Welcome to the Scammer Payback Podcast, where cybersecurity meets real-world justice. Hosted by the team behind the viral YouTube channel, this podcast dives deep into the world of scams, digital crime, and those who fight back. We sit down with ethical hackers, cybersecurity experts, scam-baiters, and even former scammers to uncover the truth behind online fraud. From exposing scam call centers to breaking down how everyday people are targeted, each episode offers insights, stories, and strategies to help you stay one step ahead of cybercriminals.
Senator Maggie Hassan (D-NH) discusses the government's new central scam reporting portal designed to streamline victim assistance and law enforcement coordination.
2 Jun 2026
The Biggest Ponzi Scheme in Washington
Tod McDonald, founder of Valid8 Financial and former forensic accountant, joins the Scammer Payback Podcast to tell the story of Darren Berg, the mastermind behind what became one of the largest Ponzi schemes in Washington State history.In this episode, we explore how Berg convinced hundreds of investors to hand over millions of dollars, the promises that fueled the scheme, and the warning signs that were missed along the way. Tod shares his firsthand experience investigating complex financial crimes and explains what it takes to unravel a fraud operation involving hundreds of victims, millions of dollars in losses, and years of deception.
Tod also explains how his work on major financial investigations ultimately led him to create Valid8 Financial, a platform designed to help investigators and organizations analyze financial data more effectively.
4 May 2026
Exposing the Ransomware Crisis (feat. Anja Shortland)
Ransomware has quietly become one of the most powerful criminal business models in the world. It shuts down hospitals, cripples infrastructure, and extracts millions from companies that often have no choice but to pay. But behind the headlines is something far more structured and, in some ways, more predictable than you might think.
In this episode of the Scammer Payback Podcast, we sit down with Anja Shortland to break down how this ecosystem actually works. We unpack ransomware in simple terms before zooming out to the bigger picture: how these groups operate, why they’re so effective, and what keeps the whole system running.
We also get into what really happens during an attack, the decision-making process behind paying or refusing a ransom, and the role insurers, negotiators, and even reputation play in shaping outcomes. Finally, we look ahead at how AI could change the landscape and whether ransomware is something we can realistically reduce or just learn to live with.
If you’ve ever wondered why ransomware keeps working, and why it’s so hard to stop, this conversation breaks it down.
20 Apr 2026
"The Crime of Our Time!" Former FBI Agent Speaks Out
Former FBI agent Brady Finta joins the Scammer Payback Podcast to break down how the FBI actually fights scams, transnational organized crime, and elder fraud. With more than 20 years of experience targeting criminal networks, Finta shares behind-the-scenes insight into major scam investigations like the first elder fraud RICO case.
AnyDesk is incredible and one of the biggest contributors in helping fight back against scammers! To learn more about AnyDesk, visit https://anydesk.com/en (https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description&redir_token=QUFFLUhqbG96X2tDNjhLV1NIT3plYkZwbTlaSUkwRjV2UXxBQ3Jtc0ttRFJJSjAteXAwbkx0XzdoMkF1R2taTmtyOVU5VEcxQjlEbzVzT3FqLTN0ZWdJaUlvdGh5S2VFamVES0lFMHJTTEgxaUNWRTV2Y093Sm5Sd3gtdGY5U3hZYTVQeS1DUjNFZWd1ZnpWdE9EOXdGVzFLdw&q=https%3A%2F%2Fanydesk.com%2Fen&v=O19JSONiJWU)
13 Apr 2026
Tech CEO: Banks Can Do More to Stop Scams
Al Pascual, CEO of Scamnetic and a leading expert in fraud and financial crime, joins the Scammer Payback Podcast to answer a critical question: why aren’t banks doing more to stop scams?
In this episode, we dive into the growing gap between modern scam tactics and outdated fraud prevention systems, and why financial institutions often fail to intervene before victims lose money. Al Pascual shares insights from his role at Scamnetic, a company focused on detecting and preventing scams in real time.
Follow the Scammer Payback Podcast for more conversations with cybersecurity experts, investigators, and industry leaders working to expose scams and protect consumers.
17 Mar 2026
The Company Google Doesn't Want You To Know About...
AnyDesk is incredible and one of the biggest contributors in helping fight back against scammers! To learn more about AnyDesk, visit https://anydesk.com/en (https://anydesk.com/en)
Proton CEO Andy Yen joins us for a conversation about online privacy, Big Tech surveillance, and why more people are trying to de-Google their lives. Andy explains how companies like Google built their business around collecting and monetizing user data, why corporate surveillance may be more dangerous than government surveillance, and how Proton is building privacy-focused alternatives like Proton Mail, Proton VPN, and Proton Drive to give people control over their digital lives. If you're concerned about Google tracking, data privacy, cybersecurity, and reclaiming control of your online identity, this conversation breaks down why it matters and what the future of a privacy-first internet could look like.Andy Yen and ProtonProton Born Private: https://proton.me/blog/born-private (https://proton.me/blog/born-private)Proton’s YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ProtonPrivacy (https://www.youtube.com/@ProtonPrivacy)Proton’s X: https://x.com/ProtonPrivacy (https://x.com/ProtonPrivacy)Andy’s X: https://x.com/andyyen (https://x.com/andyyen)
10 Mar 2026
This Could End Social Media Scams FOREVER
Senator Ruben Gallego joins the Scammer Payback Podcast to break down the SCAM Act, a new bipartisan bill aimed at cracking down on online scams, fraud networks, and the growing epidemic of digital crime targeting Americans.
We also talk about the role of Big Tech, Silicon Valley lobbying, and platform accountability, and whether companies like social media platforms and messaging apps should be doing more to stop scammers from reaching victims in the first place.
Special thanks to Senator Ruben Gallego!
28 Jan 2026
Is Facebook Scamming You?
Meta scam ads are out of control. In this episode of the Scammer Payback Podcast, we dig into Reuters-reviewed internal documents that allege Meta (Facebook and Instagram) makes serious money from scam ads.
With expert insight from Laura Edelson (Cybersecurity for Democracy Lab) and Martin Wolf (Financial Times), we break down how ad targeting, algorithm-driven feeds, deepfake investment scams, and “penalty bids” can keep fraud profitable.
Special Thanks to J Walker Smith, Laura Edelson, and Martin Wolf.
1 Dec 2025
Ex-White House CIO: These Countries are Behind the Most Devastating Hacks
Theresa Payton was the first female Chief Information Officer at the White House and is now recognized globally as a leading authority in cybersecurity. She’s an expert in AI, misinformation, and social engineering, with years of experience advising Fortune 500 companies and governments. Known for her clear insights and strategic thinking, she remains a trusted voice on today’s most pressing digital threats.
24 Nov 2025
The Godfather of Scambaiting: Inside the War on Scammers
Jim Browning is a well-known YouTuber and ethical hacker who specializes in exposing and disrupting scam call centers. He uses his technical expertise to infiltrate scam operations, gather evidence, and sometimes even take control of their systems to help victims and law enforcement. His work has been featured in major investigations, and he’s widely respected in the scam-baiting and cybersecurity communities.
Follow Jim Browning: www.youtube.com/@jimbrowning
17 Nov 2025
The YouTubers Fighting Millions of Scammers (feat. Kitboga)
Kitboga is a YouTuber and streamer known for his creative approach to fighting scammers. Through comedy, characters, and live scambaiting, he exposes the tactics of online fraudsters while educating millions on how to stay safe.In this episode, Kit sits down with Scammer Payback for the first time ever to break down their paths, their strategies, and how they’re combating millions of online scammers together.
Follow Kitboga: https://www.youtube.com/@KitbogaShow (https://www.youtube.com/@KitbogaShow)
10 Nov 2025
Social Engineer: YOU Are Easier to Hack Than Your Computer
Social engineer Rachel Tobac joins the Scammer Payback Podcast to reveal how she targets people, not computers. She shares real stories from hacking major companies, breaks down how social engineering exploits human psychology, and shows why even security experts still get fooled. Featuring a live AI voice cloning attack and a look into the rise of AI psychosis.
If you care about ethical hacking, cybercrime, or online scam prevention, this episode is a must-listen.
Follow Rachel Tobac
x.com/racheltobac (https://x.com/RachelTobac)
instagram.com/racheltobac (https://www.instagram.com/racheltobac)
socialproofsecurity.com (www.socialproofsecurity.com)
3 Nov 2025
Exposing a Dark Web Hitman-for-Hire Market
AnyDesk is incredible and one of the biggest contributors in helping fight back against scammers! To learn more about AnyDesk, visit https://anydesk.com/en (https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description&redir_token=QUFFLUhqbEg5dUxCdVRTNFFPSDNKRjRJejNLMmQ0R3ltZ3xBQ3Jtc0traG5taUJKM25peTdJV3pGVjVNQlFXMURQaXgtdzU4X2kyTDVuaGdmZTlFczhfaFF0ZWIwZ29uRzkzLUdvUENUQVJJY3N0TFJpdmdMdHZwZF9uQ21UTHpHaDlpR2tCVFpEUzl0LUJ6YXUxTktqUG1mOA&q=https%3A%2F%2Fanydesk.com%2Fen&v=xEdZwLRJttQ)
Today, we're chatting with Journalist Carl Miller about his investigation into a dark web operation he uncovered with ethical hacker Chris Monteiro. Together, they traced how a supposed assassination market was built, who was behind it, and what it revealed about how online scams evolve.Carl also shares how he first got involved in cybercrime reporting, from embedding with police during an iCloud hacking investigation to exploring the new challenge law enforcement has in keeping pace with digital crime. We discuss why a more cyber-focused approach to policing and better international cooperation is critical to tackling online fraud today.Follow Carl Miller:X: https://x.com/carljackmiller (https://x.com/carljackmiller)Website: https://www.carlmiller.co/ (https://www.carlmiller.co/)
5 Apr 2025
Hacker Explains How Dangerous Free Wi-Fi Can Be
Ryan Montgomery, known online as “0day,” is one of the world’s most recognized ethical hackers and cybersecurity specialists. He’s dedicated his career to fighting online child exploitation, using his hacking skills to infiltrate and expose criminal networks that target vulnerable individuals. Beyond his investigative work, Ryan is the founder of Pentester.com, a leading cybersecurity and penetration testing platform helping organizations detect and fix critical vulnerabilities before criminals exploit them.
Follow Ryan!
Instagram (www.instagram.com/0day)
X.com (www.x.com/0dayctf)
YouTube (www.youtube.com/@0dayctf)
Inside a recent episode
The Government's Plan to Help Scam Victims
Published 5 Aug 2026 · Transcript excerpt
[…] It's not clear when you read their websites whether your scam fits into their jurisdiction. And what that's done is really discourage people who are already sometimes reluctant to report scams, right? Because they think somehow they should have known that they were being scammed. They feel embarrassed that they were scammed. This really allows them a centralized place to give their information, know that they'll be able to follow the investigation themselves, hold the investigators accountable, right? But it also means that the federal agencies that oversee scam investigations and response will be able to detect patterns, share information, and begin to really go after these scammers with a centralized effort, right? […]
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