Hi, I'm Su Lin Wong.
A couple of years ago, I made a podcast about China's leader, Xi Jinping, called the Prince.
I've been reporting a news story over the past year, and though it started in Asia, it took me about as far away from my usual beat as I could imagine.
To a small town in rural Kansas where $47 million went missing from the local bank.
What do you mean, something's wrong with the bank?
We never have problems.
Over several months, the bank's CEO had quietly put most of the bank's money into some sort of cryptocurrency investment, until the board called him in to explain himself.
He gave us a scenario of what had happened and it made little to no sense.
Shane Haynes, the CEO, told them that to get the money back, he needed more.
The final board member was asked their position and he simply said, you know, I.
I'm just not comfortable betting the farm.
Shane Haynes leaned across the table and said, david, I've already bet it for you.
But Shane had been duped.
He had bet the farm and a whole lot more on a scam.
The bank collapsed.
What is there back there?
What hole?
What chasm?
What's missing that would allow somebody like that with that experience to succumb to this type of scam?
This wasn't your classic Nigerian Prince Khan.