Fraudish is a podcast to help those working in fraud. Hosted by Kelly Paxton, Certified Fraud Examiner, Ex-Private Investigator, and Pink Collar Crime Expert. Kelly is a former special agent turned investigator specializing in embezzlement and workplace dishonesty cases. Fraudish interviews outstanding fraud professionals so you can continue to move forward in your career. Origin stories, tips, resources are just some of the amazing fraud content you will hear each Tuesday.
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I Want to Be an Auditor When I Grow Up with Elizabeth McCormick
37:11
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37:11This week, I’m joined by my friend and audit pro Elizabeth McCormick. We chat about her unexpected path into internal audit, starting her own company Audit Forward, and how tools like Power Query and AI are changing the game. Elizabeth also gets real about growing up with congenital hearing loss and how it’s fueled her push for disability inclusion…
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Networking, niching and fraud lessons with Dean Baratta
42:04
42:04
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42:04You know I love a good career plot twist, and this week’s episode has plenty! I’m joined by Dean Baratta, an intelligence analyst with a background that includes retail banking, WeWork, and more. (Yes, that WeWork.) We talk about Dean’s unconventional path into the world of intelligence and ethics, what he’s learned about fraud along the way, and h…
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Women Can Do Anything (Including the Really Bad Stuff) with Angie Gad of GadIntel
34:52
34:52
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34:52Women can be criminals too! This episode of Fraudish I speak with Angie Gad of GadIntel all about why society are biased again women… in a good way? Or is it bad? Let’s get into it! Angie shares her journey from growing up in a post-9/11 era as a child of Arab immigrants in New Jersey to her impactful career in intelligence and counter-terrorism. S…
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Family Secrets, Forensic Work & the Fraud Triangle with Candy Bellau
44:51
44:51
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44:51In this episode of Fraudish, Kelly sits down with forensic accountant and Certified Fraud Examiner Candy Bellau, whose journey into the world of fraud is anything but typical. From never picturing herself as a forensic accountant to building a career in the field, Candy brings heart, humor, and a whole lot of real talk. We dive into the personal si…
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What Even Is a Creative Technologist? with Claudia Tietze
48:09
48:09
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48:09Think OSINT is just glorified Googling? Think again. In this episode, I chat with Claudia Tietze, a creative technologist who went from film and theater to fraud-fighting. We dig into how OSINT actually works, why creativity matters in investigations, and how AI and ethics collide in this weird little world. Plus, Claudia shares her take on trend s…
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Rules Change, Risk Doesn’t with Matt Kelly, CEO of Radical Compliance
30:36
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30:36In this episode of Fraudish, Kelly sits down with the one and only Matt Kelly to talk all things compliance… and trust us, it’s more than just rules and regulations! We kick things off with a big question: Do you need to be a lawyer to work in compliance? The answer? Well… it depends. (Yep, we said it.) But this convo goes far beyond JD requirement…
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What It Takes to Truly Prove Identity Today with Blair Cohen of AuthenticID
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32:11In this episode, Kelly sits down with Blair Cohen, founder of AuthenticID, for a fascinating look into how fraud has evolved and how technology is fighting back. 💡 From his early days in employment screening to launching a cutting-edge identity verification company, Blair shares his unique journey and deep industry insights. 🔍 What You'll Learn: Ho…
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Take a Vacation to a Crime Scene with Dawn Barclay
34:51
34:51
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34:51What happens when a true crime lover, travel industry insider, and ethical researcher combine forces? You get Vacations Can Be Murder - and in this episode, you’ll learn how it all came to life. Kelly sits down with journalist and author Dawn Barclay, whose latest book blends dark tourism with meticulous storytelling. From haunted hotels to infamou…
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A Betrayal of Trust: Unmasking Investment Fraud with Stephen Kirk
54:20
54:20
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54:20How do fraudsters convince people to hand over their life savings? And why do so many scams go undetected until it’s too late? In this episode of Fraudish, we dive into the dark world of investment fraud with Stephen Kirk, Chief Internal Auditor for the Illinois Department of Transportation and author of A Betrayal of Trust. Steven has spent years …
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Thinking Like an Analyst in Investigations with Dana Timmerman
45:06
45:06
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45:06This week, Kelly sits down with Dana Timmerman, a seasoned private investigator and OSINT (Open Source Intelligence) expert, to explore the critical thinking skills behind fraud investigations. Dana dives into cases and how deep social media and asset analysis can expose deception. He shares his personal journey into the world of investigations - f…
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Be a Giraffe: Standing Tall in a World That Punishes Whistleblowers with Jackie Garrick
38:44
38:44
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38:44What if the word “whistleblower” conjured up something more powerful than a piercing whistle? This week’s guest thinks it should—and she’s leading the charge to reframe what it really means to blow the whistle. In this episode of Fraudish, Kelly speaks with Jackie Garrick, founder of Whistleblowers of America and author of Be a Giraffe. Jackie open…
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Is it Fraud or Job Security? with Doug Cash
37:14
37:14
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37:14In this episode of Fraudish, Kelly sits down with Doug Cash, a seasoned forensic accountant and fraud investigator at EideBailly LLP, to explore the ins and outs of catching financial criminals. From his early days in law enforcement to handling complex embezzlement cases in the private sector, Doug shares the twists and turns of a career built on …
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Creating Your Brand as an Investigator with Kate Marston
37:42
37:42
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37:42Do you have a personal brand? Yes, you. Yes... even investigators need brands! Luckily Kate Marston is on to help investigators develop their brands and get creative with their investigative careers. Key points discussed: The importance of branding for investigators Kate's career trajextory from the Metropolitan Police to Burberry (yes, like the ja…
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The Truth About Polygraphs with Mark O’Riordan
42:29
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42:29In this episode of Fraudish, Kelly sits down with Mark O'Riordan, a seasoned polygraph examiner with a background in federal law enforcement and corporate investigations. Mark pulls back the curtain on the mechanics and psychology of polygraph tests, separating fact from fiction and breaking down what really constitutes a lie. From working with at-…
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Why Whistleblowers Are Real Life Superheroes with Everett Stern
36:33
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36:33In this episode of Fraudish, Kelly interviews Everett Stern, an anti-money laundering compliance officer and whistleblower who exposed HSBC Bank's intentional money laundering practices benefiting terrorists and drug cartels. Stern shares his experiences in the financial industry, his journey as a whistleblower, the immense personal and professiona…
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Cultivating Creativity in Investigations with Colton Seale & Mark Anderson
46:21
46:21
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46:21In this special episode of Fraudish, I sit down with two experts in investigative interviewing—Mark Anderson, founder of Anderson Investigative Associates, and Colton Seale, a seasoned investigator with a background in counterterrorism and the FBI. Together, we explore the art and science of effective interviews, uncovering how creativity and psych…
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Behavioral Science vs. Fraud: Lessons with James Rumph
44:56
44:56
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44:56This week on Fraudish, host Kelly is joined by James Rumph, a forensic accountant and fraud consultant at Schneider Downs, for a deep dive into the world of fraud prevention. James shares his unique career journey, from earning multiple fraud-related degrees to working with the FBI, and offers expert insights into the evolving field of fraud detect…
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Innovations in Fraud Strategies with AI Expert, Amanda D'Amico
38:33
38:33
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38:33It’s 2025 and we need to talk about AI. Kelly speaks to Chief Product Officer at Tracklight, to discuss the impact of AI on fraud detection and prevention. Amanda recounts her career journey from aspiring lawyer to law enforcement officer, then making significant leaps into tech startups and AI-driven fraud prevention. She emphasizes the importance…
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Hacking the Fraud Game: Cybersecurity Lessons with David Taxer
33:00
33:00
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33:00In this episode of Fraudish, Kelly Paxton sits down with David Taxer, cybersecurity expert and author of Shadows of Eden, for an insightful conversation on the intersection of technology, fraud, and human behavior. David shares his unconventional path from tech enthusiast to penetration tester, revealing how an insider fraud case shaped his career.…
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What's futurism and how is it related to fraud? This week on Fraudish, Kelly speaks with Sam Radocchia, a self-proclaimed futurist, who shares fraud insights from her unique background in anthropology and technology. Sam explains how her journey led her to become a futurist, highlighting key experiences such as her involvement with blockchain, AI, …
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When The Lunch Lady Steals Your Lunch Money with Emily Azzarito
37:21
37:21
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37:21Ever thought about your school Lunch Lady? Do you think she was capable of crime? Maybe she even stole your lunch money… This episode of Fraudish, Kelly is joined by Emily Azzarito, to discuss her insightful paper “Lunch Ladies and Pink-Collar Crime.” Emily shares her personal journey from classical musician to attorney, and the inspiration behind …
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Are We Being AI Washed? with Allison Lagosh of Saifr
31:02
31:02
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31:02In this episode of Fraudish, Kelly sits down with Allison Lagosh from Saifr to delve into the dynamic world of compliance, risk management, and fraud in the age of artificial intelligence. Allison shares her inspiring journey from pursuing a legal career to becoming a leader in the fintech startup space, offering invaluable insights for professiona…
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Keep Fighting Fraud Anyways with Melody Bruns
32:49
32:49
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32:49You’re gonna want to listen to the end of this one for a poem that will change your whole perspective on fraud. This week on Fraudish Kelly speaks with Melody Bruns for an insightful discussion into her impressive background and her transition from the FBI to the private sector. The episode delves into gender dynamics in embezzlement and the distin…
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Inside the Mind of a Ponzi Schemer: Mark Varacchi's Story
43:23
43:23
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43:23In this episode, Kelly interviews Mark Varacchi, a self-identified former Ponzi schemer who shares his captivating story. Mark discusses his background, including his time at Tiger Management, his gambling habits, and the six-and-a-half-year limbo period before his sentencing. He also talks about his experiences in federal prison consultancy, expla…
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Fraud Detection in the Era of AI with Dr. Mark Nigrini
36:32
36:32
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36:32Dr. Mark Nigrini, famed for his work on Benford's Law, is on Fraudish discuss key aspects of fraud detection and prevention. The episode dives into the implications of AI on future fraud and the importance of understanding key fraud patterns. Nigrini is the author of Forensic Analytics (Wiley, 2011) and Forensic Analytics Second Edition (2020) whic…
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Lifelong Fraud Learner with Erik Halvorson
44:49
44:49
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44:49This episode on Fraudish Kelly speaks Erik Halvorson a life long learner and soon to be Doctor, who shares his extensive journey from joining the Air Force to becoming Chief Data Scientist at Tracklight. Erik delves into the evolution of fraud detection techniques, emphasizing the importance of data analytics, behavioral psychology, and social netw…
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Listen to This Before you Buy a House: Wire Fraud in Real Estate with Thomas Cronkright of CertifID
48:28
48:28
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48:28Kelly speaks to Thomas Cronkright to discuss his unconventional journey after being defrauded in a wire fraud scheme. Tom details a harrowing and complex fraud case involving a criminal syndicate, his personal experiences with financial crime, and the subsequent creation of Certified, a company designed to combat real estate fraud through advanced …
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Everybody has a LaDonna Humphrey with Javier Leiva
36:24
36:24
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36:24This week on Fraudish Kelly speaks with Javier Leiva about the disturbing and multifaceted case of LaDonna Humphrey. The discussion covers LaDonna's alarming behaviors, including stalking, gaslighting, and mismanagement of a nonprofit. Every person LaDonna touches, she ruins. Who is your LaDonna? Connect with Javier: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jav…
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Due Diligence in Venture Capital with Lyndee Fletcher
31:09
31:09
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31:09This week on Fraudish Kelly speaks with Lyndee Fletcher, President of Vcheck Global. Lyndee is an expert in the public record and reputational due diligence industry. Lyndee is the youngest President in the reputational due diligence industry. Kelly and Lyndee get into what the venture capital industry is like, how venture capital uses open source …
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Raising Fraud Awareness with Kelly Todd of Forensic Strategic Solutions
35:28
35:28
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35:28This week on Fraudish Kelly speaks with Kelly Todd, President of Forensic Strategic Solutions to discuss various aspects of fraud investigation, share notable cases, and explore the dynamics of gender in embezzlement. Kelly Todd shares her experiences and the impact of mentorship in her career while underscoring the importance of awareness and trai…
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Diversity of Thought in Fraud and Investigations with Kennedy Chappell
41:30
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41:30In this episode of Fraudish with Kelly Paxton, Kennedy Chappell, a communications expert at Permanent Record, joins the conversation. Kennedy shares her eclectic journey from broadcasting to podcasting and investigative work, emphasizing the importance of diversity and storytelling in fraud investigations. The discussion covers themes of ethics, di…
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The Investigative Side of Business Valuations with Brenda Wamala
27:50
27:50
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27:50In this episode of Fraudish, Kelly Paxton speaks with Brenda Wamala, a valuation expert. They discuss business valuation with a focus on investigative elements and share personal stories illustrating the intricate processes involved. The episode also touches on intriguing cases such as fraudulent practices in divorce cases and corporate mismanageme…
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Canada’s Top OSINT Expert Shares Her Tips with Ritu Gill
30:57
30:57
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30:57In this episode of Fraudish, Kelly Paxton interviews Ritu Gill, an open source intelligence (OSINT) analyst from Canada. Ritu shares insights into her background, her journey in law enforcement, and her entrepreneurial ventures, including her own consulting business and the development of the Forensic OSINT Chrome extension. The discussion covers v…
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The Dark Side of Romance Writing with Heidi Joy Tretheway
41:55
41:55
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41:55This week on Fraudish Kelly speaks with Heidi Joy Tretheway to talk about all things murder and romance! They dig into an infamous murder case in the Portland, Oregon area that got very close to Heidi. And we discuss what being a romance novelist is really like! Heidi’s Podcast, A MUST LISTEN! Happily Never After: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podc…
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From Nancy Drew to Real-Life Investigations with Talia Beechick
32:28
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32:28This week on Fraudish Kelly is joined by Talia Beechik of 221B Partners. Talia shares insights from her diverse career in investigations, beginning with her early interest inspired by Nancy Drew books to her role in private investigations today. She discusses key concepts such as fraud, ethics, and the complexities of threat assessment cases. Talia…
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Librarian to CIA to Due Diligence Expert with Amy Brooks, CFE
44:57
44:57
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44:57Did you know the CIA has a Librarian? Can you picture Carry Matheson in a library? I sure can’t. This week on Fraudish Kelly speaks to Amy Brooks, CFE on her career trajectory that has taken her from librarian, to the CIA, to a licensed CFE. you won’t want to miss this one if you're a CIA nerd like me! Links: https://www.linkedin.com/in/amy-brooks7…
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The Future of Conduct Risk Methodologies with Barbara Siegenthaler
33:39
33:39
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33:39In this episode of Fraudish, Kelly talks to Barbara Siegenthaler, a lawyer based in Switzerland. They discuss a range of topics including conduct risk, ethics, and the distinction between Safety 1 and Safety 2 methodologies. Barbara shares her insights from her recent paper on global conduct risk and methodologies, touching on the importance of ant…
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The Hidden Costs of Fraud Investigations with Tod McDonald, Fraud Entrepreneur
32:42
32:42
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32:42This week on Fraudish, Kelly speaks with Tod McDonald of Valid8 Financial. Tod shares his journey from CPA to entrepreneur, driven by a need to streamline financial investigations. They discuss Valid8's approach to automating the extraction and reconciliation of financial data using machine learning, which aids forensic accountants, legal professio…
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Behind the Scenes of True Crime Podcasting with Scott Fulmer
37:26
37:26
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37:26This week on Fraudish, Kelly speaks with Scott Fulmer, host of the podcast 'A Study in Crime.' They discuss Scott's new podcast, delving into a variety of crime topics from art theft to bank robbery. Scott shares his insights on the psychology behind crimes, the importance of recognizing patterns, and the role of modern technology in crime-solving.…
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How to Be a Top Bullsh** Detector with MJ Banias of Permanent Record Research
55:10
55:10
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55:10Fraudish sits down with MJ Banias, an experienced investigative journalist and OSINT expert based in Canada. MJ discusses his unique journey from teaching to specializing in open-source intelligence and corporate fraud investigations at Permanent Record. The conversation ranges from the ethical quandaries faced in OSINT investigations to the import…
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How Magic Tricks Mirror Fraud Tactics with John Tonsick CPA & CFE
34:12
34:12
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34:12“Magic and fraud have a great deal in common.” In this episode of Fraudish, host Kelly Paxton interviews John Tonsick, a CPA, CFE, and magician. John shares his unique journey from serving in the Navy to becoming a forensic accountant. He discusses the intriguing parallels between magic and fraud, emphasizing how both involve manipulation and decep…
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Inside the Growing Grey Collar Crime Wave with Christina Fiscella
35:36
35:36
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35:36When you think of retirees do you ever think of them committing fraud? This week on Fraudish Kelly speaks with Christina Fiscella, CFE, about the fascinating wave of grey collar crime and the two shades of grey. The 2008 financial crisis is a turning point for grey collar crime. The "golden years" should be about enjoying retirement and not committ…
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Real Life Fraud Hero with Marc Evans, Fraud Detective and CFE
47:51
47:51
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47:51Fraudish is BACK! And this week Kelly speaks with Marc Evans, CFE. Marc has over a decade of dedicated service in law enforcement investigations, primarily fraud and financial crimes, and a Certified Fraud Examiner. Marc brings real boots on the ground experience to Fraudish. Listen to his experience in pink collar crime aka garden variety embezzle…
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The Ethical Problem at Boeing with Dr. Steven Mintz
37:02
37:02
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37:02"It takes a village to be ethical." This week on Fraudish, Kelly has on Dr. Steven Mintz for a second time to dig in deeper on the pressing issues happening at Boeing and beyond. If you have plans to be on a plane, this is a must listen. Show notes: Boeing putting profits ahead of safety https://www.amiflyingonaboeing.com/ Ethics Sage Dr. Steven Mi…
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Lurking in the Fog Crossover with Alex Solorzano aka Chief Owl
43:13
43:13
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43:13A crossover episode with Alex Solorzano, host of Lurking in the Fog, a podcast about crime! I love her description of the podcast: The podcast in which we dive deep into the crimes and evils that inhabits the world we live in. Our goal is to showcase how crime affects businesses day-to-day operations. From something as simple as accidentally settin…
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Can Hacking be Ethical? with Mishaal Khan aka The Ethical Hacker
39:51
39:51
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39:51This week on Fraudish Kelly speaks with the Ethical Hacker himself, Mishaal Khan, who provides much needed and actionable information about all things privacy and protection. Freeze your credit, use a password manager and use multi-factor authentication straight away. Crime as a service is a real thing. This is a must listen episode! Links: https:/…
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Are women better cyber criminals? with Amber Schroader aka Wonder Woman
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35:44In the movies it seems like all of the cyber experts and criminals are stereotypical, nerdy men behind laptops. But is that really the case? This week on Fraudish Kelly speaks to Amber Schroader aka Wonder Woman. Amber shares all about justice, adaptability, patterns and so much more. Where is the grey? It is the intent. This is another amazing epi…
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Did you know that you could untangle spaghetti for a living? Ok, well not exactly. But Lorraine Aho is the Chief Spaghetti Untangler of the Fraud world where she untangles the spaghetti of theft and embezzlement. Lorraine Aho is an Expert Witness, CPA and Certified Fraud Examiner with over 20 years experience as a fraud investigator and forensic ac…
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#WhistleblowersAreHeroes with Sarah Carver and Jennifer Griffith, The Whistleblower Duet
1:03:17
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1:03:17Whistleblowers are incredibly important for our society and more specifically for fraud professionals so this episode of Fraudish is all about whistleblowing with two experts on the subject. In this episode of Fraudish, Kelly speaks to Sarah Carver and Jennifer Griffith, The Whistleblower Duet of the largest Social Security disability scheme. Have …
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Are French Embezzlers More Sophisticated? with The French Detective Emmanuelle Welch
32:25
32:25
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32:25What do you think of when you hear the word fraud? Correct answer: Fun! Just kidding! But our guest this week on Fraudish isn't cause she makes fraud fun! Kelly speaks with the French Detective aka Emmanuelle Welch on all things fraud! In this episode they cover FOIA, characteristics of french embezzlers (think palm trees and fast cars), OSINT, AI …
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