What The Fraud?

“You don't need to hack an Uber, you just need €200 and a Telegram account, and you can just buy the whole new profile.” The cars we drive and rent are now becoming a new frontier for cyber crime.  From ghost drivers and fake IDs to money laundering and QR-code scams, the mobility space is facing a new wave of digital threats. Our special guest this week is Karolina Kausylaite, Compliance Man...

“In the tech space, in the platform space, there are a ton of other disruptive brands out there. So if you're not keeping your customers safe, if you're not protecting their trust, there are other options for them to go to.” We often talk about the risks fraud poses to your trust, your customers, and your bottom line. But there can be upsides to strong security — and in this episode we discuss how...

In our second episode of What the Fraud? , recorded live at Money20/20 Europe in Amsterdam , we dive into how leading fintech voices are tackling the growing challenge of sophisticated, borderless fraud. From embedding fraud controls early to leveraging AI and cross-team collaboration, our guests share invaluable insights into balancing security with seamless customer experience. In this episode,...

In this special episode of What the Fraud? , recorded at Money20/20 Europe in Amsterdam, we sit down with five senior leaders shaping the future of modern banking, payments, and risk. From AI-driven fraud to embedded finance, evolving identity threats, and shifting regulatory demands, we unpack how today’s banking and compliance leaders are building trust while continuing to innovate. You’ll hear...

“Imagine a campus with 35 buildings, but they are all for the purpose of scamming. It was a walled in, locked down facility where hundreds, thousands of people were in the business of scamming people all over the world.” Pig Butchering scams have become some of the most lucrative online frauds around. These are highly organized, emotionally manipulative schemes where victims are tricked into handi...

“99% of employees are good employees - it’s the 1% that hurts”  When we talk about the risk of fraud to a business, it doesn’t always come from hackers or outsiders - it often starts inside the building.  Insider attacks can cost companies a lot. In 2024, the average cost of an insider attack was 17.4 million dollars, but there’s also a cost in trust and reputation.  In this episode...

“I think from a prevention perspective, a little friction at the beginning is not necessarily a bad thing.”  Real-time payments have become the bedrock of modern life. Whether you’re splitting dinner or closing a corporate buyout, money now moves instantly—and irreversibly.  But that convenience comes with a new tangle of risks: fraud, liability, and the shrinking window to react. In thi...

“If cybercrime were a country today, it would have the third largest economy on the planet.”  Fraud is no longer just a crime - it has become a global business with software at its heart. With Fraud-as-a-Service (FaaS), anyone can access cybercrime tools online, no technical skills required, and at a fraction of the price. In this episode, we’re joined by Brett Johnson, one of the early pione...

“Governments worldwide are recognizing that paper-based identification just doesn't cut it for a digital-first economy.”  Nations across the world are racing to roll out digital identity systems, promising greater convenience, security and efficiency.  But with new technology comes new risks. Hackers recently exposed vulnerabilities in Germany’s digital ID system, affecting over 10 milli...

“You’ve got organized hacks, and it's getting harder and harder to know what you're clicking on, if that's real or not.” Crypto is at a tipping point, and while demand is growing, fraud is up 48%, regulations are tightening, and user expectations are shifting. In the past year alone, over $2.2 billion has been lost due to hacks of crypto exchanges. And crypto crime isn’t just happening online—earl...

“Your intuition is designed to make you comfortable, not necessarily correct.”    In this season finale of What The Fraud?, we’re looking ahead to the year that could define the future of fraud prevention.    Sharing his predictions with Thomas is Paul Maskall, Behavioural Lead for UK Finance and the City of London Police, and a key strategist at the Economic and Cyber Police H...

"Why are we trying to change the 3% of people who stammer in the UK? Why aren’t we educating the 97% of people who don’t?”   Fraud isn’t victimless — it’s a powerful engine for bias, hitting marginalised communities hardest and driving inequality. In this episode, Claire Maillet joins Thomas to uncover how fraud fuels digital-age discrimination and what stakeholders can do to fight back....

"We don’t treat fraud as importantly as money laundering.”     Who should be responsible for preventing and addressing fraud in the digital age? This is what Thomas is exploring today with Jessica Cath, Financial Crime Partner at Thistle Initiatives, a compliance consultancy firm supporting regulated businesses.    As fraud becomes increasingly sophisticated, its impact ex...

“For an expense of about $1,000 per month, the damage that a fraudster can cause to businesses is upwards of $2.5 million.”  In this special episode of What The Fraud?, Thomas is joined by Ilya Brovin, a growth strategist from Sumsub, to explore the latest insights from their annual Identity Fraud Report and reveals the most significant changes in fraud trends over the past year.  T...

“The AI model thinks that the user is going to commit fraud at one point. So, it’s mitigating fraud before it even happens, which sounds quite crazy to me.”    In this episode of What The Fraud? Thomas is joined by Kris Galloway, Head of iGaming Product at Sumsub. With an impressive 12 years of experience in the iGaming industry, starting out as a poker player, Kris is the perfect guest...

"You ultimately become a victim of your own success because you’re doing really well as a business but scrambling around trying to make sure your compliance can keep up.” In this fact-filled episode covering APP fraud, Thomas sits down with James Nurse, Managing Director at FINTRAIL, a leading global financial crime consultancy.  Thomas and James unpack recent cases involving Revolut and Coin...

“For those genuine bodies that are out there—work with us and try to get rid of your fear because we’ve got the same fears and we’re trying to stop them.”   In this episode of What The Fraud? we dive into the evolving landscape of crypto fraud in 2024 and beyond with Mark Taylor, Global Head of Financial Crime/ MLRO at CEX.IO. Thomas and Mark explore the rise of cryptocurrency in 2024, where...

“I let them know... You messed with the wrong parent.”  Welcome back to What The Fraud? In the first episode of series two, Thomas Taraniuk is joined by world-leading cyber threat intelligence analyst, Charity Wright. Charity works as the ‘Principal Threat Intelligence Consultant’ at cyber security company, Recorded Future, in the United States.    Thomas and Charity take a loo...

“Many people barter their souls for the allure of booze, babes, and bucks!” In this final episode of What The Fraud? Tom and fraud expert Sophia Carlton get right to the root of the problem – what drives a person, or a group of people, to commit fraud? Is it just the payout? Or are there other things at stake?    Tom discusses with Accenture Fraud Transformation Executive Sophia those ‘T...

“The fact that we have seen organized crime move much more into this space... It's not just your individual doing something bad. This is big business.”   In this season’s penultimate episode of What The Fraud?, host Thomas Taraniuk is joined by Vice President of Global Public Policy at Chainalysis, Caroline Malcolm.   Tom and Caroline discuss how fraud has developed in the world of crypt...

“99% of your customers are legitimate… don't put too much friction in place for them just because you're trying to stop that 1%.”   In episode 6 of What The Fraud?, host Thomas Taraniuk is joined by Fraud and Payments Manager at international footwear brand FitFlop, Adam Sherlock.   Tom and Adam discuss the different ways that fraud is perpetrated in the eCommerce industry, how synthetic...

“In person, we have our ideas of who we can trust… online, anyone can be anyone!” In this episode of What The Fraud?, host Thomas Taraniuk is joined by Associate Professor of Criminology at Kingston University and forensic linguist, Dr Elisabeth Carter.   Tom and Elisabeth discussed the variety of ways that fraudsters can take advantage of vulnerable individuals via social media and dating ap...

“So I think that's why you, as an organization, should also be regularly testing your controls... pretend to be a fraudster and see what your vulnerabilities are!”   Thomas Taraniuk was joined by Seun Oshinsui, Head of Financial Crime Operations at Mettle, for Episode 4 of What The Fraud?    Tom and Seun discussed the different ways that fraudsters operated in the financial crime se...

“They will do whatever suits them to get from A to B, and they don’t care who it hurts.”   In Episode 3 of What The Fraud?, host Thomas Taraniuk is joined by lecturer and CEO of We Fight Fraud Dr Nicola Harding.   Thomas and Dr Harding take a look at the threats that the gambling sector currently faces from cybercriminals, and discuss the ways that these gaming corporations can protect t...

“It’s not a coincidence, that the World Economic Forum described AI-generated disinformation as THE biggest threat for the global economy.” In Episode 2 of What The Fraud?, host Thomas Taraniuk is joined by internationally renowned speaker and all-round expert on AI, Walter Pasquarelli Thomas and Walter make sense of current legislative action against synthetic technologies, where and how fraudule...