June 04, 2025

Episode 4 - Unmasking Digital Crime: Voices from the Frontlines - Michele Ilich-Daubas' Story

46 minutes

In this episode of Stolen, host Erin West delves into the complex world of transnational organized crime with special guest Michele Ilich-Daubas. Erin shares her experience at a conference by the International Association of Financial Crime Investigators, emphasizing the importance of teamwork and collaboration in combatting financial crime. Michelle, who works at a small police department in Norwich, Vermont, discusses her role in educating her community about scams and her involvement in Operation Shamrock. Together, Erin and Michele talk about the importance of empathy and proper language when dealing with crime victims, the challenges and strategies in tracing cryptocurrency, and the crucial role of 'Survivor Stories' in understanding the impact of these crimes. This episode is a compelling exploration of the underbelly of digital crime and the importance of community awareness and law enforcement education.

00:00 Introduction to Transnational Organized Crime

02:51 The Importance of Collaboration in Financial Crime

05:47 Michelle's Journey into Crime Prevention

09:05 Understanding Pig Butchering Scams

12:00 Navigating Cryptocurrency Investigations

14:46 The Role of Survivor Stories

19:07 Language Matters in Victim Support

22:55 Educating Law Enforcement on Scams

27:10 Community Engagement and Awareness

30:07 Empathy in Addressing Victimization

33:53 Conclusion and Call to Action

I giant thank you to our first sponsor: TRM Labs

TRM Labs - Blockchain Investigations & Risk Management -Investigate, monitor, and detect crypto and digital asset fraud and financial crime

TRM Labs

[email protected]

Michele Ilich-Daubas is a former senior legal analyst and records custodian turned crypto fraud fighter and public speaker. Dedicated to fighting the devastating and, unfortunately, prolific crime of pig butchering, her passion lies in the education of the public, especially the elderly, of the tactics used by scammers to lure individuals into these schemes. By focusing on what makes a person vulnerable, her hope is to empower potential victims with the awareness that when something does not feel right, to allow themselves a moment to stop, breath and think before reacting. And ultimately, it is her desire to bring the devastation caused by this crime to the attention of Meta Platforms (Facebook and Instagram) where these crimes are committed extensively through fake accounts and false advertising and convince Meta to join forces with Operation Shamrock to raise the level of awareness for both the public and our legislators, shining a blinding light on the scammers’ sole goal: To strip the United States of its generational wealth.

Operation Shamrock

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