The scamdemic isn’t coming for college campuses - it’s already here. Pig butchering scams, once dismissed as fringe internet schemes, have evolved into a billion-dollar global criminal industry powered by transnational organized crime. Students, staff, faculty, and even institutional systems are being targeted with alarming precision.

In this one-hour, straight-talk session, Erin West - international keynote speaker, prosecutor, and host of the Stolen podcast - pulls back the curtain on how these scams really work. You’ll see how victims are psychologically manipulated, why “smart people” are disproportionately falling for these schemes, and how trafficking, crypto laundering, and global scam compounds intersect in ways most people never imagine.

College personnel will walk away with:

• A clear understanding of the scamdemic’s scale and the mechanics behind pig butchering scams.
• Real-world examples from current cases and on-the-ground reporting from scam centers in Southeast Asia.
• Practical strategies to identify red flags in students and staff before the money is gone.
• Concrete steps colleges can take to build awareness, prevent victimization, and support those who’ve been targeted.

This isn’t fear-mongering - it’s reality. And campuses can’t afford to stay in the dark. Join Erin for a candid, eye-opening hour that will change how you see online relationships, financial fraud, and the hidden industries driving them.

Speaker Bio: 

Erin West is the founder of Operation Shamrock, a global nonprofit uniting law enforcement, industry, and everyday citizens to disrupt the world’s fastest-growing form of transnational organized crime: pig butchering scams. After 26 years as a prosecutor - including eight on the REACT High-Tech Task Force where she became known for her relentless pursuit of crypto criminals - Erin now leads a cross-border fight to expose the scam economy, mobilize action, and protect both victims and the trafficked workers forced to run these schemes.
She is also the host of Stolen, a podcast that brings listeners inside the darkest corners of the scamdemic, where love is weaponized, billions are laundered, and real people pay the price. A sought-after speaker and educator, Erin continues to equip and inspire audiences around the world to use their skills, platforms, and tools to fight back.