This episode with Prof. Guido Palazzo blew my mind about how normal people turn into corporate criminals. Turns out it's less about bad apples and more about toxic orchards! We dish about all your favorite corporate disasters: Theranos, Wells Fargo, and France Telecom. Guido explains how fear and impossible targets are basically Fraud Fertilizer™.

My favorite part? Learning that having a career "Plan B" is your best defense against being pressured into sketchy accounting, and that reading novels builds more ethical muscles than those cheesy HR training videos. Next time your boss talks about "getting creative with the numbers," remember this conversation and maybe update that resume... just saying!

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/guidopalazzo-/

Website: https://guidopalazzo.com/

Get his book: https://guidopalazzo.com/book-project/

Buckle up, Fraudish! Jeff Grant gives "career pivot" a whole new meaning in this episode: from lawyer to opioid addict to federal inmate to ordained minister to practicing attorney again. Talk about a LinkedIn profile that raises eyebrows!

Jeff and his wife Lynn created the White Collar Support Group (therapy for people who've traded corner offices for prison cells) and now he's fighting for a Federal Expungement Initiative. As someone who investigates fraud for a living, I was fascinated by the "after the handcuffs" perspective we don’t discuss too often.

Don't miss the White Collar Conference 2025 on October 11th (virtual) featuring CNN's Jeffrey Toobin and Joe Bankman, father of crypto's fallen wunderkind SBF. Florida friends – catch Jeff live on October 9th at Church of Bethesda-by-the-Sea in Palm Beach (RSVP: [email protected]).

Links:

• White Collar Support Group: http://prisonist.org
• Conference: http://whitecollarconference.com
• Law Practice: http://GrantLaw.com
• Expungement Initiative: http://federalexpungement.org
• New Yorker profile: https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2021/08/30/life-after-white-collar-crime
• Jeff's Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jeff_Grant_(attorney)

I'm back with a conversation that connects dots I never saw coming! Robin Johnson brings the ultimate career combo - fraud prevention expert AND positive psychology guru.

We dive into why that perfectly nice Karen from accounting suddenly "borrows" $250K, how toxic workplace culture practically invites fraud, and my favorite revelation: positive psychology might prevent fraud better than another policy manual (sorry, corporate writers!).

Robin's journey from MBA to Safe Checks fraud specialist to positive psychology master's degree holder gives her unique insight into the human side of fraud. If you've wondered why your fancy controls still don't stop determined fraudsters, this episode has your answer: better humans, healthier workplaces!

Connect with Robin:

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/robinlitsterjohnson/
• Website: https://www.robinlearningsystems.com/

Mentioned in this episode:

• Safe Checks: https://www.safechecks.com/
• Book: Positive Leadership by Kim Cameron: https://www.amazon.com/Positive-Leadership-Strategies-Extraordinary-Performance/dp/1609945662/
• Rocky Flats National Wildlife Refuge: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rocky_Flats_National_Wildlife_Refuge
• TED Talk: "Forget the pecking order at work" by Margaret Heffernan: https://www.ted.com/talks/margaret_heffernan_forget_the_pecking_order_at_work

"My location holds no boundaries!" - Yin Johnson, whose 37-year investigative career spans continents and countless fraud cases. In this episode, we explore how Yin built her global investigation practice and leverages her extensive network to solve complex cases.

Yin shares her journey from sports instructor to renowned international investigator, offering insights on financial and intellectual property fraud across different cultures. We discuss how technology has transformed her work and the power of building strong investigative connections worldwide.

Kelly want’s her rolodex! 

Connect:

• LinkedIn: Yin Johnson
• Books: Reprobates | Killer Smile
• LinkedIn: Kelly Paxton

After 30 years in Jewish education, Rabbi Yonason Goldson became an ethics expert and speaker. As I discovered, it's not as big a leap as you might think!

In this episode, we explore whether today's world is actually less ethical or if we just see more wrongdoing due to social media and the 24 hours news cycle. We also dive into how AI is reshaping our ethical landscape and what ancient wisdom can teach us about modern dilemmas.

Yonason brings unique perspectives as a prolific content creator and host of the podcast 'Grappling with the Gray.' If you've ever had questions about navigating ethical gray areas in your professional life, this conversation delivers practical insights you can apply immediately!

Connect with Yonason Goldson:

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/yonason-goldson/
• TED Talk: https://www.ted.com/talks/yonason_goldson_how_i_became_my_own_worst_nightmare
• Podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/45dZ36DR6SxpFGGJSaXPui

Connect with Kelly:

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kellypaxton/

"I'm grateful she scammed me... at the end of the day I'm better for it"

Can fraud actually lead to positive outcomes? That's the provocative question at the heart of this week's episode, where I sit down with Johnathan Walton – a man who turned his own devastating scam experience into a mission that's helped countless victims reclaim their power.

Johnathan shares the shocking story of how he was manipulated by a con artist posing as an Irish heiress, and the unexpected silver lining that transformed him into one of today's leading experts on scams and the psychology behind them.

We also dive into Johnathan's latest project – the riveting podcast "Cocaine Air" – which chronicles the incredible true story of TJ Dominguez, a former cocaine smuggler who flew $2 billion worth of drugs for Colombia's most notorious cartels.

CONNECT WITH JONATHAN

• Official Website: johnathanwalton.com
• LinkedIn: Johnathan Walton
• Book: Anatomy of a Con Artist
• Podcast: Queen of the Con: The Irish Heiress
• New Podcast: Cocaine Air
• TV Series: Queen of Con: The True Story of the Irish Heires

CONNECT WITH KELLY

• Website: kellypaxton.com
• LinkedIn: Kelly Paxton, CFE, PI

I'm back with renewed Fraudish energy! In this captivating return episode, I welcome Lou Schachter, the investigative mind behind True Crime Road Trip and recent New York Times featured writer. Lou shares his remarkable journey recovering stolen paintings and documenting historical crimes from his home base in Palm Springs.

Don't miss his incredible story of connecting the dots that led to the recovery of two paintings stolen 40 years ago from the Harwood Museum in Taos, New Mexico, a case that garnered national attention in 2025 when the FBI returned the artwork to its rightful home. He also opens up about how his grandfather's unsolved murder sparked his fascination with historical crimes, including his upcoming project "Lust for Power.”

Lou Schachter is a storyteller exploring the intersection of true crime mysteries and travel. His blog features short, real-life stories about curious crimes and odd criminals in intriguing places, with a particular focus on the Desert Southwest. Lou's investigative work recently made headlines when he identified two stolen paintings that had been missing for decades, connecting them to the infamous Alter couple who had previously stolen a $100+ million Willem de Kooning painting.

Lou and his husband have lived in New York, Los Angeles, and now Palm Springs. He's traveled to 70 countries and is the author of two business books. Before pursuing true crime writing, Lou had a successful career in various fields, bringing a unique perspective to his investigations

RESOURCES & LINKS

• Lou Schachter's Medium Blog
• True Crime Road Trip
• The New York Times: Art Recovery Article (July 2025)
• The New York Times: de Kooning Mystery Article (2017)
• The Thief Collector Documentary
• Lust for Power

CONNECT WITH LOU

• Follow Lou on Medium: @louschachter
• True Crime Road Trip publication: medium.com/true-crime-road-trip

CONNECT WITH KELLY

• Website: kellypaxton.com
• Twitter: @pdxcfe
• LinkedIn: Kelly Paxton, CFE, PI

FRAUDISH PODCAST

Fraudish is a podcast helping those working in fraud prevention and investigation. Hosted by Kelly Paxton, Certified Fraud Examiner, Private Investigator, and Pink Collar Crime Expert. Kelly interviews outstanding fraud professionals to help you advance your career through origin stories, tips, and resources.

New episodes every Tuesday!

Scam calls. Scam texts. Scam everything.

This week on Fraudish, I’m talking with Alex Quilici, CEO of YouMail, and let me tell you—we cover it all. From robocalls to text scams to the rise of "romance baiting" (yes, we’re rebranding “pig butchering”), Alex breaks down what’s really going on behind that unknown number blowing up your phone.

We also dig into:

• Why younger people fall for scams more often than you'd think
• Easy ways to protect your privacy (hint: secondary numbers are your friend)
• How scammers are using tech and emotions to trap people
• And yes—safe words aren’t just for kids anymore

If you think you’re too smart to get scammed, you need to hear this. Stay skeptical, stay protected, and maybe don’t answer that next call from “Scottsdale, AZ.”

🎧 Tune in wherever you get your podcasts!

🛡️ More from Alex + YouMail:
Alex on LinkedIn
YouMail
Robocall Trends
File a Scam Report – FCC
AARP’s Scam-Fighting Podcasts

This week, I’m joined by my friend and audit pro Elizabeth McCormick.

We chat about her unexpected path into internal audit, starting her own company Audit Forward, and how tools like Power Query and AI are changing the game. Elizabeth also gets real about growing up with congenital hearing loss and how it’s fueled her push for disability inclusion in the profession.

We cover fraud, ethics, embracing failure, and why showing up as your full self matters more than ever.

🔗 Connect with Elizabeth:
LinkedIn
Audit Forward
Meet Audie

You know I love a good career plot twist, and this week’s episode has plenty! I’m joined by Dean Baratta, an intelligence analyst with a background that includes retail banking, WeWork, and more. (Yes, that WeWork.)

We talk about Dean’s unconventional path into the world of intelligence and ethics, what he’s learned about fraud along the way, and how AI is shaking things up faster than you can say “ChatGPT.” 

In this episode:

• What his time at WeWork taught him about red flags, ethics, and charisma
• Why AI is rewriting the rules
• The underrated power of soft skills and smart networking
• How to actually use your past experience to land your next big thing

Whether you’re in fraud, ethics, or just figuring out your next move, this one’s got something for you.

Connect with Dean Baratta
Connect with Kelly!