Brett Johnson, known as Gollumfun, is a former cybercriminal turned cybersecurity consultant and podcaster. He shares gripping tales from his past with Counterfeit Library and Shadow Crew. The conversation dives into online scams, the moral dilemmas of snitching, and the intense pressures of life as an informant. Brett recounts his chaotic escape from law enforcement and the hard-hitting consequences of his criminal choices. Through his journey, he also touches on redemption and the transformative power of support and positive relationships.
Emotional manipulation and finding the right pricing strategy are essential for successful online scams.
Moving conversations off-platform can remove important protection mechanisms, leaving individuals vulnerable to scams.
Brett Johnson's journey from criminal to informant to law-abiding citizen highlights the possibility of redemption and positive change.
Deep dives
Brett Johnson's Criminal Activities
Brett Johnson describes his involvement in eBay scams, including targeting high-value items during the Christmas season. He recounts his personal experience of almost falling victim to a fraudulent listing. He also discusses his own scams, such as selling non-existent cameras to multiple bidders on eBay. Johnson emphasizes the importance of emotional manipulation and finding a balance between low enough prices to deceive and high enough prices to avoid suspicion.
The Danger of Going Off-Platform
Johnson warns about the risks of moving conversations off-platform on websites like eBay, which removes certain protection mechanisms. He shares his own experience of being lured into an off-platform transaction using Western Union instead of PayPal, and how this lack of protection made him vulnerable to scams. He criticizes Western Union for providing little assistance after the fraudulent transaction occurred.
Brett Johnson's Transition to Informant
Johnson reveals that he eventually became an informant for the United States Secret Service, assisting them in catching cyber criminals. He discusses his conflicting feelings about being an informant and his belief that crime is still a choice. He shares stories of his involvement in cases, including his role in shutting down a criminal online forum and his suspicions of another informant's identity.
Brett Johnson's Troubles with the Secret Service
Johnson faces challenges while working for the Secret Service, including suspicions of tipping off a criminal and accidentally installing a key logger on the agency's computer. He maneuvers to hide his own illegal activities and tricks the agents during a search of his apartment. Eventually, Johnson's actions lead to the dismissal of two Secret Service agents and his subsequent arrest, but he manages to escape again and resumes his criminal activities while on the run.
Transforming from a Life of Crime
After years of committing various crimes, including identity theft and tax fraud, Brett Johnson found himself on the run from the Secret Service. He managed to amass a substantial amount of money through ATM thefts and tax refund fraud, but eventually, his criminal activities caught up with him. He was arrested and sentenced to prison. It was during his time behind bars that Brett had a moment of realization. He began to accept responsibility for his actions and acknowledge the impact they had on others. This newfound self-awareness gave him the motivation to change his life and leave his criminal past behind.
Finding Redemption and Making a Positive Impact
Upon his release from prison, Brett Johnson was determined to create a new path for himself. He formed a meaningful relationship with Michelle, who loved him for who he was, not for what he could provide. This support, along with the acceptance from his sister and others, showed Brett that there were good people in the world and that he could choose a different path. He started working in legitimate jobs and remained committed to staying on the right side of the law. Today, Brett shares his experiences and insights into cybercrime as a speaker and through his podcast, using his knowledge to educate others and help protect against criminal activities online.
Brett Johnson, AKA Gollumfun (twitter.com/GOllumfun) was involved with the websites Counterfeit Library and Shadow Crew. He tells his story of what happened there and some of the crimes he committed.
In part 2, his past catches up to him.
Listen to more of Brett on his own show. https://www.thebrettjohnsonshow.com/.
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