Shane Haynes
Showing 1–2 of 2 transcripts.
- The Economist38 min
Scam Inc 3: The bottom line
Sammy Chen, Jackie Burns, Zannie Minton-Beddoes, Sulin Wong, Rita, Jay Beckhamer, Shane Haynes, Edgar, Bella, Jalil, Sarah, Gavesh, Sam Colbert, Alize Jean-Baptiste, Weidong Lin, Darren, Clare Reid, Rosie Bloor, Heidi Pett, John Shields
This exposé details the transformation of Myanmar's border fraud compounds into sophisticated, self-contained cities like KK Park, where centralized operations generate hundreds of millions in illicit revenue through a franchise model that treats crime as a legitimate business. The narrative highlights a specific rescue mission where 12 victims were freed from an execution threat by leveraging rebel intermediaries, underscoring the lethal pressure placed on both trafficked individuals and "voluntary" scammers within a global ecosystem estimated to employ 500,000 people. Ultimately, the analysis reveals that dismantling this $100 billion industry requires addressing deep systemic issues, including severe psychological trauma among survivors and the economic rationality that drives some victims to return to the compounds despite the dangers.
- The Economist41 min
Scam Inc 1: Pigs in a barrel
Jim Tucker, Shane Haynes, Bill Tucker, David, Su Lin Wong, Zannie Minton-Beddoes, Karina, Evan, Edgar, Sam Colbert, Alizé Jean-Baptiste, Weidong Lin, Darren Ng, Claire Reid, Rosie Blore, Heidi Pett, John Shields
In July 2023, Elkhart, Kansas, Heartland Tri-State Bank collapsed after CEO Shane Haynes transferred $47.1 million to the cryptocurrency exchange Kraken following a sophisticated "pig butchering" scam. Despite the board's secret meeting and unanimous rejection of a recovery plan, federal regulators seized the bank, dissolving its charter and costing local shareholders millions while depositors remained insured. This incident exemplifies the rise of global criminal networks that exploit professional relationships to generate tens of billions in annual losses for victims worldwide.