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PRINCE: Love.
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♪ This heart has wings ♪♪
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DEBBIE: He was my
life outside of work.
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00:00:09,718 --> 00:00:11,928
MARGARET: Everything he
said was just so sweet.
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00:00:12,846 --> 00:00:15,846
DEBBIE: I just want to hug
him and have him hold me.
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00:00:15,849 --> 00:00:18,729
Like, I just want
to hug him so bad.
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KIRIKU: Every single day,
he was saying something that
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would touch my heart.
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00:00:24,233 --> 00:00:26,283
♪ This heart has wings ♪♪
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MS: I was like a fish.
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00:00:30,948 --> 00:00:34,618
That hook was so
far down in my belly.
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00:00:35,244 --> 00:00:36,664
MARGARET: He's
an evil bastard.
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00:00:36,662 --> 00:00:39,162
He is such an evil bastard.
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00:00:39,998 --> 00:00:42,168
DEBBIE: I sold jewelry.
I sold investments.
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00:00:42,167 --> 00:00:44,667
MS: I gave him $2.8 million.
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MARIANA: Romance scamming,
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00:00:49,216 --> 00:00:51,796
a global crime wave that
surged during our loneliest
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00:00:51,802 --> 00:00:56,222
months of the pandemic, wiping
out more than $300 million
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00:00:56,223 --> 00:00:59,063
from American bank
accounts in 2020.
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WOMAN: Hello...
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MARIANA: To find out
where some of that money went,
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00:01:03,730 --> 00:01:06,360
we'll track down
these tenacious sweet talkers
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00:01:06,358 --> 00:01:08,528
halfway around the globe.
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00:01:09,236 --> 00:01:10,736
How much money has
Michael sent you so far?
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00:01:10,737 --> 00:01:12,157
PUNISHER: More than 10K.
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00:01:12,155 --> 00:01:14,155
MARIANA: More than $10,000?
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And learn how they've
perfected their insidious,
one‐two punch.
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Before taking your money...
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♪ Sweet words to you ♪♪
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MARIANA: They steal your heart.
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♪ ♪
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MARIANA: So, we're right?
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WOMAN: Yes.
MAN: Right right.
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MARIANA: Right right.
Yeah. Okay.
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00:01:51,236 --> 00:01:53,066
Sun‐drenched Florida.
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♪ ♪
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MARIANA: With all its
wealth and retirees.
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It's what you might call a
"target rich" environment
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00:02:00,078 --> 00:02:01,658
for romance scammers.
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00:02:05,709 --> 00:02:06,839
SUSAN: Okay.
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00:02:06,835 --> 00:02:08,745
MARIANA: Do you want
to put on your glasses,
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00:02:08,754 --> 00:02:09,674
just in case?
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00:02:09,671 --> 00:02:11,261
SUSAN: Oh, are we ready?
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MAN: Camera speeds.
Okay, we're rolling.
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SUSAN: I've
never been married,
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00:02:20,641 --> 00:02:23,481
but I've dated and I just
kind of felt like I wanted to
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finally meet somebody.
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DEBBIE: After Lou died,
I, I couldn't sleep well.
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00:02:30,609 --> 00:02:32,239
MARGARET: You know,
after a divorce,
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00:02:32,235 --> 00:02:33,775
you're feeling very lonely.
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00:02:33,779 --> 00:02:36,239
MS: I thought, "You know,
if I'm going to try marriage,
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00:02:36,239 --> 00:02:39,409
I'd better get going
because I'm 68 years old."
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00:02:39,409 --> 00:02:42,249
SUSAN: So, I signed
up on Facebook Dating,
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00:02:42,245 --> 00:02:46,535
and a half hour
after I signed up,
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um, I met Damian.
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00:02:50,629 --> 00:02:52,589
He says he lives
just the next city over,
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00:02:52,589 --> 00:02:55,759
he's an orthopedic surgeon,
and we're the same age.
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00:02:55,759 --> 00:02:57,009
And...
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00:02:57,010 --> 00:02:58,800
MARIANA: He tells
Susan he's on a
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00:02:58,804 --> 00:03:01,144
four‐month UN peace‐keeping
mission in Yemen.
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00:03:01,139 --> 00:03:04,099
From his photos, he's
fit and slightly graying.
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00:03:05,227 --> 00:03:07,807
SUSAN: He's very handsome.
He's very flirty.
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00:03:07,813 --> 00:03:09,773
I thought,
"Okay, I can flirt,
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00:03:09,773 --> 00:03:11,403
this is fun."
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00:03:11,400 --> 00:03:14,490
He tells me, "I'm really
extremely grateful for having
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00:03:14,486 --> 00:03:18,026
you in my life, spending time
with me drowns out all of the
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00:03:18,031 --> 00:03:20,581
other concerns and
lights up my life."
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00:03:21,076 --> 00:03:23,326
MARIANA: Oh, wow.
SUSAN: Let's see...
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00:03:23,328 --> 00:03:24,748
MARIANA: Is this your
journal that you kept...
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00:03:24,746 --> 00:03:26,036
SUSAN: Yes.
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00:03:26,039 --> 00:03:27,209
MARIANA: All the
conversations you had?
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00:03:27,207 --> 00:03:28,787
SUSAN: Yes.
I wrote everything down.
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00:03:28,792 --> 00:03:30,712
MARIANA: So, you were keeping
a journal of what you thought
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00:03:30,710 --> 00:03:32,590
was a possible relationship
that you were going to have
with this person?
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00:03:32,587 --> 00:03:36,127
SUSAN: Right, my
heart really was
overtaking my brain...
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00:03:36,133 --> 00:03:37,593
MARIANA: Wow.
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00:03:37,592 --> 00:03:41,102
SUSAN: Completely. Um, I
thought about him constantly.
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00:03:41,096 --> 00:03:43,346
Every time the little
"ding, ding" on Google Hangouts,
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I'd go grab my phone.
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00:03:45,434 --> 00:03:47,894
(text alerts)
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00:03:47,894 --> 00:03:49,814
DEBBIE: When Eric
and I started writing,
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00:03:49,813 --> 00:03:51,773
it filled up that hole.
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He listened to me.
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00:03:53,275 --> 00:03:55,395
It was a great
healing thing for me.
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MS: He was just so romantic.
He'd write me love poems.
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00:04:00,782 --> 00:04:03,492
MARGARET: Every single day.
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00:04:03,493 --> 00:04:08,623
He was filling that
void in my heart that was
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00:04:08,623 --> 00:04:10,293
my broken heart.
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00:04:10,750 --> 00:04:12,960
SUSAN: He is completely
and totally crazy about me
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00:04:12,961 --> 00:04:16,051
and wants to be with
me every single day.
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00:04:16,047 --> 00:04:18,677
It's like, who
doesn't want that?
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00:04:19,676 --> 00:04:21,136
MARIANA: But
only two weeks later,
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00:04:21,136 --> 00:04:22,596
she senses trouble.
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00:04:22,596 --> 00:04:24,426
SUSAN: I wake up Monday
morning and there's no videos,
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00:04:24,431 --> 00:04:26,181
no quotes, there's nothing.
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00:04:26,183 --> 00:04:28,483
So, I sent him a message.
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00:04:28,477 --> 00:04:30,267
"I don't know why I
haven't heard from you."
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00:04:30,270 --> 00:04:31,270
MARIANA: Mmm‐hmm.
99
00:04:31,271 --> 00:04:32,611
SUSAN: "I hope you're okay."
100
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And I have been stressing now,
the entire day.
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00:04:35,317 --> 00:04:39,147
Is he alive?
Is he dead?
I, I don't know.
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00:04:39,154 --> 00:04:40,324
MARIANA: The following morning,
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00:04:40,322 --> 00:04:42,572
Susan finally gets a
message that begins with
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00:04:42,574 --> 00:04:44,624
six crying emojis.
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00:04:45,494 --> 00:04:48,544
SUSAN: He said to me,
"We were under attack.
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00:04:48,538 --> 00:04:51,288
There were guys that
came into the compound.
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00:04:51,291 --> 00:04:54,251
Uh, one guy was shot.
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00:04:54,252 --> 00:04:56,842
I really want to
get out of this place.
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00:04:56,838 --> 00:04:58,548
I'm scared for my life."
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00:04:59,466 --> 00:05:05,676
He then tells me
some of his colleagues
paid their contract off
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00:05:05,680 --> 00:05:09,060
and he said, "I
can pay them $30,000."
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00:05:09,810 --> 00:05:11,020
MARIANA: Wow.
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00:05:11,019 --> 00:05:13,359
SUSAN:
"And I can then go home.
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00:05:14,439 --> 00:05:16,609
You know, you
and I are a couple,
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00:05:16,608 --> 00:05:19,028
we're in this together."
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00:05:19,027 --> 00:05:22,027
He said, "I thought if
maybe you could pay half,"
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00:05:22,030 --> 00:05:24,530
he goes, "that would be great."
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00:05:27,452 --> 00:05:29,622
MARGARET: It's so
embarrassing that it was close
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00:05:29,621 --> 00:05:31,331
to $300,000.
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00:05:31,331 --> 00:05:36,091
DEBBIE: $1,080,762.
MS: $2.8 million.
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00:05:36,628 --> 00:05:39,008
NORAH: More than
6,400 Americans say they were
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00:05:39,005 --> 00:05:41,045
scammed after
visiting dating websites.
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00:05:41,550 --> 00:05:43,550
MARIANA: The rise of
romance scams and our
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00:05:43,552 --> 00:05:46,512
increasing ease with
online dating go hand‐in‐hand.
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00:05:46,972 --> 00:05:49,892
More than 44 million
Americans went on dating sites
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00:05:49,891 --> 00:05:52,981
last year, giving
scammers plenty to work with.
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00:05:56,356 --> 00:05:59,066
But victims are also being
targeted on social media.
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00:05:59,943 --> 00:06:02,493
REPORTER: A 69‐year‐old
Sarasota woman will soon lose
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00:06:02,487 --> 00:06:05,737
her house after falling victim
to an online dating scam.
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00:06:06,700 --> 00:06:08,450
MARIANA: The median
loss of a victim in
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00:06:08,451 --> 00:06:11,081
2020 was $2,500.
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00:06:11,872 --> 00:06:15,672
But for victims 70 and older,
it was nearly 10 grand.
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00:06:19,713 --> 00:06:22,173
With arrests rare and
recovering money practically
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00:06:22,173 --> 00:06:26,093
unheard of, romance scammers
operate with near impunity,
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00:06:27,262 --> 00:06:30,432
but every so often,
there's a high profile bust that
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00:06:30,432 --> 00:06:33,312
provides a window into
this murky underworld.
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00:06:34,436 --> 00:06:37,356
Earlier this year, in a
case that's still pending,
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00:06:37,772 --> 00:06:40,732
US Law Enforcement charged
six alleged ringleaders of a
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00:06:40,734 --> 00:06:43,654
massive
cybercriminal enterprise,
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00:06:43,653 --> 00:06:45,323
that included
romance scamming,
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00:06:46,031 --> 00:06:49,951
based in a West
African country of Ghana.
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00:06:55,457 --> 00:07:01,207
(overlapping chatter)
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00:07:02,380 --> 00:07:04,470
Ghana is booming.
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00:07:04,466 --> 00:07:07,256
Its economy is one of the
fastest growing in the world.
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00:07:07,969 --> 00:07:10,929
Big‐name companies like
Google and Twitter are
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00:07:10,930 --> 00:07:13,390
planting headquarters
here to take advantage of an
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00:07:13,391 --> 00:07:16,481
English‐speaking
population that's young,
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00:07:16,853 --> 00:07:18,733
tech savvy, and ambitious.
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00:07:21,733 --> 00:07:25,073
But those same traits have
also made Ghana a hot bed for
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00:07:25,070 --> 00:07:26,820
romance scammers.
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00:07:28,198 --> 00:07:32,158
That's why I've come to track
them down and to understand
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00:07:32,160 --> 00:07:35,330
how they've turned online
seduction into a thriving
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00:07:35,330 --> 00:07:37,000
criminal industry.
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00:07:37,374 --> 00:07:38,834
♪ She a Ghana scammer ♪
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00:07:38,833 --> 00:07:41,253
(singing in native language)
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MARIANA: One that's
even made its way into
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00:07:42,712 --> 00:07:44,512
the country's music scene.
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00:07:45,423 --> 00:07:51,813
(singing in native language)
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00:07:52,972 --> 00:07:54,932
DIRECTOR: Okay. Reset.
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00:07:54,933 --> 00:07:56,483
MARIANA: What was the music
video you're shooting here,
what is it about?
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00:08:06,236 --> 00:08:07,946
MARIANA: Meet Boss Bouncy,
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00:08:07,946 --> 00:08:10,196
the man behind the
song "Ghana Scammer."
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00:08:17,205 --> 00:08:18,615
MARIANA: So, she's
a gold digger...
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00:08:18,623 --> 00:08:19,623
BOUNCY: Yeah.
MARIANA: And a scammer?
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00:08:21,751 --> 00:08:23,291
MARIANA: Is
scamming big in Ghana?
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00:08:29,926 --> 00:08:31,386
MARIANA: So,
would you be able to,
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00:08:31,386 --> 00:08:32,716
you think, introduce us to
some people that you know or
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00:08:32,721 --> 00:08:33,761
is that not something
you feel comfortable with?
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00:08:42,397 --> 00:08:43,567
MARIANA: But before I leave,
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00:08:43,565 --> 00:08:45,855
Boss Bouncy
offers a little tip.
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00:08:45,859 --> 00:08:47,989
He tells me when
scammers get paid,
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00:08:47,986 --> 00:08:50,736
they like to celebrate,
have a few drinks.
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00:08:51,364 --> 00:08:53,874
♪ Hey, heyshe a Ghana scammer ♪♪
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00:08:53,867 --> 00:08:57,747
(singing in native language)
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00:08:58,621 --> 00:09:00,581
MARIANA: Hi, good evening.
MAN: Hi.
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00:09:01,750 --> 00:09:04,380
MARIANA: Do you work here?
MAN: I work here, yeah.
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00:09:04,377 --> 00:09:06,127
MARIANA: The clubs
and pool halls of Accra,
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00:09:06,129 --> 00:09:07,459
Ghana's capital.
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00:09:07,464 --> 00:09:08,924
Do you mind if I just
go up the stairs and see,
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00:09:08,923 --> 00:09:10,223
and then, I'll
come right down?
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00:09:10,216 --> 00:09:12,176
Could be the perfect
places to hear things that
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00:09:12,177 --> 00:09:14,177
shouldn't be heard.
183
00:09:20,685 --> 00:09:23,305
MARIANA: Okay.
Here's our guy. Here's the guy.
184
00:09:23,313 --> 00:09:24,943
The guy that's going
to stop and tell me.
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00:09:24,939 --> 00:09:26,689
Hi. Okay. So, you're
the man to know here?
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00:09:29,652 --> 00:09:31,032
MARIANA: I know, and I
just practically stalked you.
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00:09:31,362 --> 00:09:32,322
BEN: Yeah, yeah, yeah.
188
00:09:32,322 --> 00:09:33,532
MARIANA: After a bit of hustle,
189
00:09:33,531 --> 00:09:34,871
I finally meet a guy
who says he can help.
190
00:09:36,367 --> 00:09:37,367
MARIANA: Awesome.
191
00:09:39,204 --> 00:09:40,714
MARIANA: I'll text you.
BEN: Okay.
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00:09:43,541 --> 00:09:45,041
MARIANA: Later in the night,
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00:09:45,043 --> 00:09:47,923
I get a message telling me to
go to a certain address and
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00:09:47,921 --> 00:09:50,471
talk to the man playing pool.
195
00:10:07,315 --> 00:10:08,935
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 --> 00:10:15,408
by your real name, so
what should we call you?
199
00:10:17,992 --> 00:10:19,372
MARIANA: Odo.
Okay, what does that mean?
200
00:10:21,746 --> 00:10:23,116
MARIANA: Love?
ODO: Yeah.
201
00:10:23,123 --> 00:10:25,543
MARIANA: So, um, you
know why we're here.
202
00:10:25,542 --> 00:10:26,882
ODO: Yeah, yeah.
203
00:10:26,876 --> 00:10:27,956
MARIANA: Can you tell me
a little bit what you do?
204
00:10:30,130 --> 00:10:31,880
MARIANA: So how many
women have you scammed?
205
00:10:45,061 --> 00:10:47,401
MARIANA:
Finally, I've found a scammer.
206
00:10:56,447 --> 00:10:58,617
MARIANA: What was
your first fake name?
207
00:11:01,077 --> 00:11:02,117
MARIANA: Morris Jackson?
208
00:11:08,793 --> 00:11:10,383
MARIANA: I'm in Accra, Ghana,
209
00:11:10,378 --> 00:11:12,628
one of the epicenters
of romance scamming.
210
00:11:13,089 --> 00:11:16,469
This man, Odo, tells me he was
introduced to scamming by a
211
00:11:16,467 --> 00:11:18,967
friend and instantly
saw success.
212
00:11:25,685 --> 00:11:26,725
MARIANA: Pretending it was you?
213
00:11:33,443 --> 00:11:34,943
MARIANA: The story
Odo faked is a favorite
214
00:11:34,944 --> 00:11:36,534
of romance scammers.
215
00:11:36,529 --> 00:11:40,279
Work sent him to Ghana,
but since no one took
216
00:11:40,283 --> 00:11:41,953
American Express here,
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00:11:41,951 --> 00:11:43,701
he couldn't buy
anything and needed cash.
218
00:11:52,295 --> 00:11:54,375
MARIANA: Clients,
that's what they call victims.
219
00:11:54,380 --> 00:11:57,010
And so, the first time you
ever received money was $300.
220
00:11:58,593 --> 00:11:59,593
MARIANA: From that
Canadian woman?
221
00:12:00,386 --> 00:12:02,056
MARIANA: And how much money do
you think you've made from this?
222
00:12:05,350 --> 00:12:06,350
MARIANA: Wow.
223
00:12:13,608 --> 00:12:14,478
MARIANA: These
are scripts that...
224
00:12:15,985 --> 00:12:16,815
ODO: Yeah.
MARIANA: Buy, you buy them?
225
00:12:18,488 --> 00:12:19,988
MARIANA:
These scripts are almost like
226
00:12:19,989 --> 00:12:21,739
"choose your own
adventure" books.
227
00:12:21,741 --> 00:12:24,201
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 --> 00:12:29,712
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 --> 00:12:35,757
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 --> 00:12:41,835
Malaysia to India.
235
00:12:53,273 --> 00:12:54,733
ODO: Um.
236
00:12:58,861 --> 00:13:00,281
MARIANA: Are you okay?
ODO: Yeah.
237
00:13:00,280 --> 00:13:01,360
MARIANA: Are you okay talking
with people coming in?
238
00:13:01,364 --> 00:13:02,624
ODO: Yeah.
239
00:13:02,615 --> 00:13:03,985
MARIANA: He's taking a
risk speaking with me.
240
00:13:03,992 --> 00:13:06,622
The wrong person listening
could mean trouble.
241
00:13:07,870 --> 00:13:08,910
Got a little nervous.
242
00:13:08,913 --> 00:13:10,123
ODO: Yeah. Yeah.
243
00:13:10,123 --> 00:13:11,083
MARIANA: Because there
are people looking,
244
00:13:11,082 --> 00:13:12,632
I could see your eyes.
245
00:13:12,625 --> 00:13:13,745
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 --> 00:13:41,607
MARIANA: Wow.
This is news to me.
248
00:13:41,612 --> 00:13:44,742
I'd assume romance scammers
worked as lone wolves.
249
00:13:44,741 --> 00:13:47,331
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 --> 00:13:51,616
He's like a finisher?
He's the person that finishes?
252
00:13:54,000 --> 00:13:55,540
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 --> 00:14:00,213
ready to pay.
255
00:14:00,214 --> 00:14:02,514
Only a small percentage goes to
frontline scammers like Odo.
256
00:14:02,508 --> 00:14:04,678
Do you think I could
meet a finisher?
257
00:14:06,345 --> 00:14:07,345
MARIANA: Why?
258
00:14:11,434 --> 00:14:13,354
MARIANA: So, you wouldn't be
able to talk to your boss,
259
00:14:13,352 --> 00:14:14,772
The Finisher, about me, right?
260
00:14:15,104 --> 00:14:16,364
Because that would
put you in danger?
261
00:14:31,162 --> 00:14:35,792
♪ ♪
262
00:14:35,792 --> 00:14:37,382
MARIANA: Okay, so this
person is still in the game?
263
00:14:37,376 --> 00:14:38,456
He's still scamming?
264
00:14:38,461 --> 00:14:40,301
GRACIE: Yes, he's
still in the game.
265
00:14:41,464 --> 00:14:43,264
MARIANA: I'm driving
with a local journalist
266
00:14:43,257 --> 00:14:45,547
who's been reporting on
these scams for years.
267
00:14:46,469 --> 00:14:49,389
He's putting me in touch with
a scammer he knows in Kumasi.
268
00:14:49,388 --> 00:14:51,678
About 150 miles from Accra.
269
00:14:52,892 --> 00:14:55,602
He says the dangers Odo
mentioned are real.
270
00:14:55,603 --> 00:14:58,363
That's why he doesn't want
his identity revealed.
271
00:14:58,773 --> 00:15:00,613
GRACIE: If you talk
about scamming in Ghana,
272
00:15:00,608 --> 00:15:02,898
it's, it's huge.
273
00:15:03,194 --> 00:15:05,074
So, any attempt by anyone to,
274
00:15:05,071 --> 00:15:07,821
to want to, you know,
unravel anything,
275
00:15:08,074 --> 00:15:10,584
get insight, you could be
putting your life at risk.
276
00:15:14,872 --> 00:15:16,672
MARIANA: Tell me more about
the person we're meeting.
277
00:15:16,666 --> 00:15:18,036
GRACIE: Right.
278
00:15:18,042 --> 00:15:21,342
So, um, he goes by the
name, uh, The Punisher, and.
279
00:15:21,337 --> 00:15:22,377
MARIANA: The Punisher?
280
00:15:22,380 --> 00:15:23,800
GRACIE: The Punisher.
281
00:15:23,798 --> 00:15:26,218
And he has this one other
person that he works with.
282
00:16:02,962 --> 00:16:05,802
MARIANA: I have no
idea what to expect as I walk up
283
00:16:05,798 --> 00:16:08,428
the stairs of this upscale
apartment building.
284
00:16:18,060 --> 00:16:21,310
But instead of the armed men
and pat down that I'm used to,
285
00:16:21,314 --> 00:16:23,364
I'm invited into a living room.
286
00:16:24,025 --> 00:16:26,275
MIAMI QUEEN: Sweetheart,
I can't see you.
287
00:16:26,611 --> 00:16:27,991
Oh, there you are.
288
00:16:27,987 --> 00:16:29,607
RON (over phone): Oh, hi.
289
00:16:30,031 --> 00:16:32,831
MARIANA:
Where it looks like a
romance scam is in full swing.
290
00:16:32,825 --> 00:16:34,695
MIAMI QUEEN:
So beautiful, thank you.
291
00:16:34,702 --> 00:16:35,832
(smooches)
292
00:16:44,503 --> 00:16:46,343
(singing in native language).
293
00:16:46,339 --> 00:16:47,629
MARIANA: He's going to fix it.
294
00:16:52,553 --> 00:16:53,723
MARIANA: Are you
calling somebody?
295
00:16:53,721 --> 00:16:57,141
What if they answer?
296
00:17:04,565 --> 00:17:06,145
MIAMI QUEEN: Hey, sweetheart.
297
00:17:07,151 --> 00:17:08,441
MARIANA: I'm in Ghana,
298
00:17:08,444 --> 00:17:11,574
watching two romance
scammers at work.
299
00:17:11,572 --> 00:17:15,242
He calls himself The Punisher
and she is Miami Queen.
300
00:17:15,785 --> 00:17:17,325
(smooches)
301
00:17:17,328 --> 00:17:19,658
MIAMI QUEEN: I missed you.
302
00:17:19,664 --> 00:17:21,084
MARIANA: And to my surprise,
303
00:17:21,082 --> 00:17:23,382
they're scamming men, not women.
304
00:17:28,631 --> 00:17:32,431
MIAMI QUEEN: Yeah,
I know, but I told you I had
problems with my phone, so.
305
00:17:32,426 --> 00:17:33,426
THE PUNISHER: Okay.
306
00:17:36,597 --> 00:17:39,307
MIAMI QUEEN: Sweetheart, let
me go and take a shower, okay?
307
00:17:39,308 --> 00:17:41,438
I'll call you right
when I'm done, yeah?
308
00:17:41,435 --> 00:17:43,395
Don't go anywhere,
just wait for me.
309
00:17:45,606 --> 00:17:47,106
And we're done.
310
00:17:47,733 --> 00:17:48,903
MARIANA: So, what
just happened here?
311
00:17:48,901 --> 00:17:51,151
You started to call
somebody, right?
312
00:17:51,153 --> 00:17:52,573
THE PUNISHER: Mmm‐hmm.
313
00:17:52,572 --> 00:17:54,452
MARIANA: And then when he
accepts, if it's a video,
314
00:17:54,448 --> 00:17:55,488
you pass it on to her?
315
00:17:55,491 --> 00:17:56,581
MIAMI QUEEN: Yeah.
316
00:17:56,576 --> 00:17:57,986
MARIANA: When you're
communicating,
317
00:17:57,994 --> 00:17:59,504
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 --> 00:18:01,905
MARIANA: But he's
communicating with you?
320
00:18:01,914 --> 00:18:02,924
MIAMI QUEEN: Mmm‐hmm.
321
00:18:02,915 --> 00:18:04,745
MARIANA: And then you're just.
322
00:18:04,750 --> 00:18:07,130
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 --> 00:18:11,667
MARIANA: Most of
romance scamming is
325
00:18:11,674 --> 00:18:14,094
messaging, just typing.
326
00:18:14,093 --> 00:18:16,553
But they've rented a space
tonight for these occasional
327
00:18:16,554 --> 00:18:19,564
video calls, hoping to
satisfy their clients.
328
00:18:20,766 --> 00:18:23,186
How many people do you guys
know that are scammers?
329
00:18:23,185 --> 00:18:24,595
THE PUNISHER:
A whole lot of people.
330
00:18:24,604 --> 00:18:26,234
MIAMI QUEEN: Oh, my God,
you can't count them.
331
00:18:26,230 --> 00:18:27,860
THE PUNISHER: We have, we
have, we have friend scammers.
332
00:18:27,857 --> 00:18:28,937
MARIANA: Like dozens?
Hundreds?
333
00:18:28,941 --> 00:18:30,111
MIAMI QUEEN: Dozens.
334
00:18:30,109 --> 00:18:31,029
MARIANA: All your
friends are doing it?
335
00:18:31,027 --> 00:18:32,447
MIAMI QUEEN: Yeah.
336
00:18:32,445 --> 00:18:34,355
THE PUNISHER: I have friends
who are rich, very rich.
337
00:18:34,363 --> 00:18:35,743
MIAMI QUEEN:
They've built houses.
338
00:18:35,740 --> 00:18:37,030
Big, big cars.
339
00:18:37,033 --> 00:18:39,663
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 --> 00:18:43,792
or straight up
cash are preferred.
342
00:18:45,333 --> 00:18:48,423
But payment in Bitcoin
is also becoming popular.
343
00:18:52,465 --> 00:18:53,585
MARIANA: So, you're pretending
to be a woman and scamming men?
344
00:18:56,969 --> 00:18:59,099
MARIANA: It's easier
to get money from men,
345
00:18:59,096 --> 00:19:02,976
he says, and there's simply more
men using online dating sites.
346
00:19:06,062 --> 00:19:08,112
And yet, back in the States,
347
00:19:08,105 --> 00:19:12,025
far fewer men than
women report being victims.
348
00:19:13,319 --> 00:19:15,609
And this person you're
talking to, Michael,
349
00:19:15,613 --> 00:19:18,913
has no idea that you're
actually a man in Ghana?
350
00:19:30,169 --> 00:19:31,129
MARIANA: Right.
351
00:19:33,381 --> 00:19:36,131
THE PUNISHER: I think Michael
has been too good to me.
352
00:19:36,133 --> 00:19:38,643
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 --> 00:19:42,466
MARIANA: More than $10,000?
For what? What do you say?
355
00:19:48,813 --> 00:19:49,903
MARIANA: Wow.
356
00:19:49,897 --> 00:19:52,227
THE PUNISHER: Okay.
So, I do this.
357
00:19:52,233 --> 00:19:54,243
MARIANA: Are you
actually calling him?
358
00:19:54,610 --> 00:19:55,860
THE PUNISHER: Yes.
359
00:19:56,821 --> 00:19:57,741
MARIANA: Where is he?
360
00:19:57,738 --> 00:19:59,488
THE PUNISHER: Virginia.
361
00:19:59,490 --> 00:20:00,660
MARIANA: Oh.
362
00:20:00,658 --> 00:20:02,118
THE PUNISHER: So,
Michael is not online.
363
00:20:02,118 --> 00:20:03,448
MARIANA: Oh, okay.
364
00:20:03,452 --> 00:20:05,622
No dice, but had
Michael picked up,
365
00:20:05,621 --> 00:20:08,081
he would have seen this video
recording of a young woman.
366
00:20:12,128 --> 00:20:13,628
MARIANA: But if you talk,
it doesn't match.
367
00:20:17,341 --> 00:20:20,141
MARIANA: Oh, my God. Wow.
So, you have the video
and then you're just typing?
368
00:20:21,846 --> 00:20:22,886
MARIANA: Where did
you get this video?
369
00:20:24,014 --> 00:20:25,064
MARIANA: Oh, you buy it?
370
00:20:26,308 --> 00:20:27,768
MARIANA: Like scripts,
371
00:20:27,768 --> 00:20:30,858
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 --> 00:20:36,606
(phone ringing)
374
00:20:37,695 --> 00:20:39,445
MIAMI QUEEN: Hey, baby.
375
00:20:39,447 --> 00:20:40,657
Hey, honey.
376
00:20:40,656 --> 00:20:41,776
Hey, sweetheart.
377
00:20:41,782 --> 00:20:44,662
I love you.
378
00:20:46,996 --> 00:20:48,826
Hi. I missed you.
379
00:20:52,918 --> 00:20:54,998
MARIANA: I keep
watching them through the night,
380
00:20:55,004 --> 00:20:56,514
but no money has come in.
381
00:20:56,505 --> 00:20:59,045
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 --> 00:21:04,217
♪ 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 --> 00:21:32,834
The Punisher will take
us to the woman who will
put a love spell on Michael,
386
00:21:32,833 --> 00:21:37,173
one that will fill his
heart and empty his wallet.
387
00:21:43,803 --> 00:21:45,933
♪ ♪
388
00:22:01,821 --> 00:22:03,361
MARIANA: They call her "Nana,"
389
00:22:03,364 --> 00:22:06,084
a title of high respect
in the local language.
390
00:22:08,869 --> 00:22:11,079
(speaking in native language).
391
00:22:11,080 --> 00:22:13,330
MARIANA: She plays
a vital role in a home‐grown
392
00:22:13,332 --> 00:22:17,802
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 --> 00:22:24,217
the God‐given fortunes
of cyber fraud,
395
00:22:24,885 --> 00:22:27,595
the kind aimed at
foreigners in far‐off lands.
396
00:22:39,275 --> 00:22:41,025
MARIANA: Scammers
like The Punisher are often
397
00:22:41,026 --> 00:22:42,316
called Sakawa boys.
398
00:22:42,319 --> 00:22:45,449
And today, he really
needs her powers to work.
399
00:23:21,650 --> 00:23:23,150
MARIANA: So, you think that now
that you've met with the priest,
400
00:23:23,152 --> 00:23:24,402
you're going to
receive the money.
401
00:23:30,284 --> 00:23:32,294
MARIANA: How much money
have you made, do you think,
from scamming?
402
00:23:48,010 --> 00:23:49,850
MARIANA: 20 grand
is a lot of money,
403
00:23:49,845 --> 00:23:52,715
especially in Ghana.
404
00:23:52,973 --> 00:23:55,733
But it's pocket change compared
to what some of the bigger
405
00:23:55,726 --> 00:23:58,056
operators are raking in.
406
00:23:58,646 --> 00:24:01,816
That's who I'm still
trying to find,
407
00:24:01,815 --> 00:24:04,525
one of the alpha ones
of the scamming world.
408
00:24:04,526 --> 00:24:07,396
A figure known as The Finisher.
409
00:24:14,203 --> 00:24:16,963
So, I think this is it.
410
00:24:17,915 --> 00:24:19,455
Yeah.
411
00:24:19,458 --> 00:24:21,748
So, a lot of these romance
scams are now being done by
412
00:24:21,752 --> 00:24:24,172
sort of larger
criminal networks.
413
00:24:24,171 --> 00:24:27,931
And one of the leaders
of one of these groups
has agreed to meet us.
414
00:24:34,056 --> 00:24:37,766
The groundwork for this meeting
started back a week ago.
415
00:24:38,018 --> 00:24:41,018
My local producer had been
digging and connected with a man
416
00:24:41,021 --> 00:24:43,861
named Pussycat, who
claimed to be a finisher.
417
00:24:51,615 --> 00:24:55,535
We first met him without
cameras on a rooftop in Accra.
418
00:24:55,536 --> 00:24:56,906
He said little.
419
00:24:56,912 --> 00:24:59,212
I could tell he was skittish.
420
00:25:02,292 --> 00:25:05,502
I left dubious that we
would hear from him again.
421
00:25:05,921 --> 00:25:09,131
But to my surprise, yesterday,
he called and gave us this
422
00:25:09,133 --> 00:25:11,223
address off the coast.
423
00:25:13,804 --> 00:25:16,564
Hi. I'm the journalist.
424
00:25:16,557 --> 00:25:18,557
You said I could come and
meet you with your crew.
425
00:25:31,655 --> 00:25:32,695
MARIANA: Okay.
426
00:25:42,875 --> 00:25:44,625
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 --> 00:25:51,255
MARIANA: To my right is Kiriku,
429
00:25:51,258 --> 00:25:53,428
the master of forged documents.
430
00:25:54,678 --> 00:25:57,508
If a client wants proof of
anything, he's the man to go to.
431
00:26:02,853 --> 00:26:04,403
MARIANA: To his right is Prince.
432
00:26:04,396 --> 00:26:05,936
He's the hunter.
433
00:26:05,939 --> 00:26:07,359
So, you're the first
person in this,
434
00:26:07,357 --> 00:26:09,277
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 --> 00:26:17,581
there's a lot of
different fish in the sea.
437
00:26:26,919 --> 00:26:28,089
MARIANA: Then comes
the impersonator,
438
00:26:28,087 --> 00:26:29,587
he goes by the name Shadow.
439
00:26:31,632 --> 00:26:32,672
MARIANA: Sort of like
the actor, I guess?
440
00:26:34,176 --> 00:26:36,466
SHADOW (female voice):
Hey, hi James. How are you?
441
00:26:36,470 --> 00:26:38,890
MARIANA: That's his
voice when he scams men.
442
00:26:38,889 --> 00:26:41,059
SHADOW (female voice):
All right, honey. Bye.
443
00:26:42,226 --> 00:26:43,386
MARIANA: And finally,
444
00:26:43,393 --> 00:26:45,603
the guy who brought
me here, Pussycat.
445
00:26:46,522 --> 00:26:47,862
And what is yours then?
446
00:26:50,192 --> 00:26:51,152
MARIANA: So, it's
like The Finisher?
447
00:26:51,151 --> 00:26:52,281
PUSSYCAT: The Finisher.
448
00:26:52,277 --> 00:26:54,027
MARIANA: At last, The Finisher.
449
00:26:54,029 --> 00:26:56,199
You start the goal of it all,
which is getting the money?
450
00:26:56,198 --> 00:26:57,278
PUSSYCAT: Yes. Yes.
451
00:27:01,954 --> 00:27:04,504
MARIANA:
"Format" he says,
it's another word for "script."
452
00:27:06,834 --> 00:27:07,794
MARIANA: Right.
453
00:27:11,338 --> 00:27:12,338
MARIANA: Right.
454
00:27:15,134 --> 00:27:16,434
MARIANA: So, you don't need
something to copy and paste.
455
00:27:16,426 --> 00:27:17,336
You have it all in your head.
456
00:27:17,344 --> 00:27:18,644
PUSSYCAT: No, I have them here.
457
00:27:18,637 --> 00:27:20,257
MARIANA: It's his
long experience mining the
458
00:27:20,264 --> 00:27:23,064
psyche of clients that gives
The Finisher the insights to
459
00:27:23,058 --> 00:27:24,478
write these fake scenarios.
460
00:27:32,317 --> 00:27:33,527
MARIANA: Uh‐hmm.
461
00:27:33,527 --> 00:27:35,397
Whether you call them
scripts or formats,
462
00:27:35,404 --> 00:27:38,784
they are the
beating heart of this scam's
multi‐million‐dollar industry.
463
00:27:44,621 --> 00:27:45,791
MARIANA: You're that convincing?
PUSSYCAT: Sure.
464
00:27:50,210 --> 00:27:51,460
MARIANA: You think so?
PUSSYCAT: Yeah.
465
00:28:04,266 --> 00:28:06,436
PUSSYCAT: That's okay.
MARIANA: That's okay.
466
00:28:06,810 --> 00:28:08,100
What do you mean?
You don't want him to say more?
467
00:28:08,103 --> 00:28:09,903
PUSSYCAT: Yes. Yeah.
468
00:28:11,648 --> 00:28:13,938
MARIANA: Pussycat
immediately cuts things off,
469
00:28:13,942 --> 00:28:17,782
but I get it, small gifts might
lure me to reciprocate with
470
00:28:17,779 --> 00:28:21,699
bigger gifts and someday,
maybe a cash loan.
471
00:28:22,159 --> 00:28:23,829
PUSSYCAT: This is how we do it.
472
00:28:24,161 --> 00:28:25,751
MARIANA: Though
they aren't willing to give out
473
00:28:25,746 --> 00:28:28,116
their formats, they let
me listen in on a call.
474
00:28:28,123 --> 00:28:29,293
In Texas?
475
00:28:29,708 --> 00:28:31,538
KIRIKU: Yeah.
MARIANA: And it's a man as well?
KIRIKU: Yeah.
476
00:28:31,543 --> 00:28:34,383
MARIANA: Yes.
It's another male victim.
477
00:28:34,379 --> 00:28:35,419
How old?
478
00:28:35,422 --> 00:28:36,802
PRINCE: 53.
479
00:28:36,798 --> 00:28:38,628
MARIANA: I'm
quickly realizing that targeting
480
00:28:38,634 --> 00:28:41,684
men is actually
quite common here.
481
00:28:41,678 --> 00:28:45,218
Even though we
hear almost exclusively
about female victims.
482
00:28:50,729 --> 00:28:52,939
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 --> 00:28:57,990
they're much easier to fool.
485
00:28:58,820 --> 00:29:03,330
PRINCE (female voice) :
Hello? Hello? Can you hear me?
486
00:29:07,913 --> 00:29:10,833
SHADOW (female voice): Hey.
Hi, darling. How are you?
487
00:29:11,583 --> 00:29:12,923
How are you doing?
488
00:29:12,918 --> 00:29:14,588
JAMES (over phone):Why can't I see you?
489
00:29:14,586 --> 00:29:16,086
SHADOW (female voice):
Oh, I have a little
problem with my camera.
490
00:29:16,088 --> 00:29:18,088
JAMES (over phone): That sucks.
491
00:29:18,090 --> 00:29:20,260
SHADOW (female voice)
Yes. Sorry, okay?
492
00:29:20,258 --> 00:29:22,088
Hey, what's up?
493
00:29:22,094 --> 00:29:23,804
I miss you.
494
00:29:23,804 --> 00:29:25,104
JAMES (over phone):But when are you coming up?
495
00:29:25,097 --> 00:29:26,257
SHADOW (female voice): Okay.
496
00:29:26,264 --> 00:29:30,604
I'm going to be up
in like half an hour.
497
00:29:30,602 --> 00:29:33,022
JAMES (over phone): In a halfan hour, you are coming up?
498
00:29:33,021 --> 00:29:37,071
Will it take you an hourand a half to get here?
499
00:29:37,067 --> 00:29:39,897
PRINCE: He's asking you
when are you coming up.
500
00:29:45,117 --> 00:29:46,617
JAMES (over phone): A month ago
501
00:29:46,952 --> 00:29:48,252
SHADOW (female voice):
Ah, okay. I know.
502
00:29:48,245 --> 00:29:50,115
But, you know, because
of the coronavirus.
503
00:29:50,122 --> 00:29:52,252
JAMES (over phone): Oh,you have the virus now?
504
00:29:52,249 --> 00:29:53,749
SHADOW (female voice):
Oh. No, no, no, no, no.
505
00:29:53,750 --> 00:29:55,670
I don't have the
virus personally,
506
00:29:55,669 --> 00:29:57,919
but it's in here in Africa.
507
00:30:03,885 --> 00:30:06,425
MARIANA: Looks like
someone has gone off script.
508
00:30:06,722 --> 00:30:08,222
PRINCE (female voice): Hello?
509
00:30:13,979 --> 00:30:17,019
♪ ♪
510
00:30:21,862 --> 00:30:23,912
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 --> 00:30:28,235
it's in here in Africa.
514
00:30:36,626 --> 00:30:39,166
MARIANA:
I'm with a den of
romance scammers in Ghana.
515
00:30:39,171 --> 00:30:42,341
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 --> 00:30:46,850
MARIANA: But because they're
juggling dozens of active
clients,
518
00:30:46,845 --> 00:30:48,845
they briefly lose
lose track of the script.
519
00:30:49,473 --> 00:30:53,233
PRINCE (female voice):
Hello? Can you hear me?
520
00:30:55,812 --> 00:30:57,482
Hello?
521
00:31:02,486 --> 00:31:06,106
PRINCE (female voice):
I would like to come over,
like, this weekend.
522
00:31:06,114 --> 00:31:10,124
But I don't have
enough gas in my car.
523
00:31:10,494 --> 00:31:14,544
And I had to use that
little box you sent me to
get some little medications.
524
00:31:17,542 --> 00:31:19,382
JAMES (over phone): All right.
525
00:31:19,377 --> 00:31:21,707
PRINCE (female voice):
Okay. Bye for now.
526
00:31:21,713 --> 00:31:23,053
JAMES (over phone): Bye.
527
00:31:23,048 --> 00:31:25,048
PRINCE (female voice): Love you.
528
00:31:28,512 --> 00:31:29,892
MARIANA: I still
don't understand how they
529
00:31:29,888 --> 00:31:31,968
explain their strange accents.
530
00:31:31,973 --> 00:31:35,483
But maybe they're right,
men looking for love are
531
00:31:35,477 --> 00:31:37,897
just easier to fool.
532
00:31:38,480 --> 00:31:39,900
So, in this format,
533
00:31:39,898 --> 00:31:42,188
it's an American girl willing
to go see this person.
534
00:31:42,192 --> 00:31:43,692
ALL: Yes.
535
00:31:43,693 --> 00:31:44,783
MARIANA: And is waiting for
you and is sending you money
536
00:31:44,778 --> 00:31:45,818
to go and see him.
537
00:31:45,821 --> 00:31:47,161
PRINCE: Yes.
538
00:31:47,155 --> 00:31:48,115
MARIANA: And what's his name?
539
00:31:48,115 --> 00:31:49,735
PRINCE: His first name is James.
540
00:31:49,741 --> 00:31:51,081
MARIANA: How much
money has James sent?
541
00:31:51,076 --> 00:31:52,656
PRINCE: 100 bucks.
MARIANA: $100, $100?
542
00:31:56,456 --> 00:31:57,786
MARIANA: And what does
James think you look like?
543
00:31:57,791 --> 00:31:59,581
PRINCE: Beautiful woman.
544
00:32:00,418 --> 00:32:02,708
I've been sending
him videos, too.
545
00:32:02,712 --> 00:32:04,632
MARIANA: So, it's not difficult
to find photos and videos of.
546
00:32:11,972 --> 00:32:13,352
MARIANA: Because that
would ruin your business.
547
00:32:13,348 --> 00:32:14,598
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 --> 00:32:24,823
a professional graphic designer,
would you rather do that?
550
00:32:25,152 --> 00:32:26,652
KIRIKU: Yeah, that's
what I wanted to do.
551
00:32:38,248 --> 00:32:41,328
MARIANA:
Volume, expertise, efficiency.
552
00:32:41,960 --> 00:32:43,800
Sure, they make mistakes.
553
00:32:43,795 --> 00:32:45,545
SHADOW (female voice):
Hello baby, can you hear me?
554
00:32:45,547 --> 00:32:47,337
MARIANA: But with
their strength in numbers,
555
00:32:47,340 --> 00:32:51,180
they can regroup, readjust, and
scale up their romantic pursuits
556
00:32:51,178 --> 00:32:54,508
over and over and over again.
557
00:32:56,349 --> 00:32:59,389
DEBBIE: After he confessed,
I felt so stupid.
558
00:33:00,061 --> 00:33:02,561
I had been a former Air
Force Intelligence Officer.
559
00:33:02,564 --> 00:33:04,194
I had been a senior
bank manager.
560
00:33:04,191 --> 00:33:05,731
I'd had legal training.
561
00:33:05,734 --> 00:33:08,284
I was running a company.
562
00:33:08,695 --> 00:33:12,195
MS: People say, "Don't send
money to a stranger."
563
00:33:12,199 --> 00:33:14,909
Well, he wasn't a
stranger by that point.
564
00:33:14,910 --> 00:33:19,870
This guy knew more about me than
probably any man had ever known.
565
00:33:20,665 --> 00:33:23,205
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 --> 00:33:33,385
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 --> 00:33:40,387
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 --> 00:33:43,233
BEN (over phone):I'm doing well.
572
00:33:43,480 --> 00:33:44,730
MARIANA: Back in the States,
573
00:33:44,731 --> 00:33:46,321
I again meet up with Susan.
574
00:33:46,316 --> 00:33:49,026
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 --> 00:33:53,405
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 --> 00:33:57,868
MARIANA: She's
enlisted the help of Ben Taylor,
579
00:33:57,869 --> 00:34:01,409
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 --> 00:34:04,879
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 --> 00:34:07,956
good time with.
584
00:34:07,963 --> 00:34:09,843
MARIANA: He's part
of a growing number of cyber
585
00:34:09,839 --> 00:34:12,799
vigilantes disrupting
the work of scammers,
586
00:34:14,177 --> 00:34:16,177
some have been able
to freeze assets,
587
00:34:16,179 --> 00:34:19,429
shut down their bank accounts,
even hack into their computers.
588
00:34:20,725 --> 00:34:22,725
BEN: So, tell me a
little bit about these,
589
00:34:22,727 --> 00:34:24,557
these folks that have
reached out to you.
590
00:34:24,562 --> 00:34:25,862
BEN (over phone):How did it begin?
591
00:34:25,855 --> 00:34:28,565
SUSAN: I signed up
on Facebook Dating,
592
00:34:28,566 --> 00:34:30,436
SUSAN (over phone):I met Damian.
593
00:34:30,443 --> 00:34:32,033
And after two weeks of chatting,
594
00:34:32,028 --> 00:34:35,278
he asked for $15,000
to help him get home.
595
00:34:36,199 --> 00:34:37,449
BEN: Wow.
596
00:34:37,701 --> 00:34:39,871
MARIANA: In fact,
when I interviewed Susan before
597
00:34:39,869 --> 00:34:43,329
I left for Ghana, she told me
that nearly every man she met
598
00:34:43,331 --> 00:34:46,041
online after Damian
was also a scammer.
599
00:34:46,543 --> 00:34:48,463
SUSAN: I met Ryan.
600
00:34:48,461 --> 00:34:50,171
And then I met Joe.
601
00:34:50,171 --> 00:34:53,301
And Joe and Kenny played
their game very well.
602
00:34:54,301 --> 00:34:55,841
It's guy after guy,
after guy, after guy.
603
00:34:55,844 --> 00:34:59,814
Probably 90% of them are fake.
604
00:35:00,765 --> 00:35:02,385
MARIANA:
Frustrated and fed up,
605
00:35:02,392 --> 00:35:04,392
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 --> 00:35:09,976
SUSAN: One calls me every
morning and every evening;
609
00:35:09,983 --> 00:35:12,033
he thinks I'm going to go get
610
00:35:12,027 --> 00:35:15,857
$8,000 out of my bank and
take it to the Bitcoin location.
611
00:35:16,406 --> 00:35:18,406
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 --> 00:35:21,198
BEN (over phone): Okay.
614
00:35:21,202 --> 00:35:23,042
MARIANA:
The scammer named Paul says
615
00:35:23,038 --> 00:35:25,418
he's working on an oil rig
in the Gulf of Mexico.
616
00:35:25,999 --> 00:35:28,079
BEN: I'm doing some reverse
image searches to see if I
617
00:35:28,084 --> 00:35:29,464
can find this guy anywhere.
618
00:35:29,461 --> 00:35:30,551
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 --> 00:35:34,720
Oh, hold on.
621
00:35:35,508 --> 00:35:37,048
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 --> 00:35:45,770
that this guy is
using that photo.
625
00:35:45,769 --> 00:35:48,559
BEN: I'm thinking there's
a guy in Northern Ireland who
626
00:35:48,563 --> 00:35:51,023
has no idea that somebody
else is using his picture.
627
00:35:51,524 --> 00:35:52,534
SUSAN: I would agree.
628
00:35:52,525 --> 00:35:53,935
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 --> 00:35:56,783
and where he's from.
631
00:35:56,780 --> 00:35:58,070
SUSAN: Okay.
632
00:35:58,073 --> 00:36:00,533
So, I'm just off work, heading.
633
00:36:00,533 --> 00:36:02,163
MARIANA: Oh, he wants
to talk on the phone.
634
00:36:02,160 --> 00:36:03,160
SUSAN: Yeah.
635
00:36:03,161 --> 00:36:04,871
All right, one second.
636
00:36:05,205 --> 00:36:07,495
MARIANA: I can't wait to
hear this guy's voice.
637
00:36:10,126 --> 00:36:11,166
SUSAN: Okay.
638
00:36:11,169 --> 00:36:12,959
All right, here we go.
639
00:36:12,962 --> 00:36:15,172
Hello, honey.
640
00:36:15,840 --> 00:36:17,050
SUSAN (over phone):Honey, are you there?
641
00:36:22,180 --> 00:36:24,100
SUSAN: Oh, I'm better
now I'm talking to you.
642
00:36:24,099 --> 00:36:29,269
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 --> 00:36:36,242
And honey, I forgot, why,
why did you need the money?
645
00:36:36,236 --> 00:36:37,276
I forgot.
646
00:36:47,247 --> 00:36:48,327
SUSAN: Right, right.
647
00:36:51,835 --> 00:36:53,705
SUSAN: Well, my first reaction
would be to run up and give you
648
00:36:53,712 --> 00:36:55,382
a big hug and kiss.
649
00:37:00,009 --> 00:37:01,589
SUSAN: Honey, can you
hold just a second?
650
00:37:04,514 --> 00:37:07,184
BEN: We might be able to
see exactly where he is,
651
00:37:07,183 --> 00:37:09,233
but we need him to
click on a link.
652
00:37:09,227 --> 00:37:12,267
BEN (over phone): Whatif we tell him that you'rewithdrawing the money right now
653
00:37:12,272 --> 00:37:14,322
and you're on your wayto the Bitcoin machine?
654
00:37:14,899 --> 00:37:17,899
We could probably send him
the link to a location,
655
00:37:17,902 --> 00:37:20,412
like a gas station or something,
where the Bitcoin machine is,
656
00:37:20,405 --> 00:37:23,655
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 --> 00:37:26,328
And if he clicks on it,
659
00:37:26,327 --> 00:37:28,367
then I might have some
information to give you.
660
00:37:28,621 --> 00:37:32,211
SUSAN: Okay. Yeah.
661
00:37:34,627 --> 00:37:36,547
MARIANA: Okay. Okay, sent.
662
00:37:37,380 --> 00:37:39,220
BEN: All right.
663
00:37:39,215 --> 00:37:41,755
Now we all wait and
pray that he's dumb enough
to click on the link.
664
00:37:42,677 --> 00:37:44,467
MARIANA: Oh, my God.
665
00:37:44,471 --> 00:37:46,261
I'm so nervous.
Are you?
666
00:37:46,264 --> 00:37:47,814
SUSAN: Yeah.
667
00:37:47,807 --> 00:37:50,267
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 --> 00:38:05,195
BEN: Let's go ahead and
tell him that you are getting
671
00:38:05,200 --> 00:38:06,240
the money now.
672
00:38:07,160 --> 00:38:08,580
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 --> 00:38:13,878
on the link.
676
00:38:19,297 --> 00:38:20,667
MARIANA: I'm so nervous.
Are you?
677
00:38:20,673 --> 00:38:22,343
SUSAN: Yeah.
MARIANA: Right?
678
00:38:23,802 --> 00:38:25,852
BEN (over phone): All right.
679
00:38:25,845 --> 00:38:27,215
BEN: I just got a click.
680
00:38:27,222 --> 00:38:28,812
BEN (over phone): He clicked it
681
00:38:29,224 --> 00:38:31,484
MARIANA: Both the
FBI and the Secret Service can
682
00:38:31,476 --> 00:38:35,436
take on investigations, but
rarely can they bring justice to
683
00:38:35,438 --> 00:38:36,728
American victims.
684
00:38:37,690 --> 00:38:39,820
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 --> 00:38:46,028
but with a craving to give
these scammers a dose of their
687
00:38:46,032 --> 00:38:47,452
own medicine.
688
00:38:48,743 --> 00:38:50,793
BEN: I've got all the
information right here.
689
00:38:50,787 --> 00:38:52,577
BEN (over phone): Are you ready
690
00:38:52,580 --> 00:38:53,920
SUSAN: Yes.
691
00:38:54,165 --> 00:38:55,785
MARIANA:
The scammer, named Paul,
692
00:38:55,792 --> 00:38:58,922
says he's working on an oil
rig in the Gulf of Mexico.
693
00:38:58,920 --> 00:39:00,260
BEN (over phone):The time zone...
694
00:39:00,255 --> 00:39:03,795
BEN: In his phone
is putting him in Accra, Ghana.
695
00:39:04,968 --> 00:39:06,138
MARIANA: Wow.
696
00:39:06,135 --> 00:39:07,595
SUSAN: Accra, Ghana.
Where the heck is that?
697
00:39:07,595 --> 00:39:08,675
MARIANA: In West Africa.
698
00:39:08,680 --> 00:39:09,970
In Ghana.
699
00:39:09,973 --> 00:39:12,603
According to a 2018
research paper,
700
00:39:12,600 --> 00:39:16,400
only Nigeria tops Ghana in
housing the IP addresses of
701
00:39:16,396 --> 00:39:18,056
romance scammers.
702
00:39:18,815 --> 00:39:21,935
But since Ghana is only a
seventh of Nigeria's population,
703
00:39:22,485 --> 00:39:25,485
one country is clearly
punching above its weight.
704
00:39:26,155 --> 00:39:27,655
SUSAN: All right.
705
00:39:27,657 --> 00:39:29,907
So, I'm getting ready now to
block him because we're done
706
00:39:29,909 --> 00:39:31,159
with him, right?
707
00:39:31,160 --> 00:39:33,750
MARIANA: All
we had was Paul's city,
708
00:39:33,746 --> 00:39:36,706
not his real name or address,
or anything that might lead
709
00:39:36,708 --> 00:39:38,328
to an actual bust.
710
00:39:38,334 --> 00:39:42,134
But still, Susan is clearly
enjoying Ben's help.
711
00:39:42,964 --> 00:39:44,174
SUSAN: Oh, it's Lucas.
712
00:39:44,173 --> 00:39:45,933
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 --> 00:39:50,264
SUSAN: How are you?
715
00:39:54,601 --> 00:39:55,981
SUSAN: Aw.
716
00:39:55,977 --> 00:39:58,477
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 --> 00:40:02,649
SUSAN: I love you, honey.
719
00:40:05,445 --> 00:40:07,065
MARIANA: Their
payday depends on gaining the
720
00:40:07,071 --> 00:40:09,451
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 --> 00:40:13,946
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 --> 00:40:19,332
He's been so kind to me,
you know, since I met him.
725
00:40:20,084 --> 00:40:22,304
MARIANA: I did
believe The Punisher when he
726
00:40:22,295 --> 00:40:24,585
told me he'd fallen in
love with his victim.
727
00:40:24,923 --> 00:40:27,013
Do you think he'd be so
sad if he'd found out that
728
00:40:27,008 --> 00:40:28,508
you were a man?
729
00:40:28,843 --> 00:40:30,053
THE PUNISHER: Yeah.
730
00:40:36,809 --> 00:40:37,849
THE PUNISHER: You know?
731
00:40:40,688 --> 00:40:41,898
MARIANA: Uh‐hmm.
732
00:40:41,898 --> 00:40:44,148
He didn't receive
20,000 from Michael,
733
00:40:44,150 --> 00:40:46,530
but they are still in
an online relationship.
734
00:40:58,748 --> 00:41:00,958
MARIANA: For Odo,
seeing one of his victims
735
00:41:00,959 --> 00:41:03,749
evicted from her home actually
made him leave the game.
736
00:41:14,597 --> 00:41:16,177
MARIANA: You have glasses on,
and we can't see very well,
737
00:41:16,182 --> 00:41:17,232
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 --> 00:41:20,305
ODO: Yeah. Yeah. Yeah.
741
00:41:26,109 --> 00:41:27,939
MARIANA:
But Miami Queen sees no reason
742
00:41:27,944 --> 00:41:29,204
to feel remorse.
743
00:41:39,288 --> 00:41:41,078
MARIANA: It's a
justification I've heard before.
744
00:41:44,585 --> 00:41:46,335
MARIANA:
Scams as reparations.
745
00:41:46,337 --> 00:41:47,757
THE PUNISHER:
We need to survive.
746
00:41:47,755 --> 00:41:49,835
Africa needs to survive.
747
00:41:49,841 --> 00:41:51,341
MARIANA: At the expense of
other peoples' suffering?
748
00:41:51,342 --> 00:41:53,802
MIAMI QUEEN: Yes.
THE PUNISHER: Yes.
749
00:41:54,220 --> 00:41:56,850
MARIANA: I wonder if you know
how much harm you're actually
750
00:41:56,848 --> 00:41:58,308
inflicting on some people.
751
00:41:58,307 --> 00:41:59,767
THE PUNISHER: Yeah. Yeah.
752
00:41:59,767 --> 00:42:00,637
MARIANA: In our case, we've
interviewed mostly women.
753
00:42:00,643 --> 00:42:02,693
THE PUNISHER: Yeah.
754
00:42:02,687 --> 00:42:04,477
MARIANA: And now it's difficult
for them to find other people,
to trust other people.
755
00:42:04,480 --> 00:42:06,230
Some of the people
who lost millions of dollars.
756
00:42:15,241 --> 00:42:17,121
MARIANA: So, it's easier to
sleep with a guilty conscience
757
00:42:17,118 --> 00:42:19,038
than it is with
an empty stomach?
758
00:42:19,495 --> 00:42:21,075
THE PUNISHER: Uh, yeah.
759
00:42:21,080 --> 00:42:23,880
But, you know, you know,
everybody is finding
a way to survive.
760
00:42:37,889 --> 00:42:39,389
MARIANA: Before I left Ghana,
761
00:42:39,390 --> 00:42:42,140
Pussycat wanted to show me a
fishing village not far from
762
00:42:42,143 --> 00:42:44,523
where he grew up.
763
00:42:44,854 --> 00:42:47,154
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 --> 00:42:49,818
PUSSYCAT: Here.
766
00:43:13,049 --> 00:43:14,589
MARIANA: Ahh.
767
00:43:18,346 --> 00:43:19,256
Yes!
768
00:43:19,263 --> 00:43:21,103
PUSSYCAT: Oh.
769
00:43:21,099 --> 00:43:22,349
PUSSYCAT: Ahh.
770
00:43:25,019 --> 00:43:26,149
MARIANA: A footballer?
771
00:43:26,145 --> 00:43:28,055
(speaking in native language).
772
00:43:29,982 --> 00:43:32,032
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 --> 00:43:34,986
PUSSYCAT:
He wants to be a banker.
775
00:43:34,987 --> 00:43:36,157
MARIANA: He wants
to be a banker?
776
00:43:36,155 --> 00:43:37,905
PUSSYCAT: Yes, he
wants to do a banker.
777
00:43:37,907 --> 00:43:40,617
MARIANA:
No one grows up wanting
to become a romance scammer.
778
00:43:40,618 --> 00:43:43,408
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 --> 00:43:47,040
MARIANA: Mechanical engineer?
781
00:43:47,041 --> 00:43:48,541
PUSSYCAT: Yeah, so you
see, they have dreams.
782
00:43:48,543 --> 00:43:50,673
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 --> 00:43:59,854
That urge is universal.
785
00:44:00,680 --> 00:44:05,350
Maybe as universal as the
search for love itself.
786
00:44:06,894 --> 00:44:08,654
Captioned by
Cotter Media Group.
58164
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