The vast and sophisticated global enterprise that is Scam Inc
Online fraud leaves nobody safe
Leaders February 8th 2025
EDGAR MET Rita on LinkedIn. He worked for a Canadian software company, she was from Singapore and was with a large consultancy. They were just friends, but they chatted online all the time. One day Rita offered to teach him how to trade crypto. With her help, he made good money. So he raised his stake. However, after Edgar tried to cash out, it became clear that the crypto-trading site was a fake and that he had lost $78,000. Rita, it turned out, was a trafficked Filipina held prisoner in a compound in Myanmar.
Already have an account?Log in
Continue with a free trial
Explore all our independent journalism for free for one month
Get startedExplore more
More from Leaders
How Labour can unshackle Britain’s most innovative region
It will have to confront the charge of elitism
The meaning of Donald Trump’s war on woke workers
A worthwhile idea is straying into cruelty and, possibly, illegality
It’s not over: Donald Trump could still blow up global trade
Ideology, complacent markets and a need for revenue may still lead to big tariffs
America’s scheme for Gaza contains much to regret
As well as some hard truths
Despite fears of a global tax war, Donald Trump has a chance to make peace
A global minimum tax on companies ought to be acceptable to America
How to use “maximum pressure” to stop an Iranian bomb
The Islamic Republic is closer than ever to obtaining nukes