Narrator/Denise Chan

The end of this nightmare all felt so close.

The end of this nightmare all felt so close.

They were so close to getting out of this. But was it already too late? So I was like, fuck, fuck. On Scam Factory, we uncover stories where people are deceived, manipulated, and sometimes left with life-altering scars. But what happens after the harm is done? Is justice enough? Or is there another path to healing?

They were so close to getting out of this. But was it already too late? So I was like, fuck, fuck. On Scam Factory, we uncover stories where people are deceived, manipulated, and sometimes left with life-altering scars. But what happens after the harm is done? Is justice enough? Or is there another path to healing?

In a special limited-run series, This Is Actually Happening presents a world beyond revenge. These are five real stories of people forever changed by acts of violence, injustice, and loss. Some who were harmed, and others who caused harm. Through the process of restorative justice, they meet face-to-face with the person on the other side of their trauma. The result?

In a special limited-run series, This Is Actually Happening presents a world beyond revenge. These are five real stories of people forever changed by acts of violence, injustice, and loss. Some who were harmed, and others who caused harm. Through the process of restorative justice, they meet face-to-face with the person on the other side of their trauma. The result?

A journey towards answers, accountability, and in some cases, even forgiveness. From victims of violent crimes to those wrongfully accused, each story reveals the power of confronting the past in ways no one ever expected. Listen to This Is Actually Happening, A World Beyond Revenge, now on the Wondery app or wherever you get your podcasts.

A journey towards answers, accountability, and in some cases, even forgiveness. From victims of violent crimes to those wrongfully accused, each story reveals the power of confronting the past in ways no one ever expected. Listen to This Is Actually Happening, A World Beyond Revenge, now on the Wondery app or wherever you get your podcasts.

The day had started like most other days in the scam factory. Wake up at 3 p.m., have breakfast, go to work at 4.30 p.m., hand over your personal phone, grab your multiple work phones, pull up one of your fake profiles and start sending messages to unsuspecting people all over the world.

The day had started like most other days in the scam factory. Wake up at 3 p.m., have breakfast, go to work at 4.30 p.m., hand over your personal phone, grab your multiple work phones, pull up one of your fake profiles and start sending messages to unsuspecting people all over the world.

Like always, Max and Jane had been very careful to delete any sensitive messages from their phones before getting to work, especially anything that had to do with the plans they were making with Charlie. But when Max got called to see the boss during his shift, he immediately got a sinking feeling. As he stepped into the manager's office, he could see five men waiting for him.

Like always, Max and Jane had been very careful to delete any sensitive messages from their phones before getting to work, especially anything that had to do with the plans they were making with Charlie. But when Max got called to see the boss during his shift, he immediately got a sinking feeling. As he stepped into the manager's office, he could see five men waiting for him.

The men were enraged.

The men were enraged.

The men pulled up a screenshot and shoved it in his face. The screenshot showed a group chat. It looked like it was between Max, Jane, and one other coworker. But Max didn't recognize it. He wasn't in a group chat with Jane and this coworker. The bosses pointed to the screenshot and claimed they were trying to warn a customer.

The men pulled up a screenshot and shoved it in his face. The screenshot showed a group chat. It looked like it was between Max, Jane, and one other coworker. But Max didn't recognize it. He wasn't in a group chat with Jane and this coworker. The bosses pointed to the screenshot and claimed they were trying to warn a customer.

Don't deposit anymore. It's a scam. That wasn't all. The bosses of the group chat showed them plotting an escape. Max didn't know what the fuck was going on. Had someone snitched on them? They'd heard people got paid to tell on their co-workers. Charlie had warned them. They'd been so careful. But did their bosses know what their real plans were?

Don't deposit anymore. It's a scam. That wasn't all. The bosses of the group chat showed them plotting an escape. Max didn't know what the fuck was going on. Had someone snitched on them? They'd heard people got paid to tell on their co-workers. Charlie had warned them. They'd been so careful. But did their bosses know what their real plans were?

Had someone set them up and doctored the screenshot? Max tried to tell his bosses. The messages weren't real.

Had someone set them up and doctored the screenshot? Max tried to tell his bosses. The messages weren't real.