Why do so many fraud victims choose to quietly move on rather than pursue criminal charges? In this episode, I explore this frustrating reality with Natalie Lewis, CPA and Certified Fraud Examiner, as we unpack why victims often choose the path of least resistance — and what this means for fraud prevention on a larger scale.

Natalie brings her forensic accounting expertise to our conversation, sharing what it's really like to work massive fraud cases with mountains of discovery and impossibly tight deadlines. We discuss how to stay sane when you're drowning in data, why prioritization and teamwork become your lifeline, and how data analytics can save the day — especially when company turnover threatens to derail an investigation.

If you've ever wondered why we don't see more fraud cases in court or how forensic accountants piece together complex financial crimes, this episode pulls back the curtain on the messy reality of fraud investigation and victim psychology.

Links:

• Connect with Natalie: https://www.linkedin.com/in/natalie-lewis-cpa-cff-cfe-a1700514/
• A Primer on Integrating Open Source Intelligence in Fraud Investigations: https://www.jsheld.com/insights/articles/a-primer-on-integrating-open-source-intelligence-in-fraud-investigations-a-forensic-accountants-perspective
• Fidelity Investigations - A Comprehensive Guide: https://www.jsheld.com/insights/articles/fidelity-investigations-a-comprehensive-guide-to-successful-claims-outcomes

Who makes the better embezzler: men or women? According to this week's guest, it's impossible to know because the truly great embezzlers never get caught.

I'm excited to welcome my longtime friend and colleague Eli Rosenblatt to Fraudish. Eli takes us through his wonderfully "squiggly" career path in fraud investigation, reminding us that there's no single route to success in this field—and that's what makes it exciting. Whether you're just starting out or contemplating a career pivot, Eli's journey proves there are countless ways to make your mark in fraud detection.

 We dive deep into Fraud in Pop Culture cause we are both nerds about it. Eli shares his favorite fictional fraud fighters and we geek out over the shows that get it right and wrong.

If you've ever wondered about the crimes we never catch or felt stuck in your fraud career trajectory, this episode will open your eyes to possibilities you haven't considered.

Connect with Eli: https://www.linkedin.com/in/elirosenblatt/

Eli's website: https://elirosenblatt.com/

Mentions: 

• The Bridge: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Bridge_(2013_TV_series)
• Great Detectives Archive: https://www.greatdetectives.net/detectives/
• Leverage: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leverage_(American_TV_series)
• Pat Novak, for Hire: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pat_Novak,_for_Hire
• Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar: https://archive.org/details/OTRR_YoursTrulyJohnnyDollar_Singles
• The Big Sleep: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Big_Sleep_(1946_film)
• Blade Runner: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blade_Runner
• Stumptown: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stumptown_(TV_series)
• Sugar: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sugar_(2024_TV_series)
• Against the Rules Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/against-the-rules-the-big-short-companion/id1455379351

You can't have good business in a rotten society — and when your company is unethical, your employees feel it. Ethics is like a muscle: ignore it, and it atrophies.

I'm thrilled to welcome Dr. Bettina Palazzo to discuss the real cost of business ethics (or the lack thereof). Fun fact: This marks a Fraudish first—I've now had both halves of a power couple on the show! Bettina met her husband, previous guest Dr. Guido Palazzo, at an ethics conference. Talk about finding your person in unexpected places, proof that you should definitely attend more events.

Bettina and I dive deep into the shifting landscape of corporate compliance and how leadership sets the tone for everything that happens in your organization. We explore why younger generations are fundamentally changing workplace expectations and refusing to settle for "that's just how business works" mentality.

Bettina brings fresh perspectives on making ethics practical, not preachy, so if you're tired of compliance being treated like a box-ticking exercise rather than a competitive advantage, this episode is for you.

Connect with Bettina:

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bettina-palazzo/
• Blog: https://bettinapalazzo.com/palazzo-blog/
• Compliance Cappuccino Club: https://bettinapalazzo.com/en/compliance-cappuccino-club-english/

For Fraud Awareness Week, I sit down with Tamás Kádár, CEO of SEON, for an in-depth look at how fraud detection has evolved into the systems we see today. We dig specifically into the topic of FRICTION and it’s role in the fraud world. 

Whether you're running a business, working in fraud prevention, or just curious about how companies stay one step ahead of fraudsters, this conversation delivers for you. Plus, Tamás shares some surprising perspectives on where fraud prevention is headed next!

Connect with Tamas: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tomkadar/

SEON.io

The Association of Certified Fraud Examiners (ACFE) is the world’s largest anti-fraud organization providing anti-fraud training and education. 

With over 30 years in the anti-fraud trenches, John Gill, President of the ACFE, talks us through his unlikely start as a legal writer to becoming a key fraud-fighting leader. His journey proves there's no single path into this field (good news for fraud career changers!).

John shares stories from his interviews with notorious fraudsters that had me taking notes on psychological red flags. We dive into why developing killer interview skills might be the most underrated weapon in your fraud-fighting arsenal.

Whether you're a seasoned CFE or considering your first steps into fraud examination, John's advice on building rapport, establishing trust, and continual learning applies. This conversation reminded me why fighting fraud matters in ways that transcend the financial impact – and why the field continues to attract passionate professionals dedicated to protecting organizations and the public.

Connect with John:

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/john-gill-cfe/
• ACFE: https://www.acfe.com/

Fraudish, a favorite reformed fraudster is back! Craig Stanland returns to Fraudish to share his continued journey of reinvention. And let me tell you, this conversation goes places I never expected!

Craig opens up about how stoicism became his unlikely lifeline after incarceration, offering practical wisdom for anyone facing life's tough moments (fraud-related or otherwise). We dive into the counterintuitive power of vulnerability, something most fraud professionals aren't exactly trained to embrace, and how it's transformed his approach to public speaking and connecting with others who've made devastating mistakes.

Whether you're a fraud professional seeking deeper understanding of what drives and reforms fraudsters, or simply someone fascinated by stories of reinvention, this conversation offers both emotional depth and practical wisdom from someone who's lived through the consequences of crossing ethical lines.

Connect with Craig: https://www.linkedin.com/in/craigstanland 

• Website: https://craigstanland.com/
• Book: "Blank Canvas: How I Reinvented My Life After Prison"
• Previous Episode: Episode 57 - Craig Stanland

Litigator turned a peacemaker? Well Doug Noll is no usual lawyer, and you won't want to miss his

Despite Kelly’s aversion to lawyers, she has invited Doug Noll on to discuss why he isn’t a typical lawyer anymore and how he got involved in the fraud world. Doug Noll is a former trial lawyer turned mediator who is known for his work in alternative dispute resolution and emotional competency. Doug shares his journey from starting as a litigation attorney to becoming a peacemaker. 

We cover: 

• How the prison population isn’t that different from the wider populations and his work with the Prisoner Peace Project
• How to really use boundaries in your life 
• Why most lawyers are lousy negotiators and how to be a better one yourself 
• Why emotional intelligence gets better as we age 
• How AI will change the legal profession

The way this lawyer blew me away with his emotional intelligence! Never thought I’d say that - so make sure to listen through. 

Learn more about Doug: https://dougnoll.com/

Connect with Doug: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dougnoll/

Follow Doug: https://www.instagram.com/douglasenoll/

Toxic leadership + unhappy employees = ethics disasters waiting to happen! Sound familiar?

This week, I'm thrilled to chat with Evie Wentink from Ethical Edge Experts who's revolutionizing compliance programs by putting people first. She shares why those mind-numbing checkbox approaches fail and how integrating employee wellbeing into ethics actually prevents misconduct. If you're looking to transform compliance from a dreaded requirement into a competitive advantage, this conversation delivers practical strategies you can implement immediately.

Connect with Evie: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/eviewentink/

Website: https://www.ethicaledgeexperts.com/

Book: https://www.amazon.com/LETS-TALK-ABOUT-ETHICS-Wentink/dp/B0DXCK3N4P

Fraudish fans, I've brought an Anti-Money Laundering (AML) powerhouse Becki LaPorte to share the fraud lessons and career pivots that keep you coming back.

Becki breaks down her fascinating evolution from therapist to Anti-Money Laundering specialist, revealing how her psychology background became her secret weapon in understanding financial crime patterns. For those of you navigating career transitions in fraud prevention, her journey through banking, securities, and technology offers a masterclass in building transferable skills that keep you relevant as compliance demands evolve.

This episode delivers tangible professional development for anyone serious about advancing their fraud-fighting toolkit!

Connect with Becki: https://www.linkedin.com/in/becki-laporte-cfcs-fis-a543b95/

Fraudish fans, we made it to 200 episodes! To celebrate, I'm diving into the ultimate fraud – death fraud – with death investigator Dean Beers. And yes, "death investigator" is absolutely as fascinating a job as it sounds!

Dean's been poking around suspicious deaths since 1987 (before some of you were born!) and shares some jaw-dropping stories that would make even your favorite true crime podcast blush. From "Oops, they're not actually dead" insurance scams to cases where the evidence tells a completely different story than the witnesses, Dean's seen it all. The best part? He breaks down how evidence-based impartiality is the secret sauce to cracking these cases wide open.

This episode is perfect for my fellow investigation nerds, whether you're working in the private sector or government. Here's to 200 more episodes of Fraudish conversations!

Connect with Dean: https://www.linkedin.com/in/forensicinvestigators/

Investigative Courses registration link and discount code:

www.InvestigativeCourses.com

Code: fraudish15

[email protected]

Truth Verifications: www.TruthVerifications.com (we offer a 10% discount or a 10% referral fee back to them, just tell us they heard on the podcast).

Books: their three books are at www.PrivateInvestigations.org (direct from us is a 20% discount from Amazon retail, and also includes taxes and shipping).

http://www.deathcasereview.com/

http://www.deathcasereview.com/truth-verifications.html