Secret Service Agent “Mark”
Works the Pan-Africa Beat

“Mark” tracks criminals in more than 20 African nations, and blew our minds in this conversation about how the crime rings there work.


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Who better to talk to about pan-African crime syndicates than someone tasked with shutting them down? From drug mules and sextortion to romance scams and spearphishing, this week’s talk with Secret Service Agent “Mark” pulls back the curtain on Black Axe and other crime rings operating worldwide.

Because of its infrastructure (and apparently top notch food), South Africa has emerged as a hub for many African crime syndicates. Although the number of tactics are staggering, this week we focus on “blind” mules–the unwitting drug traffickers (usually older men) harvested via inheritance scam emails to move contraband into Europe via the Southern Route.

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Read the transcript here.

About the Hosts

Adam Levin is the former Director of Consumer Affairs for the State of New Jersey, serial entrepreneur and author of Swiped, which he wrote with his sidekick, writer and cyber mensch, Beau Friedlander. With expert commentary from Travis “Here’s What Actually Happened” Taylor, the show gets everything sorted out—or not—but either way you’re going to have a great time. Something weird happen to you? We’ve got your back.

Credits

What the Hack with Adam Levin is a production of Loud Tree Media and is executive produced by Adam Levin and Beau Friedlander and produced by Andrew Steven and Travis Taylor.

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