Narrator/Denise Chan

A lot of people in Asia were getting really scared and paranoid. And just to like illustrate how scared people were, there was a concert for this famous Hong Kong pop star, Eason Chan, that was supposed to happen in Bangkok. And he canceled his concert because he was scared that his concert goers might be abducted.

A lot of people in Asia were getting really scared and paranoid. And just to like illustrate how scared people were, there was a concert for this famous Hong Kong pop star, Eason Chan, that was supposed to happen in Bangkok. And he canceled his concert because he was scared that his concert goers might be abducted.

So, I mean, with all of that renewed attention, there's been a lot of pressure on people countries like China and Thailand to do something about it because the compounds have just kind of grown out of control in these last few years.

So, I mean, with all of that renewed attention, there's been a lot of pressure on people countries like China and Thailand to do something about it because the compounds have just kind of grown out of control in these last few years.

So it's actually been a very timely release for Scam Factory because at the end of February, it was reported that 7,000 people were freed from a number of scam compounds in Myanmar, including KK Park, which is the compound that Jell-O was at. So these people are now waiting to be sent back home.

So it's actually been a very timely release for Scam Factory because at the end of February, it was reported that 7,000 people were freed from a number of scam compounds in Myanmar, including KK Park, which is the compound that Jell-O was at. So these people are now waiting to be sent back home.

And Colonel Matalong recently told me that there's about 180 Filipinos from KK Park that he's specifically helping to repatriate back to the Philippines.

And Colonel Matalong recently told me that there's about 180 Filipinos from KK Park that he's specifically helping to repatriate back to the Philippines.

It is exciting progress, and it shows an attempt to really crack down. But at the same time, there are so many compounds along the border of Myanmar and Thailand and still thousands who are trapped. Not to mention that there are compounds popping up every single day. So nowadays, it's not just in Southeast Asia. They're being built in the Middle East and South America and Africa.

It is exciting progress, and it shows an attempt to really crack down. But at the same time, there are so many compounds along the border of Myanmar and Thailand and still thousands who are trapped. Not to mention that there are compounds popping up every single day. So nowadays, it's not just in Southeast Asia. They're being built in the Middle East and South America and Africa.

So it all sort of feels like a game of whack-a-mole, where we'll hear news about people being rescued, but then news about compounds being built in Dubai. So in that sense, I don't know how much closer they are to totally eradicating the scam industry.

So it all sort of feels like a game of whack-a-mole, where we'll hear news about people being rescued, but then news about compounds being built in Dubai. So in that sense, I don't know how much closer they are to totally eradicating the scam industry.

For us in the US, though, it's also been challenging to educate the public on scams so citizens don't fall for them, mainly because they just keep changing. The other day, the FTC just released a warning about those techs saying you need to pay a toll, which everyone, that's a scam unless you really do need to pay a toll. It's a scam unless it's real.

For us in the US, though, it's also been challenging to educate the public on scams so citizens don't fall for them, mainly because they just keep changing. The other day, the FTC just released a warning about those techs saying you need to pay a toll, which everyone, that's a scam unless you really do need to pay a toll. It's a scam unless it's real.

But yeah, honestly, it always feels like we're like one step behind these scammers. But it's also been a little bit alarming, you know, with the recent headlines of the new Department of Government Efficiency, DOGE, having access to millions of Americans' private information. Like, it's essentially a huge data leak.

But yeah, honestly, it always feels like we're like one step behind these scammers. But it's also been a little bit alarming, you know, with the recent headlines of the new Department of Government Efficiency, DOGE, having access to millions of Americans' private information. Like, it's essentially a huge data leak.

Like, if that information got out and the scam compounds got a hold of it, it's just a bunch of people that they're going to be able to target. And they're going to be able to target and scam a lot more people. That's kind of scary and alarming.

Like, if that information got out and the scam compounds got a hold of it, it's just a bunch of people that they're going to be able to target. And they're going to be able to target and scam a lot more people. That's kind of scary and alarming.

Yeah. I mean, I was horrified when she told me about that. It really felt like she could never escape these people. As far as I know, she knows. I think these women are still out there recruiting. I don't know if they're still using her identity, but she has told Colonel about it. So at least law enforcement is aware.

Yeah. I mean, I was horrified when she told me about that. It really felt like she could never escape these people. As far as I know, she knows. I think these women are still out there recruiting. I don't know if they're still using her identity, but she has told Colonel about it. So at least law enforcement is aware.