Fraudish

Dean Baratta, an intelligence analyst with a rich background from retail banking to WeWork, shares his journey through the complexities of ethics and fraud. He reveals key insights from his time at WeWork, highlighting red flags and the necessity of charisma. The conversation dives into how AI is reshaping professional norms and emphasizes the underrated power of soft skills and networking. Dean also discusses navigating career transitions, the significance of mentorship, and how chance opportunities can lead to unexpected breakthroughs.

Women 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. She has a rather unexpected entry into intelligence and our discussion touches on the importance of creativity and critical thinking in intelligence work! The episode also delves into gender biases in criminal and terrorist profiling, alongside resource guides and training methodologies Angie developed to bridge gaps in the industry.Listen and let me know if you think the bias is a good or a bad one…?Connect with Angie: https://www.linkedin.com/in/angie-gad-117921149/GadIntel: https://www.gadintel.com/

In 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 side of fraud—because let’s face it, there’s always more to the story.Candy opens up about her own family’s history with fraud (yes, it’s complicated), the mystery of her grandmother’s disappearance, and how those experiences shaped her drive to uncover the truth. We also dig into the three Cs of fraud—culture, controls, and compensation—and why vulnerability might be your most underrated networking skill.Plus: how she’s navigating life as a firm owner ( Check out Kramerica Solutions ), what she wishes more people knew about forensic accounting, and why ethics, culture, and curiosity matter more than ever.What we cover:How Candy found herself in the fraud world (and stayed!)The hidden power of vulnerability in building your networkThe three Cs of fraud and why they’re still relevantCandy’s family story—including a mystery that’s yet to be solvedThe realities of running your own firm (and starting a podcast about it)If you’ve ever felt like the personal and professional are more tangled than we admit—this one’s for you.Connect with Candy:https://www.linkedin.com/in/candicejohnsonkramerica/https://www.kramericasolutions.com/

Think 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 spotting and her work building a better OSINT community with Valor.Connect with Claudia:https://www.linkedin.com/in/supersecretsquirrel/Claudia's Medium: https://medium.com/@farallonValinor: https://valinorintelligence.com/

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.

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

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/

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

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?

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.