Hi, I'm Bob Sullivan, host of The Perfect Scam.

And this April is pretty important to us here at The Perfect Scam.

We're celebrating our five-year anniversary.

That's five years of crime, of lives turned upside down, of emotional trauma, but also five years

of fighting back, five years of bravery, and I think five years of victories, big and small.

Since our launch in 2018, the Perfect Scam has grown into an award-winning podcast with

millions of downloads and counting.

Here at the perfect scam, we do something a little different.

At many true crime podcasts or TV shows or movies, the criminals are the central figures, often cast as heroes, or anti-heroes anyway.

Victims? They are often relegated to a bit part briefly mentioned their stories

breezed past or ignored altogether. We think that's backwards.

Honest people, many from among the most vulnerable parts of society,

who have spent years thinking they were in love with someone,

or caring for a new pet, or investing for their retirement,

or just looking for a roommate,

end up having their lives turned upside down. Many left nearly

panilous by heartless criminals. They are true victims. It's time we stopped

overlooking these people. It's time we stopped overlooking these people.

It's time their stories got the spotlight.

It's time we understand, empathize with, get outraged by

the full spectrum of pain they suffer, the financial losses, the emotional toll, the lives, changed forever.

And it's time we rise up as a society and protect these people.

...