Scam Inc from The Economist
By The Economist
**Winner of the Peabody Award 2026** A sophisticated, predatory, multi-billion dollar industry is emerging from the shadows. It already rivals the size of the illicit drug trade. And it’s about to get bigger and much more powerful.
The Economist’s Sue-Lin Wong follows a trail that starts with the collapse of a bank in rural Kansas to uncover a global, underground scam economy built around human trafficking, corruption and money laundering. Can it be stopped?
To listen to the full series subscribe to Economist Podcasts+.
Winner of the Overseas Press Club Lowell Thomas Award 2026; Two Gold Signal Awards for Money & Finance and News & Politics; Lowy Institute Media Award Winner 2025; Bloomberg News Jealousy List 2025, New York Times Best True Crime 2025;
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3. The bottom line
How do you run a scam operation? -
2. Opportunity of a lifetime
Who are the scammers? -
1. Pigs in a barrel
You wouldn’t fall for a scam—would you? -
Trailer: Scam Inc
A sophisticated, predatory, multi-billion dollar industry is emerging from the shadows. It is already more lucrative than the illicit drug trade. And it’s about to get bigger and much more powerful.