FraudKast

What makes someone cross the line from deception to exploitation? And what can decades spent confronting predators teach us about recognizing the threat before someone becomes a victim?

In this powerful episode of FraudKast, Woody Talcove sits down with veteran investigative journalist Chris Hansen, who says he has confronted more than 500 predators over his career, for a candid look at how predators think, how their tactics have evolved and why they continue to find new ways to exploit vulnerability.

From romance scams built on a fabricated relationship to risks emerging through online gaming platforms, their conversation shows how very different forms of deception can begin in the same place: finding vulnerability, building confidence and exploiting it. Hansen draws a direct parallel between the predator and the scammer, saying both know how to sense vulnerability. He also discusses his reporting on Roblox and the risks of people being approached within online gaming environments. The technology has changed. The tactics have evolved. But the search for vulnerability hasn’t. 

The fraud that makes the headlines is only part of the story.  An ordinary storefront. An isolated transaction. A routine case. Until someone starts connecting the dots.   

In this episode of FraudKast, seasoned fraud experts take listeners beyond the statistics and into the field, sharing firsthand stories from years spent uncovering fraud. They reveal schemes hiding in plain sight, warning signs that can be easy to miss, and seemingly isolated incidents that can point to something much bigger.

It’s a revealing look at what the numbers don’t always tell you: what gets missed, why it gets missed, and how the reality on the ground can look very different from the fraud reflected on paper.  These aren’t theories about fraud. They’re stories from the people who have chased it. And once you see what they’ve seen, it’s hard to look at the numbers the same way again.

Host

• Woody Talcove, CEO, LexisNexis Risk Solutions Government

Guests

• Amanda D’Amico, Sr. Director, Market Planning, Government Decisioning Insights
• Mark Haskins, Ph.D., Fraud Risk Consultant

Moderator: Amanda Armston, Director, Market Planning, LexisNexis® Risk Solutions

Guest Speaker: Richard K. Grape, Jr., Senior Director, Market Transformation, LexisNexis® Risk Solutions

Guest Speaker: Katie James, Head of DMV Solutions, LexisNexis® Risk Solutions

This episode of FraudKast explores why trust is under pressure for today’s DMVs and the organizations that rely on trusted identity credentials. As fraudsters gain access to authentic identity information, legitimate credentials, and increasingly sophisticated AI tools, they no longer need to create fake identities to succeed. The challenge has shifted from verifying a credential to establishing confidence in the person presenting it.

Katie James and Rick Grape discuss how AI-powered fraud, deepfakes, stolen identity data, and emerging digital threats are reshaping the risk landscape. They examine the evolving role of DMVs as the foundation of the identity ecosystem and explain why verification alone is no longer enough. The conversation explores how layered, adaptive identity assurance strategies can help agencies strengthen security, protect privacy, and maintain citizen trust while enabling seamless digital services. Listeners will also gain insights into the future of identity, including mobile driver’s licenses, privacy-preserving digital credentials, and the critical role trust will play in an increasingly digital world.

This episode of the FraudKast focuses on Real ID and explores the benefits of making services available to the public with the idea of speeding the process and reducing costs. This solution deployed in West Virginia has been proven to reduce the overall counter time by over 50%, thus increasing efficiency and allowing their brick-and-mortar locations to handle twice the issuance as before the system went into place. Citizens are also provided a checklist of required documents that are uploaded prior to the DMV appointment which eliminates mistakes. 

Our Guest is Everett Frazier, Commissioner of the West Virginia Division of Motor Vehicles.

Everett served more than 30 years in the auto industry, including as Director of Operations for Thornhill GM Superstore in Logan County. He also served as a consumer member on the pharmacy board for five years.

He was appointed as Commissioner of the Division of Motor Vehicles by Governor’s Office in January of 2020. He also serves as the Governor’s Representative for Highway Safety.

Commissioner Frazier has been married to his lovely wife for 31 years. Together they have one daughter and two grandchildren.

He has made a positive impact in the State of West Virginia, specifically taking advantage of the opportunity to maximize the use of technology for customers to make the DMV more efficient and user-friendly. He believes that every customer should be treated as a guest!

Because of his strong leadership and skills, West Virginia became the first State in the Country to offer fully digital vehicle titles, implementing the first-ever Clearing House section within the DMV.

Guests: 

• Gerald F. Lackey, PhD, Commissioner, Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles
• Beau Hurley, Chief Information Security Officer, Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles
• Joseph Hill, Chief of Law Enforcement, Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles

This episode covers challenges facing DMVs today with a deep focus on intentional fraud.  This is fraud at the counter committed by those coming in and the internal threats presented by employees that can sell licenses illegally. Speakers will also cover cyber fraud threats since the DMVs are moving services primarily online. 

Dr. Lackey has more than 15 years of experience in collaborating with government agencies, customer groups, and Fortune 500 companies to develop winning strategies, optimize business processes, and deliver on strategic growth initiatives.  He is currently guiding the Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles through a multi-year transformational journey to improve customer experience and reduce costs.  In his previous role as VP of Business Optimization at GAF, the world's largest roofing manufacturer, Dr. Lackey led strategic growth projects and productivity efficiencies across the company. During his time at GAF, he built broad networks within the building materials manufacturing, distribution, and installation industry.
 
Prior to GAF, he had deep relationships with manufacturing companies and energy-related public sector agencies as an Associate Partner at McKinsey & Company. His business acumen and transformation skills shine through his ability to identify winning strategies and mobilize people to turn them into value for customers and citizens. Some of these include launching a new paper and packaging company post an acquisition of equals, making significant and sustainable cost reductions in an international packaging company, establishing a lean operation program for a North American oil company, and driving an organizational transformation at a multi-state public utility.
 
Dr. Lackey's experience driving agile product development teams, designing lean shared service organizations, and leading strategic growth initiatives have made him a force multiplier in several organizations. He leads with a clear vision, strong passion, and inquisitive approach that brings out the best in those around him. He is deeply experienced in designing, planning, and executing complex value creation work streams with the input and oversight of boards, C-suits, and external partners. Dr. Lackey received his Bachelor’s degree in Sociology and Spanish from Duke University and acquired his Ph.D. in Social Psychology from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Government automation is being augmented with kiosk technology, allowing anytime access and better identity verification. Intellectual Technology (ITI), a leader in government kiosk technology, will outline the various uses for government agencies, the benefits, and overall cost savings. Department of Motor Vehicles (DMVs) are at the forefront of this technology, and we will learn why dozens of states have deployed hundreds of ITI kiosks. 

Fake IDs are everywhere. Go to any college and 60% of students have or have had a fake ID. Is the danger just a few drinks and a fender bender? Add in fatal accidents, fugitives that want to hide in plain sight, drug dealers, and the undocumented. Add in the financial cost to companies that are duped out of hundreds of millions by those that have stolen retail items and then return it under a false ID, or purchased vehicles with a fake ID with the intent of never returning the vehicle or making a payment. Tony Poole, the President of the Document Security Alliance, will outline these issues and give us an in-depth analysis of the national impact.

SNAP, welfare, or food stamps, regardless of the name they all point to benefits designed to feed the underprivileged.  Fraud has existed almost from the first day of the program’s inception back in 1939. SNAP has dramatically expanded over the decades, with a current national budget of $127 Billion. SNAP cards are now being cloned, with fraudsters getting away with millions, and the legitimate beneficiaries requesting repayments by the states.  This episode of the FraudKast looks at the SNAP program and the challenges associated with running such a large national program with millions of beneficiaries, and how fraud is taking place. 

DISCLAIMER: The information provided in this podcast is for informational purposes only and is not intended to and shall not be used as legal advice. The views and opinions expressed in this episode are solely those of the speaker/s and do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of LexisNexis Risk Solutions. LexisNexis Risk Solutions does not warrant that the information provided in this podcast is accurate or error-free.

Unemployment Fraud combined with the pandemic has created a multi-hundred-billion-dollar fraud against the American people. Who was involved, how this happened, and is there any way to clean this up will be addressed. International as well as domestic criminals have been involved, so this FraudKast will examine what can be done to keep this from happening again. 

DISCLAIMER: The information provided in this podcast is for informational purposes only and is not intended to and shall not be used as legal advice. The views and opinions expressed in this episode are solely those of the speaker/s and do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of LexisNexis Risk Solutions. LexisNexis Risk Solutions does not warrant that the information provided in this podcast is accurate or error-free. 

The next wave of fraud will be tied to the misuse of business identities. Businesses' identities can be taken over by fraudsters, or a fraudster can create an entirely new business with the intent of defrauding other businesses, government agencies, or individuals. Either way, those businesses are registered on the Secretary of State’s business registry and become listed as “In Good Standing”, which is misleading to the average citizen or business. During this FraudKast we will explore the shortcomings of the business registry and what can be done to solve the issues. 

DISCLAIMER: The information provided in this podcast is for informational purposes only and is not intended to and shall not be used as legal advice. The views and opinions expressed in this episode are solely those of the speaker/s and do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of LexisNexis Risk Solutions. LexisNexis Risk Solutions does not warrant that the information provided in this podcast is accurate or error-free.