,972
The first thing that
pops up is a David Hoffman
who's a lifting supervisor.
623
00:35:41,640 --> 00:35:43,600
MARIANA: So, you think the real
guy is called David Hoffman and
624
00:35:43,600 --> 00:35:45,769
that this guy is
using that photo.
625
00:35:45,769 --> 00:35:48,563
BEN: I'm thinking there's
a guy in Northern Ireland who
626
00:35:48,563 --> 00:35:51,024
has no idea that somebody
else is using his picture.
627
00:35:51,524 --> 00:35:52,525
SUSAN: I would agree.
628
00:35:52,525 --> 00:35:53,943
BEN (over phone): Okay,
629
00:35:53,943 --> 00:35:55,403
BEN: So maybe we can try
to find out who this guy is
630
00:35:55,403 --> 00:35:56,780
and where he's from.
631
00:35:56,780 --> 00:35:58,073
SUSAN: Okay.
632
00:35:58,073 --> 00:36:00,533
So, I'm just off work, heading.
633
00:36:00,533 --> 00:36:02,160
MARIANA: Oh, he wants
to talk on the phone.
634
00:36:02,160 --> 00:36:03,161
SUSAN: Yeah.
635
00:36:03,161 --> 00:36:04,871
All right, one second.
636
00:36:05,205 --> 00:36:07,499
MARIANA: I can't wait to
hear this guy's voice.
637
00:36:10,126 --> 00:36:11,169
SUSAN: Okay.
638
00:36:11,169 --> 00:36:12,962
All right, here we go.
639
00:36:12,962 --> 00:36:15,173
Hello, honey.
640
00:36:15,840 --> 00:36:17,050
SUSAN (over phone):Honey, are you there?
641
00:36:22,180 --> 00:36:24,099
SUSAN: Oh, I'm better
now I'm talking to you.
642
00:36:24,099 --> 00:36:29,270
Listen, I'm getting ready
to head to the bank, okay?
643
00:36:32,482 --> 00:36:33,942
SUSAN: I do!
644
00:36:33,942 --> 00:36:36,236
And honey, I forgot, why,
why did you need the money?
645
00:36:36,236 --> 00:36:37,278
I forgot.
646
00:36:47,247 --> 00:36:48,331
SUSAN: Right, right.
647
00:36:51,835 --> 00:36:53,712
SUSAN: Well, my first reaction
would be to run up and give you
648
00:36:53,712 --> 00:36:55,380
a big hug and kiss.
649
00:37:00,009 --> 00:37:01,594
SUSAN: Honey, can you
hold just a second?
650
00:37:04,514 --> 00:37:07,183
BEN: We might be able to
see exactly where he is,
651
00:37:07,183 --> 00:37:09,227
but we need him to
click on a link.
652
00:37:09,227 --> 00:37:12,272
BEN (over phone): Whatif we tell him that you'rewithdrawing the money right now
653
00:37:12,272 --> 00:37:14,315
and you're on your wayto the Bitcoin machine?
654
00:37:14,899 --> 00:37:17,902
We could probably send him
the link to a location,
655
00:37:17,902 --> 00:37:20,405
like a gas station or something,
where the Bitcoin machine is,
656
00:37:20,405 --> 00:37:23,658
and we can say, "Is this
the place I need to go to
657
00:37:23,658 --> 00:37:24,868
deposit the money?"
658
00:37:25,118 --> 00:37:26,327
And if he clicks on it,
659
00:37:26,327 --> 00:37:28,371
then I might have some
information to give you.
660
00:37:28,621 --> 00:37:32,208
SUSAN: Okay. Yeah.
661
00:37:34,627 --> 00:37:36,546
MARIANA: Okay. Okay, sent.
662
00:37:37,380 --> 00:37:39,215
BEN: All right.
663
00:37:39,215 --> 00:37:41,760
Now we all wait and
pray that he's dumb enough
to click on the link.
664
00:37:42,677 --> 00:37:44,471
MARIANA: Oh, my God.
665
00:37:44,471 --> 00:37:46,264
I'm so nervous.
Are you?
666
00:37:46,264 --> 00:37:47,807
SUSAN: Yeah.
667
00:37:47,807 --> 00:37:50,268
I feel like he's going to jump
right out of it and grab us.
668
00:37:52,687 --> 00:37:53,897
BEN (over phone): All right.
669
00:37:54,230 --> 00:37:55,940
SUSAN: Yeah.
BEN: I just got a click.
670
00:38:02,405 --> 00:38:05,200
BEN: Let's go ahead and
tell him that you are getting
671
00:38:05,200 --> 00:38:06,242
the money now.
672
00:38:07,160 --> 00:38:08,578
MARIANA: Okay, sent.
673
00:38:08,578 --> 00:38:10,038
BEN: All right.
674
00:38:10,038 --> 00:38:12,248
Now we all wait and pray
that he's dumb enough to click
675
00:38:12,248 --> 00:38:13,875
on the link.
676
00:38:19,297 --> 00:38:20,673
MARIANA: I'm so nervous.
Are you?
677
00:38:20,673 --> 00:38:22,342
SUSAN: Yeah.
MARIANA: Right?
678
00:38:23,802 --> 00:38:25,845
BEN (over phone): All right.
679
00:38:25,845 --> 00:38:27,222
BEN: I just got a click.
680
00:38:27,222 --> 00:38:28,807
BEN (over phone): He clicked it
681
00:38:29,224 --> 00:38:31,476
MARIANA: Both the
FBI and the Secret Service can
682
00:38:31,476 --> 00:38:35,438
take on investigations, but
rarely can they bring justice to
683
00:38:35,438 --> 00:38:36,731
American victims.
684
00:38:37,690 --> 00:38:39,818
MARIANA: That's
why so many are turning to
685
00:38:39,818 --> 00:38:43,238
people like Ben not only
to search for their money,
686
00:38:43,238 --> 00:38:46,032
but with a craving to give
these scammers a dose of their
687
00:38:46,032 --> 00:38:47,450
own medicine.
688
00:38:48,743 --> 00:38:50,787
BEN: I've got all the
information right here.
689
00:38:50,787 --> 00:38:52,580
BEN (over phone): Are you ready
690
00:38:52,580 --> 00:38:53,915
SUSAN: Yes.
691
00:38:54,165 --> 00:38:55,792
MARIANA:
The scammer, named Paul,
692
00:38:55,792 --> 00:38:58,920
says he's working on an oil
rig in the Gulf of Mexico.
693
00:38:58,920 --> 00:39:00,255
BEN (over phone):The time zone...
694
00:39:00,255 --> 00:39:03,800
BEN: In his phone
is putting him in Accra, Ghana.
695
00:39:04,968 --> 00:39:06,135
MARIANA: Wow.
696
00:39:06,135 --> 00:39:07,595
SUSAN: Accra, Ghana.
Where the heck is that?
697
00:39:07,595 --> 00:39:08,680
MARIANA: In West Africa.
698
00:39:08,680 --> 00:39:09,973
In Ghana.
699
00:39:09,973 --> 00:39:12,600
According to a 2018
research paper,
700
00:39:12,600 --> 00:39:16,396
only Nigeria tops Ghana in
housing the IP addresses of
701
00:39:16,396 --> 00:39:18,064
romance scammers.
702
00:39:18,815 --> 00:39:21,943
But since Ghana is only a
seventh of Nigeria's population,
703
00:39:22,485 --> 00:39:25,488
one country is clearly
punching above its weight.
704
00:39:26,155 --> 00:39:27,657
SUSAN: All right.
705
00:39:27,657 --> 00:39:29,909
So, I'm getting ready now to
block him because we're done
706
00:39:29,909 --> 00:39:31,160
with him, right?
707
00:39:31,160 --> 00:39:33,746
MARIANA: All
we had was Paul's city,
708
00:39:33,746 --> 00:39:36,708
not his real name or address,
or anything that might lead
709
00:39:36,708 --> 00:39:38,334
to an actual bust.
710
00:39:38,334 --> 00:39:42,130
But still, Susan is clearly
enjoying Ben's help.
711
00:39:42,964 --> 00:39:44,173
SUSAN: Oh, it's Lucas.
712
00:39:44,173 --> 00:39:45,925
Oh, it's Lucas.
Okay, we'll talk to Lucas.
713
00:39:45,925 --> 00:39:47,135
Hi, Honey.
714
00:39:49,304 --> 00:39:50,263
SUSAN: How are you?
715
00:39:54,601 --> 00:39:55,977
SUSAN: Aw.
716
00:39:55,977 --> 00:39:58,479
MARIANA: Lots of
criminals lie and steal but a
717
00:39:58,479 --> 00:40:01,149
romance scammer's
con is more intimate.
718
00:40:01,649 --> 00:40:02,650
SUSAN: I love you, honey.
719
00:40:05,445 --> 00:40:07,071
MARIANA: Their
payday depends on gaining the
720
00:40:07,071 --> 00:40:09,449
trust and affection of
another human being.
721
00:40:09,866 --> 00:40:11,576
SHADOW (female voice):
I'll be waiting for you online.
722
00:40:11,576 --> 00:40:13,953
MARIANA:
I wonder if that leaves
them more conflicted.
723
00:40:14,412 --> 00:40:16,122
THE PUNISHER: I, I love Michael.
724
00:40:16,122 --> 00:40:19,334
He's been so kind to me,
you know, since I met him.
725
00:40:20,084 --> 00:40:22,295
MARIANA: I did
believe The Punisher when he
726
00:40:22,295 --> 00:40:24,589
told me he'd fallen in
love with his victim.
727
00:40:24,923 --> 00:40:27,008
Do you think he'd be so
sad if he'd found out that
728
00:40:27,008 --> 00:40:28,509
you were a man?
729
00:40:28,843 --> 00:40:30,053
THE PUNISHER: Yeah.
730
00:40:36,809 --> 00:40:37,852
THE PUNISHER: You know?
731
00:40:40,688 --> 00:40:41,898
MARIANA: Uh‐hmm.
732
00:40:41,898 --> 00:40:44,150
He didn't receive
20,000 from Michael,
733
00:40:44,150 --> 00:40:46,527
but they are still in
an online relationship.
734
00:40:58,748 --> 00:41:00,959
MARIANA: For Odo,
seeing one of his victims
735
00:41:00,959 --> 00:41:03,753
evicted from her home actually
made him leave the game.
736
00:41:14,597 --> 00:41:16,182
MARIANA: You have glasses on,
and we can't see very well,
737
00:41:16,182 --> 00:41:17,225
but I can, um...
738
00:41:17,225 --> 00:41:18,685
ODO: Yeah.
739
00:41:18,685 --> 00:41:19,435
MARIANA: You're getting
emotional talking about this?
740
00:41:19,435 --> 00:41:20,311
ODO: Yeah. Yeah. Yeah.
741
00:41:26,109 --> 00:41:27,944
MARIANA:
But Miami Queen sees no reason
742
00:41:27,944 --> 00:41:29,195
to feel remorse.
743
00:41:39,288 --> 00:41:41,082
MARIANA: It's a
justification I've heard before.
744
00:41:44,585 --> 00:41:46,337
MARIANA:
Scams as reparations.
745
00:41:46,337 --> 00:41:47,755
THE PUNISHER:
We need to survive.
746
00:41:47,755 --> 00:41:49,841
Africa needs to survive.
747
00:41:49,841 --> 00:41:51,342
MARIANA: At the expense of
other peoples' suffering?
748
00:41:51,342 --> 00:41:53,803
MIAMI QUEEN: Yes.
THE PUNISHER: Yes.
749
00:41:54,220 --> 00:41:56,848
MARIANA: I wonder if you know
how much harm you're actually
750
00:41:56,848 --> 00:41:58,307
inflicting on some people.
751
00:41:58,307 --> 00:41:59,767
THE PUNISHER: Yeah. Yeah.
752
00:41:59,767 --> 00:42:00,643
MARIANA: In our case, we've
interviewed mostly women.
753
00:42:00,643 --> 00:42:02,687
THE PUNISHER: Yeah.
754
00:42:02,687 --> 00:42:04,480
MARIANA: And now it's difficult
for them to find other people,
to trust other people.
755
00:42:04,480 --> 00:42:06,232
Some of the people
who lost millions of dollars.
756
00:42:15,241 --> 00:42:17,118
MARIANA: So, it's easier to
sleep with a guilty conscience
757
00:42:17,118 --> 00:42:19,037
than it is with
an empty stomach?
758
00:42:19,495 --> 00:42:21,080
THE PUNISHER: Uh, yeah.
759
00:42:21,080 --> 00:42:23,875
But, you know, you know,
everybody is finding
a way to survive.
760
00:42:37,889 --> 00:42:39,390
MARIANA: Before I left Ghana,
761
00:42:39,390 --> 00:42:42,143
Pussycat wanted to show me a
fishing village not far from
762
00:42:42,143 --> 00:42:44,520
where he grew up.
763
00:42:44,854 --> 00:42:47,148
So, what's the percentage of
people if they're born in a
764
00:42:47,148 --> 00:42:48,608
community like this, that they
are able to get out of poverty?
765
00:42:48,608 --> 00:42:49,817
PUSSYCAT: Here.
766
00:43:13,049 --> 00:43:14,592
MARIANA: Ahh.
767
00:43:18,346 --> 00:43:19,263
Yes!
768
00:43:19,263 --> 00:43:21,099
PUSSYCAT: Oh.
769
00:43:21,099 --> 00:43:22,350
PUSSYCAT: Ahh.
770
00:43:25,019 --> 00:43:26,145
MARIANA: A footballer?
771
00:43:26,145 --> 00:43:28,064
(speaking in native language).
772
00:43:29,982 --> 00:43:32,026
PUSSYCAT: Cristiano Ronaldo.
MARIANA: Cristiano Ronaldo.
773
00:43:32,026 --> 00:43:33,486
That's a good choice.
Portuguese.
774
00:43:33,486 --> 00:43:34,987
PUSSYCAT:
He wants to be a banker.
775
00:43:34,987 --> 00:43:36,155
MARIANA: He wants
to be a banker?
776
00:43:36,155 --> 00:43:37,907
PUSSYCAT: Yes, he
wants to do a banker.
777
00:43:37,907 --> 00:43:40,618
MARIANA:
No one grows up wanting
to become a romance scammer.
778
00:43:40,618 --> 00:43:43,412
It's a decision made
out of desperation.
779
00:43:44,080 --> 00:43:45,790
PUSSYCAT: Okay,
mechanical engineer.
780
00:43:45,790 --> 00:43:47,041
MARIANA: Mechanical engineer?
781
00:43:47,041 --> 00:43:48,543
PUSSYCAT: Yeah, so you
see, they have dreams.
782
00:43:48,543 --> 00:43:50,670
MARIANA: But I also
understand that people do what
783
00:43:50,670 --> 00:43:54,340
they have to do to survive and
to provide for their families.
784
00:43:56,884 --> 00:43:59,846
That urge is universal.
785
00:44:00,680 --> 00:44:05,351
Maybe as universal as the
search for love itself.
786
00:44:06,894 --> 00:44:08,646
Captioned by
Cotter Media Group.
61308
Can't find what you're looking for?
Get subtitles in any language from opensubtitles.com, and translate them here.
Afrikaans
Albanian
Amharic
Arabic
Armenian
Azerbaijani
Basque
Belarusian
Bengali
Bosnian
Bulgarian
Catalan
Cebuano
Chichewa
Chinese (Simplified)
Chinese (Traditional)
Corsican
Croatian
Czech
Danish
Dutch
English
Esperanto
Estonian
Finnish
French
Frisian
Galician
Georgian
German
Greek
Gujarati
Haitian Creole
Hawaiian
Hungarian
Icelandic
Indonesian
Irish
Italian
Japanese
Kazakh
Khmer
Korean
Kurdish (Kurmanji)
Kyrgyz
Lao
Latvian
Lithuanian
Luxembourgish
Macedonian
Malagasy
Malay
Maltese
Maori
Mongolian
Myanmar (Burmese)
Nepali
Norwegian
Pashto
Polish
Portuguese
Romanian
Russian
Samoan
Serbian
Sesotho
Shona
Sinhala
Slovak
Slovenian
Somali
Swahili
Swedish
Tajik
Thai
Turkish
Ukrainian
Urdu
Uzbek
Vietnamese
