

Fraudish
Kelly Paxton
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.
Episodes
Mentioned books

7 snips
Apr 22, 2025 • 31min
Rules Change, Risk Doesn’t with Matt Kelly, CEO of Radical Compliance
Matt Kelly, CEO of Radical Compliance and a prominent voice in compliance and risk management, dives into the evolving landscape of the compliance profession. He discusses whether a law degree is truly necessary for compliance roles, emphasizing that soft skills often trump legal credentials. Kelly also explores how political shifts shape compliance functions and underscores the critical role of organizational culture in managing risk. This engaging conversation is packed with insights for anyone interested in the complex world of compliance.

Apr 15, 2025 • 32min
What It Takes to Truly Prove Identity Today with Blair Cohen of AuthenticID
In 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:How fraud has shifted from solo grifters to organized global networksThe rising threat of synthetic identities, deepfakes, and AI-driven scamsWhy ethical considerations are crucial when developing fraud detection techBlair’s work with the Identity Theft Resource Center and support for severe identity theft victims💬 Whether you're a fraud professional, auditor, or just fascinated by the intersection of tech and cybersecurity, this episode is packed with insight you won’t want to miss.🎧 Tune in and learn how to stay one step ahead in the ever-changing world of fraud.Links:Connect with Blair: https://www.linkedin.com/in/blair-cohen/AuthenticID: https://www.authenticid.com/about/Blair Interview: https://pulse2.com/authenticid-profile-blair-cohen-interview/Who is Government: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/219551344-who-is-government

Apr 8, 2025 • 35min
Take a Vacation to a Crime Scene with Dawn Barclay
What 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 infamous gravesites and real crime scenes across New England, Dawn unpacks how she curates travel experiences rooted in true crime - without sensationalizing or crossing ethical lines.In this episode, fraud pros will take away:How to responsibly research and present sensitive crime contentWhy victim resources are essential in true crime narrativesThe fine line between educational curiosity and exploitationReal-life case stories that influenced Barkley’s writingInsights into balancing public interest with privacy and respectPlus, get a sneak peek into her upcoming regional guides, and why interest in dark tourism is growing.If you're fascinated by the intersection of ethics, storytelling, and criminal history, this one’s for you.Get Dawn’s Book: https://vacationscanbemurder.weebly.com/Subscribe to her Substack https://barrsinister.substack.com/Connect with Dawn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dawnbarclay/Dawn's Website: https://www.dawnbarclayink.com/http://www.dmbarr.com/https://murderpedia.org/https://www.sistersincrime.org/https://jodemillman.com/https://mysterywriters.org/

Apr 1, 2025 • 54min
A Betrayal of Trust: Unmasking Investment Fraud with Stephen Kirk
How 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 unraveling Ponzi schemes, asset pooling scams, and securities fraud - cases where victims often lose everything. Stephen formerly led a team of compliance auditors for the Securities Department when he uncovered the frauds discussed in this episode. He shares the red flags every investor should know, the ethical dilemmas in financial crime, and how compliance loopholes allow fraud to thrive. Plus, we get a glimpse into his upcoming books and how writing helps him process the emotional toll of his work.If you want to protect yourself from financial fraud, this episode is a must-listen.Connect with StephenBetrayal of Trust bookhttps://brokercheck.finra.org/Yellowbook CPE

Mar 25, 2025 • 45min
Thinking Like an Analyst in Investigations with Dana Timmerman
This 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 - fueled by a life-changing experience searching for his daughter. From ethical dilemmas to bias awareness, Dana breaks down the mindset investigators need to navigate complex cases. He also discusses the growing role of AI in OSINT and draws on insights from experts to refine investigative techniques.🔎 Connect with Dana: LinkedInhttps://www.skopenow.com/news/the-lego-method?

Mar 18, 2025 • 39min
Be a Giraffe: Standing Tall in a World That Punishes Whistleblowers with Jackie Garrick
Jackie Garrick, the founder of Whistleblowers of America and author of "Be a Giraffe," shares her inspiring journey as a whistleblower. She emphasizes the importance of community and ethics in the workplace, urging listeners to embrace their role models. Jackie discusses the emotional toll of speaking out and the chilling effects on freedom of speech, particularly for families and children of whistleblowers. She also highlights the critical need for legal support and community resources to help protect and empower those who dare to stand tall.

Mar 11, 2025 • 37min
Is it Fraud or Job Security? with Doug Cash
In 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 exposing the truth.You’ll hear:💼 Doug’s path from cop to CFE (Certified Fraud Examiner) 🔍 The emotional and ethical weight of fraud investigations 🛡️ Why internal controls are everything 📚 The difference between forensic accounting and traditional auditing 🚓 How law enforcement and private sector investigators can work together (or not!) 🎥 Plus: some of Doug’s favorite fraud-related films and TV showsThis episode is packed with practical advice for current and aspiring fraud fighters, as well as anyone curious about what really goes into cracking financial crimes.Links & Resources:🔗 Connect with Doug: LinkedIn 🏢 Learn more about EideBailly: eidebailly.com 🎬 Fraud-ish Film Picks:Liar Liar – IMDbThe Cable Guy – IMDbInventing Anna – IMDbFerris Bueller's Day Off – IMDb

Mar 4, 2025 • 38min
Creating Your Brand as an Investigator with Kate Marston
Do 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 investigatorsKate's career trajextory from the Metropolitan Police to Burberry (yes, like the jackets!)The need for proper training in investigations, especially for HR professionalsThe value of creativity and context in investigative workThe impact of investigations on investigators' mental healthListen up for some creativity filled advice for investigators and fraud fighters!Connect with Kate on LinkedinLine of Duty (TV Series 2012–2021) ⭐ 8.7 | Crime, Drama, MysteryHappy Valley (TV Series 2014–2023) ⭐ 8.5 | Crime, Drama, ThrillerDo No Harm: A Skilled Surgeon Makes the Best Murderer . . . https://g.co/kgs/g17ywUW

Feb 25, 2025 • 42min
The Truth About Polygraphs with Mark O’Riordan
In 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-risk youth to serving in the Secret Service and eventually launching his own investigative firm, Mark shares his fascinating career journey. He also discusses the emotional challenges of handling crimes against children, the critical role of resilience in law enforcement, and why following instructions is key to a successful polygraph exam.If you're curious about interrogation techniques, the realities of polygraph testing, and how pop culture has shaped public perception, this episode is packed with expert insights.🔗 Connect with Mark:LinkedIn | New Mountain Investigations

Feb 20, 2025 • 37min
Why Whistleblowers Are Real Life Superheroes with Everett Stern
In 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 professional challenges he faced, and his ongoing efforts to combat corruption through his companies Tactical Rabbit and Stern Cybersecurity. They also touch on the broader implications of financial crime, the role of ethics, and the support provided by organizations like Whistleblowers of America.Everett's Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/everettstern/Links:Dirty Money DocWhistleblowers of America Podcasthttps://www.whistleblowersofamerica.org/https://tacticalrabbit.com/https://everettstern.com/Dark Money and Private SpiesBankers Too Big to Jail Piece