Behind the Scams

Uncovering the Theranos Scam: How Elizabeth Holmes Fooled Silicon Valley (Part 1) The Real Impact Behind the Theranos Scam When Elizabeth Holmes and Theranos promised a revolutionary healthcare breakthrough with just a few drops of blood, millions of investors and eager patients wanted to believe it. But beneath the polished corporate image and the famous black turtleneck lay a web of deception, b...

Welcome back to Behind the Scams on the SOS Media Network. In this follow-up episode, we continue our deep dive into the disturbing world of online romance fraud , examining how celebrity impersonations ensnare unsuspecting targets. Following up on Leslie Pickett's harrowing experience with a fake Jon Bon Jovi profile, we analyze the digital footprints, international leads, and psychological manip...

Understanding the Bon Jovi Impersonation Scam In this episode of Behind the Scams , hosts Nick and Sue unpack the harrowing seven-month romance scam involving Leslie Pickett, a mortgage lender and lifelong fan from Louisiana who lost over $10,000 to an internet criminal posing as rock icon Jon Bon Jovi. This episode breaks down the sophisticated manipulation tactics used by fraudsters, including c...

The Anatomy of Modern Fraud Networks and the money mule Pipeline When international fraud syndicates execute multi-million dollar schemes, their biggest operational hurdle isn't hacking systems—it's liquidating stolen cash without getting caught. Every single money mule plays a vital role in bypassing domestic banking security and moving illicit proceeds offshore. In this episode of Behind the Sca...

In this episode of Behind the Scams , Nick and Sue examine the federal allegations against Trung Nguyen Van, a Vietnamese national charged—not convicted—with two counts of money laundering in the Western District of Missouri. The case centers on a Missouri victim who transferred roughly sixteen million dollars to a purported platform called Triangle and on wallets prosecutors say received more tha...

Inside the Life Surge Investigation This Life Surge investigation follows the money from a low-cost arena ticket to high-priced financial education and financing that some customers say left them in serious debt. Nick and Sue examine how worship music, celebrity credibility, simulated trades, urgency, and spiritual language may shape a buyer’s decision—and where inspiration ends and solicitation b...

Navigating modern job boards can feel like a full-time job, but the rise of AI and fake interviews has introduced unprecedented risks for unsuspecting applicants. In this episode, we break down how cybercriminals exploit remote work trends by building elaborate digital infrastructure, cloning corporate domains, and leveraging deepfake technology to execute sophisticated employment fraud. Whether y...

Your phone rings with a local number, and a calm, official voice introduces himself as a deputy claiming an active arrest warrant must be resolved immediately, or your daughter will face arrest. The call feels unmistakably local and dangerously urgent, yet the person demanding payment is not an officer at a precinct. He is sitting on a steel bunk inside a maximum-security facility operating an ill...

A frantic call. A crying child begging for help in the background. A ruthless extortionist demanding thousands of dollars while commanding you to keep the line open and stay in your car. It sounds like an authentic family emergency, but increasingly, parents and relatives are finding themselves targeted by a sophisticated virtual kidnapping scam . How Criminals Weaponize AI in a Virtual Kidnapping...

What happens when online romance, professional football, luxury living and incredible investment returns become pieces of the same alleged deception? In EP87 of Behind the Scams , Nick and Sue investigate an extraordinary 49ers romance scam involving allegations of fake identities, dating apps, fabricated investment accounts and a supposed financial adviser. At the center are Daejon Labrayae Love...

In this episode of Behind the Scams , hosts Nick and Sue examine the mechanics of the "burnerverse"—a toxic subculture of disposable social accounts, sports gossip rings, and mass doxxing operations designed to harass, extort, and humiliate victims under the cover of pseudonyms. Using reporting by E.J.Dickson in WIRED on University of Florida student Maddie Kowalski, Nick and Sue look past the onl...

When a sweetheart swindle converges with international cybercrime syndicates, romantic manipulation quickly turns into a high-stakes logistics pipeline. In this episode of Behind the Scams , hosts Nick and Sue Henley break down the devastating true story of Raza, a Northern California pharmacist who was systematically exploited through synthetic trust, hijacked identities, and an enterprise-scale...

Now Available in Multiple Languages Watch Playlist on YouTube → AI is Transforming Frauds & Scams When AI safety researchers walk away over uncontrolled frontier models, cybercrime syndicates are already weaponizing the technology. In this episode of Behind the Scams, hosts Nick Henley and Sue Henley deconstruct how autonomous AI scams are transforming fraud operations—from real-time voice clo...

In August 2026, the Department of Justice unsealed a landmark two-count federal indictment in the Southern District of New York (SDNY). Federal prosecutors charged 11 individuals in an alleged decade-long, multimillion-dollar marriage fraud scheme. The criminal network arranged over 1,000 sham marriages, pairing Chinese foreign nationals with recruited U.S. citizens to illegally obtain lawful perm...

In today's digital landscape, AI voice cloning fraud poses a serious threat, allowing criminals to convincingly mimic trusted financial advisors. This episode explores how these fraudsters exploit regular communications to deceive victims, especially retirees, with fake investment schemes. Learn about "stacked authenticity" and why traditional audio cues can't always be trusted. Equip yourself wit...

How the Gold Bar Courier Scam Reaches Your Front Door In Episode 81 of Behind the Scams , Nick and Sue expose the gold bar courier scam , an alarming fraud that begins with a phone call, computer pop-up, or government impersonation—and ends with a stranger arriving at the victim’s home to collect cash or precious metals. The gold bar courier scam usually begins when criminals claim that a victim’s...

Deepfake detection and voice verification just became non-negotiable. In this episode of Behind the Scams, Nick Henley—former U.S. Treasury Special Agent—and Sue walk through real cases where AI voice cloning, fake emergency calls, and investment fraud pivot scams into six-figure losses. Learn the three-step verification protocol that stops scammers cold: pause under pressure, verify through an in...

Episode Overview Prefer to Watch? Click Below to Watch Our Visual Version! https://youtu.be/KFA2T6gqFjo What Is the Federal Scam Center Strike Force? The federal government has escalated its offensive against industrialized pig butchering and international investment fraud with the launch of the Scam Center Strike Force. Operating as an interagency powerhouse led by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for...

Artificial intelligence has transformed digital deception, turning simple scams into sophisticated cons. In our latest episode, we explore the world of AI social engineering, where bad actors use automated personas to create false intimacy and execute financial thefts. Discover how modern romance-investment schemes leverage large language models to manipulate victims. Learn about criminal tactics,...

► PREFER TO WATCH? CLICK TO PLAY FULL VIDEO BELOW https://youtu.be/twCspy0HXrw Unmasking Modern Software-Driven Ponzi Schemes Cryptocurrency scams and financial crime hit hard in this episode. We break down the HashFlare Ponzi scheme—a $577 million international cryptocurrency fraud orchestrated by Estonian nationals Sergei Potapenko and Ivan Turõgin. Discover the fake cloud-mining dashboards, mul...

What happens when a romance scam evolves from emotional manipulation into drugging, kidnapping, and even death? In this chilling episode of *Behind the Scams*, hosts Nick Henley and Sue delve into the disturbing case of Aurora Phelps, a predator who exploited trust and loneliness through online dating. Targeting vulnerable individuals, particularly elderly men, Phelps created an illusion of wealth...

In our latest episode an impostor scam victim survivor, Clara, reveals how fake federal agents pushed her into virtual custody, coercing her into handing $400,000 in physical gold to a doorstep courier and depositing $99,750 into Bitcoin ATMs. Learn how modern syndicates weaponize fear and how to protect your assets. Chapters (00:00:00) - Behind the Scams: The Money Laundering Scam (00:07:39) - Th...

In a shocking case of corporate fraud, Arup's Hong Kong office fell victim to a deepfake video call scam that siphoned off $25 million. This episode of *Behind the Scams* reveals how criminals used urgency, secrecy, and a convincing digital performance to manipulate a finance employee into believing they were in a legitimate meeting with the CFO. With synthetic faces and cloned voices, the fraudst...

In this new episode of "Behind the Scams," hear the harrowing tale of "Ted," a victim of a pig butchering scam that cost him $716,000. What began as an innocent social media message spiraled into a web of deceit, manipulation, and emotional turmoil. As Ted navigated the devastating loss of his son, scammers exploited his vulnerability, leading him to believe in a fake cryptocurrency investment. Th...

In this episode of Behind the Scams, Nick and Sue Henley expose a ruthless timeshare resale scam targeting older Americans. Discover how scammers use fake buyers, stolen lead lists, and upfront closing fees to drain savings, followed by a secondary "legal recovery" fraud that targets victims a second time. Learn the major red flags to watch for and concrete steps families can take to protect their...