Unmasking Money Mules: "The Evolution of a Scammer" (Financial Crime Podcast Episode 5)

Welcome to "Unmasking Money Mules," a breakthrough 8-episode financial crime podcast series where the best and brightest minds in risk management have come together for frank, unscripted conversations. We blend real-life stories of money mule victims and social engineering, expert analysis on modern fraud and money laundering, and AI-driven insights to tell a story of technology, greed, and deception at scale. When does a victim bear responsibility for falling prey to a scam? According to Brett Johnson, former cybercriminal turned reformer, the unequivocal answer is “Never.” In the fifth episode of "Unmasking Money Mules," Brett collaborates with Richard Harris from Feedzai to delve into the evolution from youthful curiosity in technology to stealing millions. Together, they expose the tactics of keyboard criminals and the challenge of safeguarding youth from victimhood—or potential criminal paths. CHAPTERS: 0:00 Intros 1:02 How Brett Got into the Industry & His First Crimes 7:03 Brett's Intro to Technology & Online Crime 10:31 Insider Fraud & Company Security 13:05 Supply Chain Risk 17:02 The Scale & Democratization of Fraud 20:26 Gateways to Fraud 26:10 Victim Shaming 32:28 The Apathy of Younger Scam Victims 36:09 The Importance of Social Engineering 37:23 Money Mules & the Cash-Out Process 44:56 Generative AI, Chatbots, & Fraud Lead Generation 50:59 How Young People Can Protect Themselves 56:16 It’s OK to Say No 58:40 Social Media Company Responsibility 1:03:23 Regulating Telegram, the Wild West of Cybercrime 1:05:17 Hiding in Plain Sight on Instagram & Facebook 1:06:43 Effective Education