Master Manipulators: Inside the Season’s Sneakiest Schemes

How do they do it? That’s what we really wanted to dive into as we close out season two of Nickel and Crime (don’t worry, we’ll be back with season three very soon!). Because if there is one thing we know scammers excel at, it’s the skillful manipulation of human emotions to turn even the smartest among us into vulnerable prey.

In this episode, we’re looking back at the pyramid schemes, tech takeovers, deep fakes, good old fashioned analogue check-fraud, and more to examine how scammers exploit their victims’ deepest fears. We’re dissecting the common tactics and psychological swindles of fraudsters and scammers, and the ways they use stories, trust, and tech to hold a person hostage… because knowledge is power when it comes to avoiding becoming the next victim.

Yes, this is our final episode for season two, but we'll be back after a short break with more exploration into the brains of brazen financial criminals, so you can always stay one step ahead.

About the Show

Nickel & Crime takes you deep inside the true stories of the shocking scams that white collar criminals almost got away with. At a time when fraud is on the rise, and financial crime is increasingly sophisticated, go behind the investigations to understand the victims, the criminal minds at work, and the risk.

Each episode dives into the victims, the set-up, the sting, and that bold blunder that unraveled it all. From identity theft to social engineering attacks, and Ponzi schemes, Nickel & Crime breaks down some of the most fascinating and insidious financial crimes of the last decade and examines what new crimes are coming our way.

About Early Warning

Nickel & Crime is brought to you by Early Warning®, a financial services technology leader that has been empowering and protecting consumers, small businesses, and the U.S. financial system with cutting-edge fraud and payment solutions for more than three decades. Early Warning is also the company behind Zelle®, and the soon-to-launch PazeSM, a wallet that reimagines e-commerce payments. Early Warning partners with more than 2,500 banks and credit union brands to increase access to financial services and products and protect financial transactions.

Learn more about Early Warning at https://www.earlywarning.com/

What financial crimes fascinate you? What questions do you have about risk and security? Connect with Nickel & Crime by commenting in the reviews, or email us at nickelandcrime@earlywarning.com

This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis:

Chartable - https://chartable.com/privacy