IAFCI Presents... The Protectors
From ATM Skimming to Human Trafficking, The Protectors Podcast takes you inside the minds of criminals from around the world with leading experts and the investigators who put them behind bars. Presented by the International Association of Financial Crimes Investigators (IAFCI), and hosted by International President Mark Solomon and Chairman of the Board Michael Carroll. The Protectors is a bi-weekly podcast that aims to educate consumers on the fraud, financial, and cybercriminal activities that are happening every second of every day. Don’t become the next victim. The host's and guest's opinions are their own and do not reflect those of mana...
Episodes
The Girl in the Red Suitcase: Detective Tony Fiscella and the Valerie Reyes Homicide
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, Va…
Earning Your Trust, Stealing Your Future: Jim De La Torre & Jon Reader on Modern Fraud
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 m…
No Way Out: The Psychological Grip of Sextortion with Paul Raffile
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 ima…
100 Episodes of Protecting What Matters Most—YOU!
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 forw…
The Good, the Bad, and the Artificial: A.I. and the Future of Fraud
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 …
Free Tools, Big Protection: The Fraud That Didn’t Happen
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? Be…
A Parent's Worst Fear: When Scammers Target Your Child
Children today are more vulnerable than ever to online predators—especially on platforms like Snapchat, where anonymity and impulsivity can collide with devastating consequences.In today’s episode of The Protectors Podcast, Mike and Mark si…
When Trust Is Broken: The Many Faces of Elder Abuse
Elder abuse isn’t always visible—and it’s more common than most people realize. In this episode of The Protectors Podcast, recorded at the 2025 TIAA Fraud Summit, Mike and Mark are joined by Kristy Preston and Meredith Smith, two experts wi…
Tim Brady Unfiltered — Live from the TIAA 2025 Fraud Summit
In a landmark episode recorded live on stage at the 2025 TIAA Cyber Summit in Charlotte, North Carolina, The Protectors Podcast took center stage before a massive crowd of fraud fighters, cyber experts, financial crime investigators, and la…
When Local Police Step Up: Strengthening the Fight Against Online Scams
Welcome to The Protectors Podcast. In this episode, we look at a case that proves local police can be just as powerful as federal agencies when it comes to romance scams. A determined detective helped our guest find justice—and she’s now he…
Hooked by a Heartstring: The Hidden Risks of Online Romance
Online dating is now the go-to way to meet people, but it also opens the door to scams. In this episode of The Protectors Podcast, Mike and Mark talk with a man who became the target of a romance scam. It’s an emotional, revealing conversat…
Inside the SATGs: Organized Crime Comes to Your Neighborhood
Welcome to The Protectors Podcast — where real experts tackle real threats. This week, Doug Taylor steps in for Mike as co-host alongside Mark for an eye-opening conversation with a special guest expert on home and business burglaries. The …
Fool’s Gold: How Criminals Turn Bars into Billions
Welcome to our next episode of The Protectors Podcast. Today, Mike and Mark explore the intricate world of gold fraud—a crime that has defrauded Americans of over $126 million in 2024 alone. Scammers, often posing as government officials, m…
Seeing Isn’t Believing: The Rise of AI-Generated Fraud
Welcome to The Protectors Podcast! Today’s episode is a little different—our host, Mark Solomon, steps into the guest chair, while our producer takes over as cohost. Mark takes us deep into the world of AI and deep fakes, explaining just ho…
Fraud in Plain Sight: How to Catch It Before It Catches You
Welcome to The Protectors Podcast. Today, Mike and Mark welcome a subject matter expert who dives deep into fraud and scam prevention. She breaks down real-world scenarios, highlighting the red flags that people often miss. But more importa…
Financial Crimes Uncovered: The Power of Collaboration in Fraud Investigations
In this episode of The Protectors Podcast, Mike and Mark welcome Todd Riedinger, a fraud investigator who has helped countless scam victims recover their stolen money. Todd shares insights into the growing threats of romance and elder scams…
A Hole-in-One for Fraud Protection: The PAR System
At some point, fraud will touch everyone’s life. In this episode of The Protectors Podcast, we sit down with a fraud prevention expert who introduces the PAR system—Prevention, Awareness, and Recovery—to help you minimize risk and bounce ba…
Cracking the Code: Election Fraud, Cyber Attacks, and AI Insights
Hi there, Protectors Podcast listeners! This is Mark Solomon, and I’m especially excited about today’s episode because our guest is someone I’m lucky enough to call my brother—John Solomon. Many of you know John as a nationally renowned inv…
Ringing in the New Year with The Protectors Podcast
Celebrate the New Year with The Protectors Podcast! On behalf of the IAFCI and Protectors Podcast, I wish everyone a Happy New Year. We thank Modified Media, our subject matter experts, and, most importantly, our listeners and subscribers. …
Cracks in the Foundation: The Truth About Housing Fraud
Housing fraud takes many forms, from shady landlords falsifying rent figures to identity thieves opening leases or mortgages with stolen information.On today’s episode of The Protector's Podcast, we’re joined by an expert who unpacks these …
Holiday Romance: When Love Turns to Loss
Welcome to The Protectors Podcast. In this episode, Mike and Mark explore the complex world of romance scams with an expert who knows just how harmful these schemes can be. With tips to stay safe and insights into the emotional toll of thes…
Scam-Proof Your Life: Tips to Break the Fraud Cycle
In this episode of The Protectors Podcast, hosts Mike and Mark, joined by producer Doug Taylor, focus on a critical issue: repeat victims of fraud. They explore the factors that lead individuals to fall for scams multiple times and delve in…
Justice for Fraud Victims: Training Tomorrow's Fraud Fighters
Welcome to The Protectors Podcast, coming to you from the 2024 IAFCI Convention in Henderson, Nevada. Today, we’re joined by two experts in victim recovery who highlight the 'Justice for Fraud Victims' program—a unique initiative that bring…
Global Fraud Fighters: Uniting Against Fraud, Human Trafficking and Exploitation
Welcome to The Protectors Podcast, live from the 2024 IAFCI Convention in Henderson, Nevada. In today's episode, Mike and Mark sit down with two specialists in fraud and human trafficking crimes, including child exploitation and elder abuse…
Fraud’s New Face: Organized Groups and Silent Victims
Welcome to The Protectors Podcast, coming to you once again from the amazing 2024 IAFCI Conference in Henderson, NV. Today, Mike and Mark explore the growing link between gang activity and fraud with expert guest Dan Alessandrino. These are…
End of the Line: How Federal Agents Stopped a Relentless Fraudster
Welcome to another episode of The Protectors Podcast. This episode comes straight from the 2024 IAFCI Convention, where we sit down with two U.S. Postal Inspectors prosecuting a massive fraud case. We dive deep into the ripple effect of thi…
Behind the Bets: Mob Ties and Gambling's Grip on Youth
In this episode of The Protectors Podcast, we bring you a special session recorded live from the 2024 IAFCI Conference in Henderson, Nevada. Our guest is Declan Hill - Declan is among the world’s foremost experts on match-fixing and corrupt…
Highlights From Las Vegas - The 56th Annual IAFCI Training Conference
Highlights From Las Vegas - The 56th Annual IAFCI Training Conference Join us as Mike and Mark "hit the streets" to conduct interviews with IAFCI members from across the globe at this year's training conference. As always, the event was pac…
Start Smart: Guarding Your Family Against Back-to-School Scams
Welcome to the 75th episode of The Protectors Podcast. With the back-to-school rush in full swing, scammers are lurking, waiting to exploit students and their families. Today, Mike, Mark, and our expert in the field, Dan Szabo, break down t…
The Safe Bet: Inside the World of Online Gaming Fraud
Welcome to The Protectors Podcast. In today's episode, Mike, Mark, and our expert guest, Eric Scherdel, discuss the dark side of online gaming. They'll cover topics such as video game fraud, online poker scams, and the latest in casino spor…
Planes, Trains, and Automobiles Part 1: Exposing Travel and Auto Scams
Welcome to another episode of The Protectors Podcast. Today, Mark and Mike are tackling two rising scams that are hitting consumers hard: auto purchase and lease fraud and train ticket scams. With our two expert guests, we'll uncover how vi…
The Crypto Landscape: Navigating the Goldmine and the Minefields
Welcome to The Protectors Podcast, your frontline defense against the ever-evolving world of fraud and scams. In this episode, Mike, Mark, and our expert guest, Detective Matt Hogan, bring you the latest insights on how criminals are exploi…
Renovation Rip-Offs: Simple Steps to Avoid Home Improvement Scams
Welcome to another episode of The Protectors Podcast. Today, we’re tackling a critical issue that affects homeowners and business owners alike - home improvement scams. As temperatures rise and fall, so do the number of fraudulent contracto…
Balancing Act: The Promise and Peril of Artificial Intelligence
Welcome to The Protectors Podcast. Today, Mike and Mark uncover the intersection of fraud prevention and artificial intelligence with the help of our expert guest, Craig Bowling. From identity theft to online scams, join us as we navigate t…
Safe Eats: Protecting Yourself from Food Delivery Scams
Welcome to The Protectors Podcast - the podcast dedicated to exposing the latest frauds and helping you stay safe. Today's episode shines a light on a growing threat in the world of food delivery. We're talking about sophisticated scams tha…
The Crypto Caution: Navigating the Seas of Success and Scam
Thanks for joining us for our latest episode of The Protectors Podcast. Today, Mike and Mark explore the dynamic world of cryptocurrency and its darker side. While crypto presents promising avenues for investment, innovation, and financial …
The Silent Network: Understanding the Impact of Crimestoppers In Your Community
Welcome to The Protectors Podcast. In this episode, Mike and Mark explore the crucial role of Crimestoppers in our neighborhoods. With us today is a passionate advocate for community safety, a retired security professional who has dedicated…
Tax Season Scams with Kathy Enstrom
Welcome to The Protectors Podcast, your go-to source for staying one step ahead of the scams and fraud often accompanying tax season. As the tax deadline looms, so do the nefarious schemes of scammers impersonating IRS officials, "dirty" ac…
The Unseen Economy: Homelessness at the Heart of Covert Banking Scams
Welcome to The Protectors Podcast. On today's episode, Mike and Mark delve into the intricate world of bank fraud and check cashing, shining a light on one of the most vulnerable populations often targeted - the homeless. In this podcast, w…
The Jordan Demay Story: Sextortion Scam Takes Teen's Life
Welcome to The Protectors Podcast, where today, we delve deep into the harrowing world of sextortion and its devastating impact on thousands of individuals each year. Joining us is John DeMay, a courageous father who tragically lost his tee…