It's a scam that starts in the Philippines and stretches across the globe. It ends in financial ruin and shattered dreams.
Shareholders discover their 'investment firm' isn't in London or New York, the firm's website is fake, and their financial advisors are criminals based in Manila. The city has become a nexus for sophisticated scammers, fuelled by call centre workers who help fund organised crime.
101 East joins the hunt for the fraudsters as a private investigator and his unlikely ally - a criminal who's turned against his own - secretly gather evidence for police.
Investigator Ken Gamble says the men behind the fraud are Americans.
"A lot of these guys have worked as brokers," he says. "They have worked for major firms, some of the biggest firms in the world, and they've come out of those firms and they've gone to the dark side."
Wayne Brown, an Australian coal mine electrician, unwittingly fell victim to the scam. His world came tumbling down when he discovered that he had lost his life savings.
"I invested $1.4 million dollars with these blokes," he says. "I'd invested that much money into my future, and then to find out there wasn't any cash there, it was real sickening."
With the net closing around them, Al Jazeera joins Philippine police officers as they launch a raid and arrest the alleged masterminds.
In this exclusive investigation, 101 East blows the lid on an international multi-million-dollar scam.
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You might wanna change the tittle to "American Swindler Kings in Manila".
They're Australians...
@@zacks1690 the private investigator is Australian, the syndicates are Americans... watch 01:49
Thank God an honest man, a Filipino, turned them in.
Your right The title is painting a wrong picture It's not right
Agree 👍👍👍 or they just put the name Manila for inviting filipinos for more views from filipinos around the world 🌎!!! 👍👍👍
Is there a follow-up video? What was the end result? It's great to report these things, but please provide the follow-up as well! Not knowing the end results is kind of disheartening in a way.
Another brilliant Video by 101 east. You guys at Al Jazeera are absolutely brilliant, looking forward to more amazing documentaries like this 👍
Agreed. I'm always amazed by how good Al Jazeera's films are. I recommend their video on China if you haven't seen it yet: China: Spies, Lies and Blackmail | 101 East
Just wait till 101 East will publish about Qatari Royal Family. 😉😂
They should change the title .. AMERICAN SWINDLER OPERATING IN MANILA
I LOVE how this ended. Well done. JUSTICE!
The swindler is an American, the victim is an Australian and the whistle blower who risked his life to help the victim is a Pilipino...and the title of your video is Swindle kings of Manila? With accompanying Phil flag by the title line? Something is very wrong here. It seem to imply that the Phil is to blame for the scam. Not the american scammer or the greedy Australian?...give us (Pilipinos) a break.
Keep holding your head up high all the time. Your people are one of the greatest people i have known on earth and only smart and well traveled people knows that. There will always be good apple and bad apple in every basket. Believe in something even if it means sacrificing everything!
Who said anything about "blame" here? They operate in the Philippines and are subjects to PH laws.
Milton Waddams ...the title says, "swindle kings of Manila" accompanied by Phil flag appears to imply that the swindler is a Pilipino. The bone of my contention is that the Phil is implicitly blamed for the fraud. The title should correctly state its subject like, "An American residing in Manila swindled millions form an Australian. IMO, the title is maliciously misleading, thats all. I'm not arguing any legal technicalities of the fraud.
The informer says there are about sixty such groups based in Manila. This suggests that it is easier to run these scams from the PI than from elsewhere.
PM ...I agree with you to a certain point. I think it's not the ease of running scams in the Phil. because that kind of scam can be done in any part of the world as long as there's phone and online connection. The reason is the ease of foreign scammers to come to the Phil and establish a base for their scam. Filipinos welcomes foreigners (specially white) with open arms and open legs because it was ingrained in our mind, by our western occupiers, that white westerners are good. Sad, but that's how I see it based on my personal experience and observation. Just look at those foreign white bloggers thriving in the Phil who are nobody and unnoticed abroad. That's what I call, "Victory Joe" Pilipino mentality. Ha ha ha!
Props to the investigator and everyone involved. Huge respect also to 101 East, another brave and compelling story.
Does anyone have any further info on the Three who were arrested?
Human greed . . . Never ever trust investments that promise you the sky . . .
yes i don't get how you can have millions of dollars yet be a dumbass
Theres an age old saying which says TOO GOOD TO BE TRUE!!!
Greed or a feeling of lack perhaps?
Thank u for this very good documentary. I am always on the edge of my seat watching this!!! Excellent
Brilliant video by Al Jazeera!! These money scammers make me sick!!!!! 🤮
Steve Chao is an excellent journalist !
American guy is so confident i think he knows what he getting into it and how to get out.
I was living in the Philippines back in 2016 and one night I met a guy that worked for one of these groups who was very drunk and started to tell me about how I could made great money if a came to work with him. After a series of questions he began to reveal that they were scamming people and that I could do well because I was American so my accent would be useful to convince people in the U.S. into the scheme. The amounted earnings he said I could made made me pause and consider it. Seeing the miner’s story made me grateful I never got involved.
Please please bring more of this series and thanks
Great job for this amazing detective once again well done
Excellent video! Far better than 60mins!
dont come to my fav country and mess it up!!! hope these criminals rott in jail
The news here in the Philippines identified the suspects as two Canadians and an Australian
No it was two Canadians and an American - Jesse Scott, aged 47, and Barry Rosen, 60, both from Canada, and American Richard Racioppi Jr, 56.
@@southerndiscomfort2412 The American had a definite accent that gave him away.
@@PMLynch "You guys want some quwo-fee (coffee)?"
Hey Al Jazeera... The same problem is in Sri Lanka as well... I was also a victim to a similar scam... Want to learn more?
Yes, can you share anything about what happened?
Very well presented video
a satisfying follow-up could be in order hopefully...
Did Wayne get his money back?
They should have tapped the National Bureau of Investigation not the Makati Police.
The lesson is " if it's sounds too good to be true, it probably is"
Any info on what became of these fraudsters? I googled them but since the arrest reports there has been no news on them. I'm interested to know if they went to prison or bribed their way to freedom.
What a fantastic example of a human being, the filipino man who blew the whistle is the very reason I love the Philippines and it's people. So much I married a filipina who I love with all my heart!
The man who blew the whistle is not a Filipino. Your Filipino wife loves you because of your money...try telling her that you’re broke....she will drop you like a hot potato.
Tommy Paget not all filipina like you think
@@tommypaget2294 There are Filipinas who are after the money, and then there are those who love truly. Just like other countries, there are also good and bad.
@@tommypaget2294 harsh truth hurts ... He's saying this to make himself feel better.. Realised he had been taken but
@@tommypaget2294 haha you're another expat who has been ripped off 😂😂
You guys aljazeera brilliant work
Nice 101 east GOD BLESS
Good work mr.Polis 👍
Thanks for posting
Thanks for posting.
Wow mindblowing documentary. Thx Aljazeera
that's better that watching sports on tv, thanks 101 east
Im a filipino title caugth me... Think its confusing
When the deal is too sweet think twice
Amazing video they are all thugs I hope that Australia guy got his hard earned money back
Some times the good of the world need to get together and take a stand against the bad, a stand that involves becoming bad for a brief moment in time to do good.
Wow great job done by the private investigator as well as the cooperation of the Manila police.
Gracias Amigo, I would like to see Sinaloa if it's in your itinerary. Do come back to Calcutta?
So where is he now?
Excellent!
So how did wayne get in contact with those 'brokers' in the first place?
Then there's a twist. The police are also involved.
Some British guys operating out of Indonesia now targeting expats in Asian hubs like Singapore, HK, Dubai, etc. They have a very thick British accent and use scripts to talk with you. Firstly they get what sounds like a Filipino or Indonesian girl to look through LinkedIn to find you, they call your office direct line to give you the their speech, then get your contact details. A brochure is then sent to your office and appears to come from an office in Japan, that is their cover because they're lazy and didn't check there is not a 9th floor there lol Then finally a British guy will call you with a great deal that will go through tonight. It's a big secret like only they know 2 companies will merge. So then they email you the invoice...which has payment details for a bank in Indonesia...yeh right British guys in Japan have an Indonesian bank account...very dodgy.
Futures ?
The moment I get cold calls.. Especially with thick Caucasian accents I flick them off
What is that Richard's surname?
Boiler Room 😱
Talk to Me in Tagalog no. This is different. This is outright fraud.
Philippines isn't the only place in SE Asia with stock/securities boiler rooms...can also be found in Thailand & Cambodia.
Nice work
These cops did not really search that house, maybe cash was stashed in the house.
Due diligence is key! In the info age there is no excuse not to it.
Well, what happened after this?
OMG, it shows how incompetent our police here in Philippines to solve crimes and how incompetent DFA is. How can they let this criminals to come here in Philippines!!! It’s really embarrassing!
coffee money!
These SCAMS are clearly well-planned SCAMS... But still kudos to our police that these scammers were arrested...
Praise Our Father Above Alleluia! Amen!🙏
Let there be justice to who deserves it...
Definitely the title swindled me.
You should have used an actor for the informant. You can tell who he is from his clothes and voice inflection. Otherwise great journalism. The police are bought in the Philippines, just like the politicians and the judges. We’ll see if anything happens. As they said, this operation fund’s terrorist activity in Indonesia. Who knows where else
good to see these thieves behind bars
Great job Ken Gamble & the Makati Police force!!!
Never trust something or someone you've never met in real life.
These expats abuse the hospitality of their host country. Poor people who got scammed.
Why were they so nice with him when they were arresting him? He should be beaten
Expats, some who are mostly Filipino-American, in Pinoyland said, "When in Rome..." They got tired of being scammed and decided to become one of the millions of scammers there!
Title of the video seems very misleading to me! Where is the swindle king of Manila?? They all seem to be from every country except Philippines!!
Secret service huh ?U.K. or Aussie ?You guys are great. You caught the bad guys.Congratulations.Wonderful
Wow... all i can say is wow...
nothing that could get away with it....
We have a similar thing going on here in Alaska. Swell-headed, cash flush boomers roll in and drop hundreds of thousands of dollars to go gold mining. A lot find at least some gold but it turn out to be some of the most expensive gold they've ever encountered by the time they pay all the costs incurred in finding it. The equipment dealers are standing by, oh so friendly, ready to sell them the loaders, dozers and trucks to go mining then buy it back for a small fraction of the price when the wanna-be "miner" doesn't find enough gold to pay his bills and goes bust. An employee of one of the equipment dealerships told me "maybe 1-2 out of 100 of these "miners" actually makes a profit. We, of course, make a profit off of 100 out of 100 of these suckers."(Big smile)
Wtf...they do not hear the accent ? ...never give money to someone with a jersey accent ...
ioan pena or anybody in a hat
they cannot differentiate the accent as long as they speak english, its slang to their ears
I had the same people continually ringing me. Case has been handed to different person. Last call was about Aramico. It never worked with me thankfully.
Thailand. Same. Same Police in on it there. Be surprised if it is not the same in the Philippines. 99 other groups still in operation.
i would be very surprised if this guy goes to prison at all,...there is a reason whay he stayed so calm !!!,...and if prison he will be released quick, for sure. just saying
Even with all the right evidence and the right judges it will take minimum 5 years to get initial sentence in that country and plenty of patience and cash for the complainant. And if getting a guilty verdict the convict can live normal life in prison depending on his cash flow. If judge ruled property seizure... will require new motivation to fight for that.
People like that should be locked up and the key sent to Mars...
Highly civilized conduct!
Scammer has a similar accent to the scammer in the "Wham Bam Thank You Scam" documentary. I wonder if this guy was Edward Martin from Wellnic Investments.
I thought d same myself
I doubt that the informant truly had altruistic motives for coming forward. Either it's revenge or he is trying to eliminate the competition do that another scammer can be the dominant scammer.
That's going to cost that guy a bit in bribes to the police and judges.
Feels good seeing people like those get arrested! One of the worst crime, thieving from hard working people
Defamatory click Bait! The Philippines isn't perfect but on this video, you should remove the Philippine flag and replace it with the US flag. Or: "SWINDLE KINGS FROM NY OPERATE IN MANILA!"
I agree..call attention of al jazeera...
jaykyu1 you can’t say Philippine has nothing to do with it because that’s where the crime is originating.
Weak enforcement and involvement of Filipinos on every level..so it's a legit reason to use it.
Gaala Eri Cusman. Watch and try hard to understand the whole video. The culprits are clearly from the US, abusing their stay in the Philippines doing crime.
Vikingcondom. Thanks for your critical analysis and your judgement. They're brilliant!
Dont forget this is taught and influenced by americans and chinese.
Let Dutarte loose on them!
Duterte and some other politicians here in the Philippines are pushing for DEATH PENALTY for HEAVY CRIMES... Lets see how well these scammers will do in the future...
good job Al Jazeera, another entertaining and informative video
These scammers can only be successful if gullible fools allow this to happen in the false hope of 'get rich quick' - some people are extremely naive!!
Hello, this is Lloyd Blankfein from Goldman Sachs, I can get you some shares in Tesla's Hyperloop company, it's a very exciting opportunity. Wire me $500,000 by tomorrow so you can be in on the deal. I'll be waiting to hear from you.
@@infiltr80r You forgot to mention where "someone has an IRS issue and must sell the shares out of the market and because of this I can get you the half-million worth for 300k but only if we act lightning-fast or deal will be gone"
despicable thing what the perp did! but in all honesty if you did not know how he operates he seems so charming enough for people to hand over their lifesavings! i hope the victim gets his money back! but before he gets it, the judges and the philippine lawmen will get their cut first. interpol should have approached the NBI before a city policeman, they at least will have some competencies regarding white collar cases. this guy will definitely walk. incompetence is costly.
Funny, I've never wanted to invest in anything so risky and always stuck to established companies like Vanguard and have never been ripped off.
This all jazeera if damaging the Philippines when the perpetrator is American 😠😠😠
The Aussie Mr Brown seems to be a very trusting guy and I hope he can get his money back . I can't just understand why anyone would fall for the scam in the first place. Open an online brokerage account in Oz and just buy index funds that track the market . Don't ever rely on so called experts even the legit ones.
Sha 101namar ka West ka nong shun jong ka pyrthei
If its too good to be true then its most probably a scam
Haha. The fraudster was arrested in my village. Alabang Hills Village.
Anyone heard of Capital Invest Solution and Giles Allcard?//
God Blesd
They disguise Informant X’s voice, but you can still make out his accent. lol. Sounds Persian perhaps. Great going, guys.
Lol, there's hundreds of guys just like him in the Philippines. They did nothing but catch a guy with a job.
An average person does not believe these thugs, greedy people want to believe these thugs
When these criminal scammers are caught. Please, please let them rot in jail for the rest of their lives. The other option is. Tell the President of the Philippines Mr. Duterte, and he will do the right thing. He is a good President, and he will look after his people, and get rid of the no good people. Whether it be Australians, English or Americans. He will not care. What he has done to the drug traffickers. He will do it to the scammers. No love lost.
This should be called Swindle kings of New York and New Jersey based in Manila. lol
You probably have never read a newspaper headline.
Bingo!
Wow, that is crazy how people would scam innocent people. Sad.
Just like Australia banks?
Australia playing the big brother role. Clean out your closet first!
If Aussies are being conned it is up to Australia to figure it out cause relying on the Philippines is futile. Corruption is rife. So why are you sledging Australia?
Swindle Kings