CODE Launches Provocative Series to Raise Awareness about Online Grifting

The Campaign On Digital Ethics (CODE) is excited to announce the launch of The Grifty Gang, a cutting, satirical animated series that takes down the scammers, schemers, and Silicon Valley swindlers, who are making big bucks from spreading digital chaos.

In the age of online manipulation, grifting refers to the art of exploiting trust, packaging lies as empowerment, selling scams as self-care, and profiting off fear, aspiration, or confusion. Whether it’s under the guise of wellness, finance, freedom, or “truth-telling,” grifters have found fertile ground in our feeds.

🎬Watch Episode 1 here

“We’re in an era where disinformation spreads faster than facts, and digital platforms often reward manipulation over truth,” said Kavisha Pillay, Executive Director of CODE. “The Grifty Gang uses satire to expose the tricks and grifts in a way that’s accessible, engaging, and thought-provoking. It’s a novel intervention that highlights how online spaces are being shaped, and in some cases, distorted, by those who prioritise profit over public good.”

Visually, the series is brought to life through a vibrant cut-out, bubblegum animation style. The animation exaggerates the foolishness of the digital world in a way that is entertaining, but deeply unsettling. 

“With The Grifty Gang, we wanted to use satire and visual storytelling, to strip back the polish of digital culture and expose the absurdity underneath. It’s playful, but it cuts deep” said Ziyaad Jina, Director of House Down Studios, who collaborated with CODE on the design and production of the series. “Each episode is a call to action, to question what we’re being sold, who’s profiting, and why we keep clicking.”

From fake wellness cures and crypto “investments” to rage-bait outrage cycles and tech-bro banter, The Grifty Gang parodies the grotesque theatre of the internet, where anything can be monetised, including your health, hope, and attention span. 

Through this series, CODE seeks to provoke reflection, spark conversation, and equip viewers with the digital literacy that they need to navigate today’s chaotic information age. From influencer scams and financial fraud to engineered outrage and algorithmic harm, the series cuts through the noise to reveal the manipulative mechanics behind digital platforms and personas.

The Grifty Gang premieres on 30 May 2025, with new episodes dropping throughout June and July. 

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Media Contact:

Kavisha Pillay

Campaign On Digital Ethics (CODE)

Email: kavisha@code-sa.org

Website: www.code-sa.org