We Went to Nigeria to Hunt Sextortion Scammers (Paul Raffile)

Episode 63: Erin West and researcher Paul Raffile spent six days on the ground investigating the criminal network behind sextortion. TRIGGER WARNING: This episode discusses psychological manipulation, sextortion, teen suicide, and animal cruelty. If you’re struggling, the 988 Lifeline Suicide & Crisis Lifeline is available 24x7 by call, chat, or text. What they found: • A scam that has been linked to over 60 teen suicides worldwide. • A ritual performed to "charm" a real US target • A room full of masked scammers who freely discussed their tactics • A real scammer they tracked down and confronted This episode is the debrief: the investigation, the fear, the breakthroughs, and what it actually takes to hold these criminals accountable from 6,000 miles away. IF YOU OR SOMEONE YOU KNOW IS BEING TARGETED WITH SEXTORTION 1. Don't pay 2. Screenshot everything 3. Block the account 4. Report it to NCMEC's CyberTipline and IC3.gov. Use "Take It Down" (takeitdown.ncmec.org) to help prevent images from circulating.   Episode Sponsors   Thank you to our Stolen podcast sponsors, ‪BioCatch and Scamnetic.‬ --- Subscribe to Stolen for straight truth, survivor-centered storytelling, and bold conversations about the scamdemic and the people fighting back.