Coin Stories — Erin West: The Romance-Crypto Scam Taking Over - "Pig Butchering" Explained

Host: Natalie Brunell
Guest: Erin West, founder of Operation Shamrock
Date: November 5, 2025

Episode Overview

In this gripping episode, Natalie Brunell sits down with Erin West, a globally recognized expert in transnational organized crime and founder of Operation Shamrock. The conversation exposes the explosive growth of “pig butchering” scams: complex romance-cryptocurrency scams that are stealing billions from unsuspecting victims worldwide. West reveals both the human and technological machinery behind these scams, the organizational criminal syndicates running the show, why Southeast Asia has become the epicenter, and what individuals and platforms can do to protect themselves. The episode is a call to action to recognize and fight against what West calls an “epidemic” and “silent killer.”

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Introduction to Pig Butchering Scams

• Definition and Mechanism (01:20 — 03:29):

  • Pig butchering scams are long-con romance or investment schemes that utilize prolonged grooming tactics — often over four months — to gain victims’ trust.
  • The scammer begins with innocuous contact (random text, dating app, LinkedIn, social channels), then slowly cultivates a relationship, ultimately convincing the victim to “invest” in a fake cryptocurrency platform. Victims are shown fake dashboards reflecting huge profits to lure them into investing more.
  • Quote:

    “A pig butchering scam is essentially a long con... these scammers are really preying on a loneliness epidemic globally... at the same time they’re showing you an elevated lifestyle... ultimately, you’re led to believe you want to be in this relationship and you’re going to have a future with them.”
    — Erin West (01:20 — 03:29)

• Victim Experience (03:29 — 05:27):

  • Victims manage their own investments via a convincing dashboard, never realizing the entire operation is fake.
  • The scam doesn’t end until the victim has invested all their assets, often under pressure to drain 401(k)s and savings.

2. The Scale, Demographics, and Tragedy

• Not Just the Vulnerable (08:21 — 09:59):

  • Contrary to stereotypes, most victims are not elderly; the majority are under 60, and both men and women are commonly targeted.
  • Shame and humiliation keep the epidemic hidden, with suicides and the loss of generational wealth mounting.
  • Quote:

    “This is an epidemic. It is the silent killer. And when I say killer, I do mean that people are committing suicide.”
    — Erin West (00:00 & 08:27)

• Industrialized Human Trafficking (10:33 — 14:48):

  • Scam operations run in massive compounds (sometimes the size of college campuses) in Southeast Asia (Cambodia, Myanmar).
  • These are staffed by trafficked labor from around the globe (Uganda, Bangladesh, India), forced into 16-hour days under threat of violence.
  • Quote:

    “The scale of what is happening is really hard to convey... imagine dormitories, eight stories tall, walled with barbed wire and one access guarded by men with AK47s. Inside are thousands trafficked in to carry out these scams.”
    — Erin West (10:33 — 13:07)

3. Origins and Operators

• Chinese Organized Crime (14:59 — 16:56):
  • Chinese syndicates pivoted from gambling to pig butchering after COVID left casino towers empty.
  • Rampant corruption in areas like Cambodia allows immense wealth from scams to ensure operational impunity.
  • Quote:

    “The entire operation is run by Chinese organized criminal syndicates... they filled those massive towers with human trafficked victims.”
    — Erin West (14:59 — 16:56)

4. Investigations, Law Enforcement & Seizures

• Recent Busts and DOJ Action (16:56 — 19:45):

  • Recent US DOJ actions include the largest-ever Bitcoin forfeiture ($15B), but this is only a small portion of wider criminal empires.
  • Quote:

    “The indictment itself is a major statement... and the $15 billion forfeiture is a very, very small piece of his empire. That’s how big the enemy is.”
    — Erin West (17:22 — 19:45)

• Pathways for Justice & Victim Restitution (19:45 — 23:34):

  • Victim compensation is complicated by jurisdictional issues and the complexity of crime networks — creating new precedents and potential victim funds is a major priority.

• Operation Shamrock's Success (23:34 — 26:47):

  • Erin’s team has traced stolen crypto through the immutable blockchain, sometimes working with cooperative exchanges like Binance to recover and return funds to victims.
  • Quote:

    “The beauty of the blockchain is... it’s immutable, it’s transparent. We could trace that his funds were at Binance...”
    — Erin West (23:34 — 26:47)

5. Role of Crypto, Technology, and Forensics

• Tracing Crypto via Blockchain (27:32 — 28:46):
  • Transparency of blockchain can aid law enforcement, making real-time tracing possible in ways not feasible in legacy financial systems.
  • Quote:

    “We’ve got a ledger... that cannot be changed... with the right tools, the blockchain is an amazing investigative tool.”
    — Erin West (28:00 — 28:46)

6. Psychology and Victim Blaming

• Why Smart People Fall for It (29:22 — 32:26):
  • Even intelligent, successful individuals fall victim because scammers expertly exploit loneliness and psychological vulnerabilities, often aided by psychological experts.
  • Quote:

    “The skill level of the enemy is beyond what you could imagine... they are using people with PhDs in psychology to figure out how to lock in Americans and get them to do things they wouldn’t ordinarily do.”
    — Erin West (32:26)

7. The Role of Social Media Platforms

• Responsibility & Action Gap (32:54 — 36:03):
  • Social media companies are not yet doing enough to detect/remove scammers and prevent impersonation fraud, despite having the technical means.
  • Quote:

    “What social media could, should, must do is honor the fact that this is not a small thing anymore... this is the work of a highly trained, sophisticated operation waging an economic war...”
    — Erin West (33:13 — 36:03)

8. Safety, Prevention, and New Threats

• Raising Awareness & Practical Advice (36:18 — 38:24):

  • Advocates treating all unsolicited digital contact as suspect.
  • Conscious digital hygiene and constant family conversations are now a necessity.

• AI & Deepfakes (38:34 — 39:48):

  • Deepfakes and AI-generated IDs make scam verification harder than ever.
  • Quote:

    “They can create anything... unfortunately, that puts us in a terrible position where we just, we, we can’t be the trustworthy people we once were.”
    — Erin West (38:51 — 39:48)

9. Concrete Steps to Fight Back & Final Thoughts

• What Can Individuals Do? (40:29 — 42:10):

  • Talk openly to friends, family, social clubs, and community.
  • Engage with Operation Shamrock’s “train the trainer” programs.
  • Share awareness widely via social channels.

• Firsthand Exposure (42:22 — 43:45):

  • Erin has personally visited multiple scam compounds, witnessed the conditions and scale, and urges listeners to take the threat seriously.

• Role of Technology Companies (43:45 — 45:29):

  • Starlink and internet companies have (after pressure) begun disabling receivers in scam compounds—a positive development, but much more is needed.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• "This is an epidemic. It is the silent killer. And when I say killer, I do mean that people are committing suicide."
  — Erin West (00:00, 08:27)

• “We've got a completely devastated class of people... they've taken both of those things away on the same day.”
  — Erin West (23:34 — 25:00)

• “If you think it wouldn't be you, maybe. But be open to the possibility your brother did or your cousin did, because they did. My email box is full of them.”
  — Erin West (29:22 — 30:25)

• “The beauty of the blockchain is... it’s immutable, it’s transparent. We could trace that his funds were at Binance.”
  — Erin West (23:34 — 26:47)

• “I have been inside compounds the size of college campuses... inside the torture rooms where they do horrible things to motivate people to do this mind work that no human wants to do to another human.”
  — Erin West (42:22 — 43:45)

• “Let’s turn off the ones that are being used for evil.”
  — Erin West, on disabling Starlink/tech for scam sites (45:29)

Important Timestamps

• 00:00 — 02:00: Erin introduces the gravity and human toll of pig butchering scams
• 03:29 — 05:27: Detailed walkthrough of the scam process
• 10:33 — 13:07: Industrial scale and human trafficking apparatus
• 14:59 — 16:56: Organized crime origins and geography
• 17:22 — 19:45: DOJ takedown and challenges for law enforcement
• 23:34 — 26:47: Operation Shamrock’s recovery story and blockchain forensics
• 29:22 — 32:26: Psychology of victims and skilled manipulation
• 33:13 — 36:03: Social media platform failures and responsibility
• 36:18 — 38:24: Concrete digital hygiene advice
• 38:51 — 39:48: AI and deepfake dangers
• 40:29 — 42:10: Steps listeners can take to educate and protect communities
• 42:22 — 43:45: Erin’s firsthand experience in scam compounds
• 43:45 — 45:29: The role of technology companies in aiding or stopping crime

Action Steps & Resources

• Talk about pig butchering scams with loved ones, colleagues, and social groups.
• Visit operationshamrock.org for resources, Train the Trainer programs, and educational materials.
• Pressure tech companies and social platforms to take more decisive action.
• Practice extreme caution with all unsolicited digital communication.

For further information, victim assistance, and updates, visit Operation Shamrock's website and follow Erin West's advocacy.
Share this summary and episode widely to help make “pig butchering” the next Nigerian Prince — an infamous scam everyone knows to avoid.