PBS Frontline | A new documentary examines how criminal organizations use online scams to steal billions of dollars every year. These crimes not only take money, but can ruin victims’ lives. Scammed traces the rise of a global criminal industry built on scams and fraud, the people and technology that enable it, and the efforts to shut it down.
It’s gut-wrenching and it’s life-changing. — Erin West
Part of an investigation in collaboration with the Associated Press, the documentary features interviews with victims, families, and experts, including Operation Shamrock’s Erin West.
Get more information on pbs.org: Scammed
Learn more in an article about the AP–PBS investigation: Scams in US at a Record High, Yet Most Victims Get No Help
Recent Content
American Psychological Association | Online fraud is growing more sophisticated, with criminals exploiting basic psychological principles to manipulate victims and steal billions of dollars.
Scamwise | Retail scammers build professional-looking storefronts, promote fake merchandise, and disappear before victims can recover their money.
Associated Press | American AI models, internet infrastructure, and satellite communications enable criminal networks to scam at unprecedented speed and scale.
Gallup & Stop Scams Alliance | A national study reveals the financial and emotional toll of scams, including losses that far exceed what is reported to federal authorities.
Amnesty International | A detailed investigation reveals how private security companies and individuals linked to Cambodia’s military and police have helped sustain the country’s industrial-scale scam operations.
On the Fringe | Erin West explores the emergence of the transnational scam industry, how it’s evolving, who it’s targeting, and why it’s a national emergency.