Narrator/Denise Chan

But the difference, and it's a big one, is that those earnest promises are false. But it makes you think, if you can turn a regular person like me into a salesperson with a little bit of training and a script, couldn't you just as easily turn them into a scam artist? Most people don't want a scam, but what if they didn't have a choice? This is episode one, Shoot to Kill.

But the difference, and it's a big one, is that those earnest promises are false. But it makes you think, if you can turn a regular person like me into a salesperson with a little bit of training and a script, couldn't you just as easily turn them into a scam artist? Most people don't want a scam, but what if they didn't have a choice? This is episode one, Shoot to Kill.

It was a beautiful, warm Sunday, and the atmosphere was atmospheric. It was only November, but the Christmas spirit was in full force at a mall in metropolitan Manila in the Philippines. Cheerful shoppers took pictures in front of a gigantic orange Christmas tree sculpture. A woman in her late 30s with buzzed hair and sunglasses walked past the tree.

It was a beautiful, warm Sunday, and the atmosphere was atmospheric. It was only November, but the Christmas spirit was in full force at a mall in metropolitan Manila in the Philippines. Cheerful shoppers took pictures in front of a gigantic orange Christmas tree sculpture. A woman in her late 30s with buzzed hair and sunglasses walked past the tree.

She stepped into an upscale modern Filipino restaurant.

She stepped into an upscale modern Filipino restaurant.

She looked sharp. She was dressed in a men's white T-shirt tucked into gray slacks. And she was here to learn more about a job.

She looked sharp. She was dressed in a men's white T-shirt tucked into gray slacks. And she was here to learn more about a job.

It's not a real name. Like almost everyone in this story, their names have been changed for reasons that will become obvious. Anyway, Charlie and her girlfriend were here with Charlie's youngest brother, Max, because he was very interested in a new job opportunity abroad.

It's not a real name. Like almost everyone in this story, their names have been changed for reasons that will become obvious. Anyway, Charlie and her girlfriend were here with Charlie's youngest brother, Max, because he was very interested in a new job opportunity abroad.

Max was in his late 20s now, with young kids of his own. But to Charlie, he was still her kid brother.

Max was in his late 20s now, with young kids of his own. But to Charlie, he was still her kid brother.

Charlie knew that Max was worried about money. He was making about $250 a month giving rides to people in their family van. But after the pandemic, business had fallen off. And nowadays, the rising price of gas meant when Max did get a booking, sometimes he wouldn't even make a profit off it. So Charlie understood why Max was interested in this job in Thailand.

Charlie knew that Max was worried about money. He was making about $250 a month giving rides to people in their family van. But after the pandemic, business had fallen off. And nowadays, the rising price of gas meant when Max did get a booking, sometimes he wouldn't even make a profit off it. So Charlie understood why Max was interested in this job in Thailand.

He'd said it was some sort of online casino gig. And more importantly, it paid about $1,000 per month. He just wanted to have a good future for his kids. Charlie had never heard of this company. But she knew working outside of the country could be sketchy.

He'd said it was some sort of online casino gig. And more importantly, it paid about $1,000 per month. He just wanted to have a good future for his kids. Charlie had never heard of this company. But she knew working outside of the country could be sketchy.

And then slippers. The guy with the fanny pack and slippers sat down.

And then slippers. The guy with the fanny pack and slippers sat down.

Dev got down to business. He reiterated the basics of the job. Thailand, online casino, $1,000 a month. And he just said that everything will be for free. Accommodations and food would be provided, and that they'd be staying at a job campus that had everything they needed. Workers wouldn't even have to leave.

Dev got down to business. He reiterated the basics of the job. Thailand, online casino, $1,000 a month. And he just said that everything will be for free. Accommodations and food would be provided, and that they'd be staying at a job campus that had everything they needed. Workers wouldn't even have to leave.