In this episode of The Protectors Podcast, Mike and Mark sit down with NYPD Detective Daniel Alessandrino. Dan pulls back the curtain on a darker, more organized side of financial crime—where powerful gang alliances cross borders, and human trafficking “campuses” drive a multibillion-dollar global fraud operation - one call and one victim at a time.

It’s a chilling look at the new face of organized crime—and one conversation you won’t want to miss.

The Protectors Podcast - Protecting Lives, Rights, and the Truth.

Detective Alessandrino LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/daniel-alessandrino-7a37b1126/

Operation Shamrock: https://operationshamrock.org/

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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, Mike and Mark are coming to you from the 2025 IAFCI International Conference in Oklahoma City. They sit down with forensic accountant Steve Pedneault, who pulls back the curtain on what it really means to be a forensic accountant — how it’s different from traditional accounting, how financial investigations uncover fraud and embezzlement, and how his work supports law enforcement and prosecutors in bringing cases to justice. He also shares valuable insight for business owners — large and small — on the red flags to watch for and how to protect your organization from the inside out. It’s a sharp reminder that sometimes, the numbers tell the whole story.

The Protectors Podcast — Education is Protection.

Forensic Accounting Services, LLC: https://www.forensicaccountingservices.com/

Steve Pedneault LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephenpedneault/

Steve's Books: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Stephen-Pedneault/author/B0028S2T9W?ref=ap_rdr&isDramIntegrated=true&shoppingPortalEnabled=true

Justice for Fraud Victims Project: https://www.justiceforfraudvictimsproject.org/

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IAFCI Website: https://iafci.org/

Phone: 916-939-5000

Advertising Opportunities and Guest Appearance: [email protected]

They may go by different names—psychics, healers, spiritual guides—but the con is always the same: taking people’s money by promising the impossible. Today on The Protectors Podcast, Mike and Mark welcome Audrey Moy to the conference studio at the 2025 IAFCI Convention in Oklahoma City. Audrey is a retired investigator who now volunteers with AARP to protect elders from fraud. She’s here to warn us about the “blessing scam,” a cruel twist on the same tricks behind psychic cons—fake healers exploiting fear for profit—this time targeting people in the Asian community. Audrey shares the red flags to watch for, how to stay safe, and what victims should know. Knowledge is protection, and this conversation delivers both.

The Protectors Podcast - Information That Protects.

SFPD Blessing Scam Awareness Video: https://vimeo.com/1051992697?utm_source=chatgpt.com

AARP Online Fraud Resources: https://states.aarp.org/florida/online-and-printable-fraud-resources

AARP Watchdog Alert Handbook: https://www.huntsumres.org/pdf/aarp-fraud-watch-network-handbook-2022.pdf?utm_source=chatgpt.com

National Association of Bunco Investigators (NABI): https://www.nabihq.org/

________________________________

IAFCI Website: https://iafci.org/

Phone: 916-939-5000

Advertising Opportunities and Guest Appearance: [email protected]

Today, The Protectors Podcast comes to you from the 2025 IAFCI National Convention in Oklahoma City with a conversation that digs deep into one of the most controversial cases of our time. Mike and Mark welcome Professor Declan Hill of the University of New Haven, a world-class investigator whose students conducted the most thorough investigation into the death of Jeffrey Epstein, going further than any other agency to uncover what really happened. The results of their work are both eye-opening and hard to ignore. If you think you’ve heard the full Epstein story before, think again.

The Protectors Podcast - Shedding Light, Sharing Knowledge

Declan Hill, Univ. of New Haven: https://www.newhaven.edu/faculty-staff-profiles/declan-hill.php

Crimewaves Podcast: https://www.crimewavespodcast.com/

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IAFCI Website: https://iafci.org/

Phone: 916-939-5000

Advertising Opportunities and Guest Appearance: [email protected]

In this episode of The Protectors Podcast, Mike and Mark sit down with retired detective Tony Fiscella to revisit a case that shook a community to its core — the murder of 24-year-old Valerie Reyes. Known as The Girl in the Red Suitcase, Valerie’s story is as haunting as it is unforgettable. Detective Fiscella not only led the investigation that brought her killer to justice, but also carried the emotional toll of a case that changed him and his department forever. Tune in and hear the story behind a case that left its mark long after justice was served.

The Protectors Podcast - Behind every case, a protector stands.

The Girl in the Red Suitcase, by Anthony Fiscella: https://www.amazon.com/Girl-Red-Suitcase-Anthony-Fiscella-ebook/dp/B0F2JGD26B/ref=sr_1_1?crid=RK9IRF1I3SUX&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.sbOrVUICcyOOqzAsGInSrg.sM7e8oM1U9I7hOSVYfAePbExZ4JJtKAUeybEN1DXcg8&dib_tag=se&keywords=the+girl+in+the+red+suitcase+book&qid=1757380293&sprefix=the+girl+in+the+red+suitcase+bo%2Caps%2C262&sr=8-1

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IAFCI Website: https://iafci.org/

Phone: 916-939-5000

Advertising Opportunities and Guest Appearance: [email protected]

In this episode of The Protectors Podcast, Mike and Mark sit down with fraud experts Jim De La Torre and Jon Reader to unpack how criminals gain victims’ trust—and then exploit it. From email schemes to social media ploys, they reveal how much of your personal information is already out there and why vigilance is your best defense. They also emphasize the importance of educating yourself - whether it’s understanding how scams work, recognizing what to look for in a financial planner, or making informed investment decisions - knowledge is the first step to protection. Join us and stay alert - your best protection is knowing the playbook before they run it.

The Protectors Podcast - One Step Ahead of the Scam.

My advantage.us: https://www.myadvantage.us/

Jim De La Torre: [email protected]

________________________________

IAFCI Website: https://iafci.org/

Phone: 916-939-5000

Advertising Opportunities and Guest Appearance: [email protected]

On this episode of The Protectors Podcast, recorded at the TIAA Fraud Summit in North Carolina, Mike and Mark sit down with threat intel analyst Paul Raffile. When a close friend became the victim of a sextortion scam involving explicit images and threats for money, Paul put his skills to work. What he uncovered led to a massive collaboration with law enforcement, bringing together a wide range of agencies to expose the disturbing networks behind these digital extortion crimes—and to spark a broader conversation about prevention, enforcement, and how these cases are handled. This episode is a must-listen for everyone!

The Protectors Podcast - Protecting You From the Darkest Corners of Online Crime.

Paul Raffile LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/raffile/

Take It Down: https://takeitdown.ncmec.org/

StopNCII.org: https://stopncii.org/

________________________________

IAFCI Website: https://iafci.org/

Phone: 916-939-5000

Advertising Opportunities and Guest Appearance: [email protected]

Today we celebrate a major milestone—100 episodes of The Protectors Podcast! Since day one, our mission has been to educate and empower people worldwide, helping them avoid fraud, scams, and cybercrime while encouraging victims to come forward. With listeners in over 21 countries, we’re proud to highlight the incredible work of IAFCI members and their commitment to investigating and protecting our global communities.

For this special episode, hosts Mark Solomon and Mike Carroll are joined by executive producer Doug Taylor, editor Chris Warner, and a crew of past guests and loyal listeners. Together, we look back on the powerful stories shared, laugh through a few bloopers, and celebrate the IAFCI’s ongoing mission.

It’s a relaxed, reflective, and fun-filled episode honoring our journey so far—thanks to everyone who’s tuned in, shared, and supported The Protectors Podcast along the way!

Ben Franklin: https://www.youtube.com/@barrystevens6767

https://benfranklinprinter.com/about-barry-stevens.html

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IAFCI Website: https://iafci.org/

Phone: 916-939-5000

Advertising Opportunities and Guest Appearance: [email protected]

We’re on location live at the 2025 TIAA Fraud Summit for this episode of The Protectors Podcast. Today, Mike and Mark sit down with a guest who’s on the front lines of fighting fraud—and studying how artificial intelligence is changing the game. From deepfakes to data breaches, you’ll hear how scammers are using AI to get smarter—and how we can use it to stop them, because in the world of fraud, knowing what’s possible is the first step to staying protected.

The Protectors Podcast - Where Fraud Meets Its Match

Deep Media: https://deepmedia.ai/

Ally Madrone LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/allymadrone/

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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, Mike and Mark bring you a story from the 2025 TIAA Fraud Summit in North Carolina that highlights the power of prevention. Our guest nearly fell victim to a sophisticated credit card scam—but didn’t. Why? Because she had fraud alerts, banking notifications, and card monitoring already set up - all free services, all easy to activate, and all too often overlooked. This episode is a must-listen for anyone who wants to stop fraud before it starts.

The Protectors Podcast - Fighting Fraud Before It Finds You

Federal Trade Commission: https://www.ftc.gov/

________________________________

IAFCI Website: https://iafci.org/

Phone: 916-939-5000

Advertising Opportunities and Guest Appearance: [email protected]