Fraudish

Melody Bruns, founder of Pivot Point Consulting and former FBI intelligence analyst, dives into her fascinating journey from the Bureau to the private sector. She discusses gender dynamics in embezzlement, revealing surprising differences in how men and women approach fraud. The conversation highlights AI’s influence on investigations and emphasizes the need for improved ethics training. Tune in for insightful anecdotes about networking and a captivating poem that reshapes the way we view fraud!

In 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, explaining how he aids others going through the justice system.Links:Connect with Mark: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mark-varacchi/Mark's Website: https://www.markvaracchi.com/https://www.annieduke.com/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bmr8YmwnZ3w&sttick=0

Dr. 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) which describes analytic tests to detect fraud, errors, estimates, and biases in financial data. He is also the author of Benford's Law (Wiley, 2012) which is the seminal work on applications of Benford’s Law.Connect with Mark Nigrini: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mark-nigrini-7409918/Mark's website: https://nigrini.com/

This episode features Erik Halvorson, Chief Data Scientist at Tracklight and a lifelong learner pursuing a doctorate. Erik shares his journey from the Air Force to becoming a fraud detection expert. He discusses the evolution of fraud detection techniques, emphasizing data analytics and behavioral psychology. Highlights include challenges in managing financial records, the impact of AI and technology, and practical advice for investigators. The conversation also touches on the intersection of fraud in pop culture and its detection using advanced tools.

Thomas Cronkright, Founder of CertifID, shares his chilling experience as a victim of wire fraud in real estate. He reveals the complex tactics of a criminal syndicate that led to his journey of recovery and justice. The conversation touches on the rising threat of AI in fraud, the emotional struggles faced by victims, and the importance of proactive measures like safe words in preventing scams. Thomas also emphasizes the shift in banking practices and recommends literature that highlights the urgency of safeguarding financial transactions in a digital age.

This 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/javierjleiva/Listen to the podcast: https://pretendradio.org/https://whyy.org/segments/the-greatest-hoax-on-earth/

This 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 intelligence, Adam Newman, the Chicago Mob, and more!Connect with Lyndee on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lyndee-fletcher/Check out Vcheck Global: https://vcheckglobal.com/

This 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 training in the ever-evolving fraud landscape. Kelly shares how LinkedIn has changed her career for the better! Connect with Kelly Todd: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kellyjtodd/And please leave us a review if you enjoyed the episode, it really helps us out! 

In 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, diversity of thought in investigations, and the significance of embracing vulnerability and open-mindedness within teams. Kennedy also touches on engaging content creation online and shares insights on operations security and the challenges of purchasing Bitcoin.Get Bullsh*t Hunting: https://www.bullshithunting.com/Connect with Kennedy on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kennedy-chappell-493540259/And please leave us a review if you liked the episode, it really helps me out! 

In 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 mismanagement. Dig into this great episode! Connect with Brenda on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/wamalabrenda/