Podcast
Wicked Coin
Hosted by Wicked Coin · EN
Podcast by Wicked Coin
12episodes
Episodes
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Keyboard Cartel: The Carbanak Story
1w ago00:35:10Tap to summarizeWhat if the most dangerous criminals didn't smash their way in – but quietly embedded themselves and learned the system from the inside? In this episode of Wicked Coin, hosts Diana Shaw and Tatiana Sainati are joined by Lyn Brown and Erin Joe to examine the astonishing true story of the Carbanak cyber gang, a highly disciplined criminal network that infiltrated banks across the globe and stole more than a billion euros without triggering alarms. Rather than relying on brute force or flashy hacks, the attackers patiently observed employees, mimicked legitimate activity, and even manipulated ATMs to dispense cash on command. Drawing on decades of experience in federal law enforcement, intelligence, and cybersecurity, the conversation explores how schemes like this succeed and why they're so difficult to detect, while also reviewing today's evolving threat landscape – from spear phishing and ransomware-as-a-service to AI-enabled fraud and nation-state activity – with practical insight into how organizations can strengthen their defenses, sharpen their response, and build resilience in an increasingly hostile environment.
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Pig Butchering: Crypto's Cruelest Con
4w ago00:31:39Tap to summarizeIn this episode, Tatiana Sainati and Diana Shaw are joined by colleague Frank Scaduto, a crypto litigator and podcaster, to unpack one of the most sophisticated fraud schemes operating today: crypto "pig butchering" scams. What often begins as an innocent wrong number text evolves into a deeply personal confidence scheme – one that has drained billions of dollars from victims worldwide. Our hosts break down how these scams work, why they are so effective, and how organized crime networks in Southeast Asia use fake exchanges, spoofed websites, and digital wallets to move illicit funds at breakneck speed. The episode also explores the role of cryptocurrency platforms, the challenges facing global law enforcement, and the red flags investors should never ignore – all while acknowledging the very real human cost on both sides of the scam.
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Poisoned Trust: The Farid Fata Scandal
Mar 1200:35:55Tap to summarizeIn this episode of Wicked Coin, Diana Shaw and Tatiana Sainati explore one of the most disturbing healthcare fraud schemes in U.S. history: a trusted oncologist who exploited patients' deepest fears, administering often devastating cancer treatments to people who didn't need them. The result was irreversible harm to hundreds of patients and tens of millions of dollars in fraudulent billings to Medicare. Joined by special guest Christi Grimm, former Inspector General of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Diana and Tatiana take listeners inside the investigation that brought the scheme down – examining the systemic vulnerabilities that enabled this years-long fraud, the tenacious whistleblowers who exposed it, and the remarkable interagency investigative effort that brought a swift end to Dr. Fata's reign of terror. It's a harrowing tale of greed and power, but also one of courage, accountability, and the critical role of oversight in protecting the most vulnerable.
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The Whistleblower Who Couldn't Look Away
Feb 1300:31:07Tap to summarizeIn this episode of Wicked Coin, Tatiana Sainati and Diana Shaw are joined by former government auditor and attorney Dr. J. Kirk McGill, who recounts his firsthand experience uncovering serious flaws in federal grant management. Kirk walks listeners through how questionable accounting practices, conflicted governance, and institutional pressure combined to allow massive spending failures to go unchecked. When his efforts to raise concerns internally were blocked, Kirk made the consequential decision to report what he found—triggering a years long whistleblower battle with real personal cost. The episode explores what it takes to speak truth to power, and what happens when the systems designed to prevent corruption instead work to suppress it.
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Bangladesh's Battle with Power, Corruption, and Justice
Dec 1100:30:41Tap to summarizeBribes wired across borders. Judges who flee the bench. A nation whiplashed between rival leaders while their corrupt regimes leave a money trail a mile long. In this episode, hosts Tatiana Sainati and Diana Shaw sit down with their guest, former FBI agent Debra LaPrevotte, to dissect Bangladesh's tumultuous corruption saga and the rise of Tarique Rahman, once branded "Mr. 10%." From secret accounts in Singapore and London to courtroom theatrics and acquittals, we ask the hard question: political persecution or provable kleptocracy? Follow the money and you decide!
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Backdating, Bar Mitzvahs, and the Namibian Getaway: The Comverse Scandal Unraveled
Nov 1300:32:16Tap to summarizeStep into the world of high-stakes corporate intrigue with this episode of Wicked Coin, where hosts Diana Shaw and Tatiana Sainati are joined by special guest Ira Mirsky for a dive deep into the notorious Comverse Technology stock option backdating scandal. Discover how a rising telecom star became the epicenter of one of the era's most elaborate financial frauds, unravel the mechanics of backdating, and follow the jaw-dropping flight of CEO Kobi Alexander from the boardroom to self-imposed exile in Namibia - complete with a legendary bar mitzvah! With expert legal analysis, real-world cautionary tales, and facts that feel like fiction, this must-listen episode exposes what really happens when power, deception, and accountability collide.
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Collateral Consequences: The Iowa College Sports-Betting Scandal
Oct 900:31:49Tap to summarizeFor the first episode of Wicked Coin's second season, hosts Tatiana Sainati and Diana Shaw are joined by special guest Colin Cloherty, a Wiley associate and former NFL player, who helps them unravel the explosive details of the Iowa sports-betting scandal that rocked collegiate athletics. What began as a quiet investigation into suspicious betting activity quickly escalated into a sweeping probe implicating dozens of student-athletes across multiple universities. With allegations ranging from underage gambling to falsified identities and insider information, the scandal exposed deep vulnerabilities in the NCAA's oversight and the growing influence of online sportsbooks. Tune in as the team explores the legal fallout, the ethical dilemmas facing college sports, and the broader implications for the future of amateur athletics in America.
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Wicked Coin Turns One: Where Are They Now?
Aug 1400:34:14Tap to summarizeFor this milestone episode, hosts Diana Shaw and Tatiana Sainati revisit the most notorious figures and scandals from the past year of Wicked Coin. From political power grabs and corporate corruption to banana barons and bribed admirals, the team checks in on some of the jaw-dropping developments behind your favorite stories. Tune in for a sobering yet insightful look at the progress made – and the setbacks faced – in the ongoing fight against corruption and wrongdoing.
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Deceiving Your Way to the American Dream: The George Santos Story
Jul 1700:36:34Tap to summarizeIn this jaw-dropping episode of Wicked Coin, hosts Diana Shaw and Tatiana Sainati are joined by their Wiley colleague Rob Walker – former Chief Counsel to both the House and Senate Ethics Committees – for an unflinching look at the rise and fall of George Santos. From fabricating his résumé and heritage to defrauding donors and misusing campaign funds, Santos' story is a masterclass in audacity and deception. Tune in as the Wiley team unpacks how a man built on lies made it to Congress – and what ultimately brought him down. For more on the rise and fall of George Santos, check out "The Fabulist: The Lying, Hustling, Grifting, Stealing, and Very American Legend of George Santos" by Mark Chiusano.
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Signed, Sealed, Prosecuted: The UK Post Office Scandal
Jun 2600:32:52Tap to summarizeJoin hosts Tatiana Sainati and Diana Shaw as they unravel one of the most shocking corruption scandals in modern British history – the UK Post Office Horizon debacle. From a centuries-old institution to a catastrophic IT failure that led to the wrongful prosecution of over 900 subpostmasters, this episode dives deep into how systemic failure, blind institutional loyalty, and a flawed sense of virtue devastated lives. Prepare to be outraged by a cover-up that shattered lives and public trust for decades.
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