IAFCI Presents... The Protectors

What does card skimming look like from the other side?

Michael Perez knows firsthand. Once involved in gas pump and ATM skimming, Michael combined his knowledge of electronics with an understanding of how to steal card information. Today, he’s putting that experience to a different use: helping others recognize and investigate the fraud he once committed.

From the 2026 IAFCI Annual Training Conference in Nashville, hosts Mike and Mark sit down with Michael for a candid look inside the world of skimming. He shares how he operated, explains the technology behind the devices, and discusses the warning signs that consumers and investigators should watch for.

Whether you’re filling up your tank, stopping at an ATM, or working a financial crime investigation, this conversation offers a perspective you don’t often get from someone who knows the skimming game firsthand and is now helping others stay one step ahead.

The Protectors Podcast - Real experience. Better protection.

Michael Perez LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaelperezcto/?isSelfProfile=false

Micclo: https://micclo.com/

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IAFCI Website: https://iafci.org/

Phone: 916-939-5000

Advertising Opportunities and Guest Appearance: [email protected]

Sometimes being a protector isn’t about running toward gunfire or putting someone in handcuffs. Sometimes, it’s simply about knowing what to say and being there when someone needs you most.

In July, Metro Nashville Police Lieutenant Mike Hotz responded to Nashville’s Victory Memorial Bridge, where a man stood on the edge, ready to end his life. For nearly 45 minutes, Mike talked to him. He listened. He connected with him. And eventually, that man stepped away from the edge and into Mike’s arms. The body-camera footage of that moment quickly spread across the country, showing millions of people a very different side of what it means to wear the badge.

While attending the 2026 IAFCI International Training Conference in Nashville, your hosts, Mike and Mark, had the opportunity to sit down with Lieutenant Mike Hotz and talk about that day, the experiences that prepared him for it, and the human connection that ultimately helped save a life.

The Protectors Podcast - Protecting. Connecting. Making a Difference.

Suicide Hotline: https://988lifeline.org/

Lt. Michael Hotz LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mike-hotz-209015221/

Watch Lt. Hotz’s Rescue: https://www.newschannel5.com/news/nashville-police-lieutenant-talks-man-off-bridge-in-moment-caught-on-body-camera

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IAFCI Website: https://iafci.org/

Phone: 916-939-5000

Advertising Opportunities and Guest Appearance: [email protected]

Welcome to a very special edition of The Protectors Podcast.

In 1987, seven-year-old Lauren Burns was abducted by her father and taken thousands of miles away to Jordan. With no cell phones, no internet, and no idea whether she would ever see her mother again, Lauren was left to begin an entirely different life in a foreign country.

Today, Lauren shares what she experienced through the eyes of that frightened young child. We’re also joined by Don Feeney, a member of the team that carried out the extraordinary mission to bring her home. You’ll hear the story from both sides - from Lauren’s life in Jordan and the moment strangers suddenly arrived to take her away, to Don’s gripping account of the planning, danger, and execution of the rescue itself.

It is a remarkable true story that eventually inspired the NBC movie Desperate Rescue: The Cathy Mahone Story. This is one special edition of the Protectors Podcast you will not want to miss.

The Protectors Podcast - Sharing Stories of Hope, Courage, and Perseverance.

Lauren Burns Bio: Lauren Burns is the author of Stolen: A True Story of Kidnapping, Rescue, and Redemption, a powerful true crime memoir based on her real-life experience of being abducted at age seven and taken to the Middle East. Her story made international headlines, featured on Good Morning America, Inside Edition, People, and Reader’s Digest, and later inspired a television movie. Today, Lauren is a sought-after speaker on trauma, redemption, and faith, and the host of The Redeemed Podcast. Through her speaking, podcast, and growing platform, Lauren shares powerful stories of resilience and restoration, helping others process past wounds, reclaim their identity, and experience freedom through forgiveness. Lauren holds a master's degree in physical therapy and lives in Texas with her husband and children.

Lauren Burns Website: https://www.laurenburns.net/

IG: https://www.instagram.com/laurenburnsredeemed/

Purchase the book here!: Stolen: A True Story—Kidnapped, Rescued, Redeemed

Redeemed Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/redeemed-podcast/id1741136389

Don Feeney, CEO Range 19: https://range19.com/personnel/

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IAFCI Website: https://iafci.org/

Phone: 916-939-5000

Advertising Opportunities and Guest Appearance: [email protected]

In this special episode of The Protectors Podcast, we step into the heart of the 2026 conference and hear directly from the people who make the IAFCI community what it is. Members and attendees from around the world share what brought them to Nashville, what keeps them coming back, and what makes the Annual Training Conference such an important opportunity to learn, collaborate, build relationships, and reconnect with colleagues from across the profession.

Join us for a snapshot of the people, conversations, and energy that make the IAFCI Annual Training Conference something special.

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IAFCI Website: https://iafci.org/

Phone: 916-939-5000

Advertising Opportunities and Guest Appearance: [email protected]

On this episode of The Protectors Podcast, Mike and Mark welcome Dr. Buzz Mingin for a fascinating conversation about stress - what it does to the body and brain, how it affects our judgment, and why scammers and fraudsters deliberately use pressure and urgency to manipulate their victims.

Dr. Buzz breaks down the physical and psychological effects of stress, including the role of hormones and the body’s natural fight-or-flight response. He also shares practical techniques for slowing things down, regaining control, and making clearer decisions -especially when faced with a suspicious phone call, message, financial request, or potential scam.

This informative and engaging discussion offers valuable tools for managing everyday stress while also helping listeners recognize when fear, confusion, or urgency may be used against them.

The Protectors Podcast - Recognize the Pressure. React. Resist the Scam.

Dr. Buzz Mingin: https://drbuzzmingin.com/about-dr-buzz

Dr. Buzz Mingin LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-buzz-mingin/

National Employment 360, Inc: https://nationalemployment360.us/

Integrated Functional Health: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLCw5Atj89ijRNBa4oAn-yNFIG_Ik4o0oh

BRACE.

B Breathe

R Record everything. Write down exactly what you're being told.

A Audit it. Read your notes back out loud.

C Call your Bunker Buddy.

E Evaluate the situation together before taking any action.

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BRAIN.

B Breathe

R Record everything.

A Analyze by reading it back out loud.

I Involve your Bunker Buddy.

N Now decide.

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IAFCI Website: https://iafci.org/

Phone: 916-939-5000

Advertising Opportunities and Guest Appearance: [email protected]

On this episode of The Protectors Podcast, Mike and Mark welcome retired prosecutor and nationally recognized elder abuse expert Paul Greenwood. Drawing on decades of courtroom experience, Paul shares practical advice for law enforcement, prosecutors, and families confronting fraud, scams, and abuse. From helping victims who refuse to believe they are being deceived, to building stronger cases and taking lawful action against suspected offenders, Paul explains what to say, what to look for, and what to do next. He also reminds us that vulnerability has no age limit and that the damage caused by these crimes can extend far beyond financial loss.

When someone you care about cannot see the danger, knowing how to respond could make all the difference.

The Protectors Podcast - Protecting Your Heart, Your Dignity, and Your Future.

Paul Greenwood LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/paul-greenwood-14841a5/

Operation Shamrock: https://www.operationshamrock.org/

National Elder Fraud Coordination Center: https://www.fightelderfraud.org/

S: Stop

C: Check

A: Ask

M: Mention

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IAFCI Website: https://iafci.org/

Phone: 916-939-5000

Advertising Opportunities and Guest Appearance: [email protected]

Gold bar scams are becoming more common than many people realize, and they can target victims of any age. In this episode of The Protectors Podcast, Mike and Mark speak with Tallie Stubbs, an anti-money laundering compliance officer with APMEX, Inc., and Ben Soldat of Grand Rapids Coins in Rockford, Michigan. Tallie shares her insights from the compliance and investigative sides, including how these scams unfold, what warning signs to watch for, and how awareness and patience can help people recognize the danger before they become victims. Ben also offers a valuable perspective from inside the coin and precious metals business, including how he helped prevent a victim from losing hundreds of thousands of dollars.

It is a timely conversation about prevention, awareness, and the warning signs that can help protect people before the money is gone.

Tallie's Contact Info: [email protected]

Tallie Stubbs LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/talliestubbs/

AMPEX, Inc.: https://www.apmex.com

Grand Rapids Coins (GR Coins): https://grandrapidscoins.com/

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IAFCI Website: https://iafci.org/

Phone: 916-939-5000

Advertising Opportunities and Guest Appearance: [email protected]

Text scams are everywhere - and they’re getting more personal, more believable, and more creative. In this episode of The Protectors Podcast, Executive Producer Doug Taylor interviews Mike and Mark as they examine real scam texts they’ve received personally. From fake wedding invitations and “wrong number” messages to property-buying offers, insurance pitches, and suspicious links, they break down how scammers try to start a conversation and how easily these messages can pull someone in.

The team reviews each message, discusses the warning signs, and even rates how likely someone might be to click, respond, or fall for the setup. It’s a practical, eye-opening conversation about how scammers use curiosity, urgency, and familiarity to get your attention - and what you can do to protect yourself before one innocent-looking text turns into something much worse.

The Protectors Podcast - Protecting What's Yours

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IAFCI Website: https://iafci.org/

Phone: 916-939-5000

Advertising Opportunities and Guest Appearance: [email protected]

This week on The Protectors Podcast, Mike and Mark sit down with nationally known investigative reporter John Solomon - who also happens to be Mark’s brother - for a timely conversation about the growing state of fraud, corruption, and abuse in our country. John has spent his career exposing wrongdoing, following the facts, and shining a light on systems that too often go unchecked. In this episode, he explains why fraud is not just a government or law enforcement problem - it is something that affects every taxpayer, every community, and every citizen.

Whether it is government waste, benefit fraud, corruption, or suspicious activity hiding in plain sight, John reminds us that everyday people can play an important role in protecting their communities. This is an important episode for anyone who cares about accountability, integrity, and protecting what belongs to the American people.

The Protectors Podcast - Empowering People, Exposing Fraud.

Just The News Podcast: https://justthenews.com/podcasts

Just The News LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/just-the-news/posts/?feedView=all

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IAFCI Website: https://iafci.org/

Phone: 916-939-5000

Advertising Opportunities and Guest Appearance: [email protected]

Today on The Protectors Podcast, we come to you from the 2025 IAFCI Conference in Oklahoma, where Mark sits down solo for a fast-moving conversation with members of the Wichita Task Force. These law enforcement officers specialize in retail theft investigations, but their focus goes far beyond small-time shoplifting - they’re targeting organized, professional retail theft crews operating on a much larger scale. The task force shares how they work with retailers, track patterns, build cases, and coordinate strategies to identify and arrest the criminals behind these operations. It’s a sharp, fun conversation with a team that clearly knows how to work together - and how to get results.

The Protectors Podcast - Where Awareness Turns Into Action.

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IAFCI Website: https://iafci.org/

Phone: 916-939-5000

Advertising Opportunities and Guest Appearance: [email protected]