Scams are no longer run by individuals. Instead, the bulk of scams now come from a network of high-security compounds in SE Asia, where an estimated 400,000 people live in slavery and are forced to run scams 24/7. In this multi-part video podcast, we'll dive into the terrifying world of 'scammer farms'. We'll meet people who've been trapped and escaped — and others who are desperately trying to rein in this exploding new business model.This is a What It Was Like SpecialProduced by S...
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Episode List

Trailer

Mar 6th, 2025 1:17 PM

Episode 1 dropping soon! Subscribe for updates.This is a What It Was Like SpecialProduced by SuperrealHosted by Julian Morgans @julianmorgansFind us on TikTok: @whatitwaslikepodcastFind us on YouTube: @whatitwaslikepodcast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How a Fake Job Offer Landed Me in Slavery

Mar 10th, 2025 6:34 AM

We start our story with Small Q, a young Ugandan rapper and singer who thought he was traveling to Thailand for a dream job. However, everything changed the moment he stepped off the plane. In this episode, we follow Q's abduction to illustrate how nearly half a million people have been sold into slavery to run scams.Please help Small Q rebuild his life by donating to his GoFundMe hereThis is a What It Was Like SpecialProduced by SuperrealHosted by Julian Morgans @julianmorgansFind us on TikTok: @whatitwaslikepodcastFind us on YouTube: @whatitwaslikepodcast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Inside the Gross Business of Scamming

Mar 14th, 2025 7:21 AM

We start this episode with another story of abduction. Cataleya is a Filipino mother who was sold into slavery by a friend. We then compare Cataleya and Small Q's stories of how they ran scams. It's a fascinating look at the way scamming has been scaled for mass production.This is a What It Was Like SpecialProduced by SuperrealHosted by Julian Morgans @julianmorgansFind us on TikTok: @whatitwaslikepodcastFind us on YouTube: @whatitwaslikepodcast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Escaping Starts With Stealing a Phone

Mar 21st, 2025 6:27 AM

In the first half of this episode, we explore the anatomy of a scam via the story of Troy Gochenour, an American man who lost $25K to Myanmar scammers in 2021. Then we check in on Small Q, who devises a risky plan to get an SOS message to the outside world.Please help Small Q rebuild his life by donating to his GoFundMe hereThis is a What It Was Like SpecialProduced by SuperrealHosted by Julian Morgans @julianmorgansFind us on TikTok: @whatitwaslikepodcastFind us on YouTube: @whatitwaslikepodcast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Enter the 'Dark Room'

Mar 27th, 2025 11:41 PM

Small Q's efforts to escape have landed him in the 'the dark room,' a modern-day torture chamber designed to instill fear in scammers to keep them in line. Q shares how he survived, while some of his friends weren't so lucky.Please help Small Q rebuild his life by donating to his GoFundMe hereThis is a What It Was Like SpecialProduced by SuperrealHosted by Julian Morgans @julianmorgansFind us on TikTok: @whatitwaslikepodcastFind us on YouTube: @whatitwaslikepodcast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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