Behind the Scams

About Behind the Scams

Behind the Scams is your essential podcast on AI scams, digital deception, and the social engineering impact shaping modern fraud. Hosts Nick & Sue Henley delve into romance scams, cryptocurrency fraud, email scams, and elder financial abuse with gripping stories and expert insights. Explore how healthcare ransomware, investment fraud, and treasury agent fraud compromise security—and learn cybersecurity tips to protect yourself. Each episode reveals the technology and psychology behind digital deception, empowering you with practical defenses against consumer fraud.

Publisher

Nick Henley | Social Engineering and AI Scams

Category

education · society & culture · true crime

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

30 Jan 2025

Latest episode

26 Oct 2026

Latest episodes

95 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   26 Oct 2026

   Jon Bon Jovi AI Romance Scam: How a Fan Lost $10,000 (EP94)

   Understanding the Bon Jovi Impersonation Scam In this episode of Behind the Scams, hosts Nick and Sue unpack the harrowing seven-month romance scam involving Leslie Pickett, a mortgage lender and lifelong fan from Louisiana who lost over $10,000 to an internet criminal posing as rock icon Jon Bon Jovi. This episode breaks down the sophisticated manipulation tactics used by fraudsters, including custom generative AI videos, customized emotional grooming, and coordinated fake management teams. Discover why advanced digital proof is no longer enough to verify identity, how isolation and sunk-cost fallacies keep targets compliant, and what practical steps you can take to protect your family and finances. Key Takeaways from the Episode The Danger of Personalized Media: Learn why receiving customized videos (such as a requested ear-pull or a personalized greeting) no longer proves the identity of the sender in the age of generative AI. The Payment Diversion Trap: Understand how scammers use scarcity, fake concerts, and cryptocurrency or peer-to-peer apps to bypass standard consumer financial protections. Supportive Intervention: Explore why shame and stigma silence victims, and learn how to approach loved ones with curiosity and fact-checking timelines rather than judgment or ridicule. Resources and Reporting Links If you or someone you know has been affected by a romance or impersonation scam, utilize the following official reporting resources and support networks: The Bon Jovi Impersonation Scam Prevention Guide: Review independent verification methods and step-by-step security measures to secure your accounts, emails, and financial portals. IC3 (Internet Crime Complaint Center): File a formal complaint online with the FBI at IC3.gov. FTC ReportFraud: Report consumer fraud and identity theft to the Federal Trade Commission at ReportFraud.ftc.gov. Local Law Enforcement: Contact your local police department to document financial crimes and secure an official report for your banking institutions.

2. 

   22 Oct 2026

   Uncovering the Financial Plumbing of Global Cybercrime: The Money Mule Threat (EP93)

   The Anatomy of Modern Fraud Networks and the money mule Pipeline When international fraud syndicates execute multi-million dollar schemes, their biggest operational hurdle isn't hacking systems—it's liquidating stolen cash without getting caught. Every single money mule plays a vital role in bypassing domestic banking security and moving illicit proceeds offshore. In this episode of Behind the Scams, we dissect how global syndicates recruit unwitting job seekers, romance scam victims, and trusted professionals to act as a money mule for complex cybercrime operations. From Federal Logistics to High-Capacity money mule Operations We examine the shocking federal case of Samuel D. Marcus, a 33-year-old former Department of Defense logistics specialist from Pennsylvania who evolved from a romance fraud victim into a repeat facilitator for a Nigeria-based network. Discover how criminals use fraudulent invoices, rapid layering, peer-to-peer apps, and Bitcoin kiosks, turning every compromised money mule account into a conduit for offshore syndicates. We analyze how an unwitting individual transforms into a knowing participant, and how investigators trace suspicious transactions across multiple banking institutions. Learn how to identify the warning signs before a vulnerable money mule faces catastrophic federal prosecution and years behind bars. Recognizing Red Flags and Protecting Your Family Understanding the critical warning signs—such as pass-through account activity, structuring transactions under reporting thresholds, mismatched corporate profiles, and sudden channel-hopping—can protect your loved ones from severe legal consequences. Learn actionable strategies to intervene safely, break the scammer's psychological control, and stop fraud before it destroys financial futures. Whether you are dealing with a compromised money mule profile or navigating the complex aftermath of an online financial scam, recognizing these behavior patterns is your first line of defense. Resources & Investigative References Federal Trade Commission (FTC): Report scams and review consumer protection alerts at FTC Scam Reporting Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3): File official complaints regarding internet-enabled financial crimes and money laundering operations through the FBI IC3 Portal Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN): Learn about Bank Secrecy Act guidelines and anti-money laundering regulations at FinCEN Official Site Stamp Out Scams, Inc.: Explore non-profit advocacy, educational resources, and scam prevention tools at Stamp Out Scams

3. 

   13 Oct 2026

   Crypto Investment Fraud | Inside the Trung Nguyen Van Money-Laundering Case

   In this episode of Behind the Scams, Nick and Sue examine the federal allegations against Trung Nguyen Van, a Vietnamese national charged—not convicted—with two counts of money laundering in the Western District of Missouri. The case centers on a Missouri victim who transferred roughly sixteen million dollars to a purported platform called Triangle and on wallets prosecutors say received more than fifty-three million dollars connected to fraud schemes targeting Americans. How Crypto Investment Fraud Builds Trust Crypto investment fraud rarely begins with a request for money. It often starts with an unsolicited message, a friendly conversation, or an online relationship designed to feel consistent and personal. Nick and Sue explain how scammers use apparent profits, professional-looking dashboards, false withdrawal fees, and escalating pressure to encourage larger transfers. Why the Fake Profits Feel Real A rising account balance can be theater rather than evidence of a real investment. This episode shows why a polished website, customer-service chat, or small successful withdrawal does not prove legitimacy—and why independent verification matters before any cryptocurrency leaves your control. Following the Wallet Trail Prosecutors allege that funds traceable to the Missouri victim reached a wallet attributed to Van and moved rapidly to a private, unhosted wallet. The hosts explain what blockchain analysis can reveal, what it cannot establish by itself, and why attribution still depends on records, devices, communications, and other traditional evidence. Crypto Investment Fraud and Money Laundering The episode breaks down money laundering in plain English and explains why crypto investment fraud investigations focus on both the original deception and the movement of alleged proceeds. Nick also discusses the substantial federal penalties that can apply when the evidence supports money-laundering charges. Disrupting the Infrastructure Nick and Sue also examine an earlier Missouri civil action involving a similarly named platform, Triangular. Federal prosecutors obtained an order that suspended access to two websites and pursued forfeiture of more than three hundred twenty-five thousand dollars in seized cryptocurrency. The discussion carefully distinguishes that civil action from the later criminal complaint. Warning Signs and Recovery Steps Listeners will learn how crypto investment fraud uses urgency, secrecy, fake taxes, withdrawal fees, and recovery promises to keep victims paying. The episode offers practical guidance for preserving chats, wallet addresses, transaction hashes, receipts, phone numbers, domains, and other evidence. What to Do When Money Has Moved Stop sending funds, contact the bank, exchange, or kiosk operator through a verified channel, and ask for the fraud or asset-recovery team. Report promptly to the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center and local law enforcement. Recovery is never guaranteed, but fast, complete reporting may improve the chance of identifying reachable assets. Why This Case Matters This case illustrates how separate victims, different websites, and multiple wallet paths may converge on shared financial infrastructure. It also shows why crypto investment fraud prevention depends on respectful conversat...

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Apple Podcasts (US)

5.0 / 5

2 ratings

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