In this eye-opening episode of the Stolen Podcast, host Erin West interviews Chris Colocousis, a romance scam survivor who lost 90% of his retirement savings to a sophisticated cryptocurrency investment fraud known as "pig butchering."
Chris shares his detailed story of how what began as a Facebook friend request from an attractive woman led to months of manipulation, fake cryptocurrency trading platforms, and devastating financial loss. Learn about the red flags he missed, the psychological tactics scammers use, and why even crypto.com's fraud warnings couldn't stop the theft.
Key topics covered:
- Romance scam red flags and manipulation tactics
- How fake cryptocurrency trading apps steal money
- Why moving conversations to WhatsApp is a warning sign
- The failure of law enforcement and banks to recover stolen funds
- How scammers use deepfakes and sophisticated technology
- Steps to take if you've been victimized by financial fraud
This episode serves as both a cautionary tale and educational resource for anyone using social media or considering cryptocurrency investments. Chris's story demonstrates how these transnational organized crime networks target everyday Americans with devastating effectiveness.
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