In this episode of ScamRangers, host Ayelet Biger-Levin welcomes back fraud and financial crime expert Ken Palla to discuss the evolving global response to scams. They dive into Australia’s groundbreaking Scam Prevention Framework, lessons from the UK’s Contingent Reimbursement Model and Online Safety Act, and why the U.S. lags behind in fraud prevention. Ken shares insights on the need for ecosystem-wide collaboration, financial institutions' role in scam prevention, and the regulatory challenges hindering progress in the U.S.

Tune in to learn:

 * How Australia reduced scam losses by nearly 30% in one year
 * The UK’s mandatory scam reimbursement regulation and its implications
 * Why financial institutions must take a proactive role in scam prevention
 * The challenges and opportunities for data sharing and fraud controls in the U.S.
 * The rise of AI-driven scams and what banks can do to protect their customers

Links Mentioned in This Episode:

 * Ken Palla on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ken-palla-09b585/
 * Ken Palla’s Blog on the California Senate Hearing: https://www.biocatch.com/blog/california-senate-scam-prevention
 * Aspen Institute Financial Health Task Force : https://fraudtaskforce.aspeninstitute.org/
 * Latest FTC Scam Statistics Report?: https://www.ftc.gov/news-events/news/press-releases/2025/03/new-ftc-data-show-big-jump-reported-losses-fraud-125-billion-2024

This podcast is hosted by Ayelet Biger-Levin, who has spent the last 15 years building technology to help financial institutions authenticate their customers and identify fraud. She believes that when it comes to scams, the story starts well before the transaction. Ayelet created this podcast to talk about the human side of scams and to learn from those dedicated to advocating for scam victims and taking action against fraud.

Be sure to follow Ayelet on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ayelet-biger-levin/
Learn more about her work at RangersAI: https://www.rangersai.com/

How Australia Slashed Scam Losses by 30% & What’s Missing in the U.S., A Conversation with Ken Palla, Former Director, MUFG Union Bank

In this episode, we explore the groundbreaking research of Prof. David Maimon, a leading expert in cybersecurity and online fraud. Prof. Maimon discusses his innovative methods for studying the cybercrime ecosystem, including embedding in fraudsters' digital environments, analyzing business email compromise scams, and uncovering the use of deepfake technology in modern fraud. Learn how his evidence-based approach bridges the gap between academic research and practical applications, providing actionable insights to combat online scams effectively.

You can find his research here: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/David-Maimon

Connect with Prof. David Maimon on LinkedIn: David Maimon LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-maimon-29343632/]

About the Host:
This podcast is hosted by Ayelet Biger-Levin, who has spent the last 15 years building technology to help financial institutions authenticate their customers and identify fraud. She believes that when it comes to scams, the story starts well before the transaction. Ayelet created this podcast to talk about the human side of scams and to learn from those dedicated to advocating for scam victims and taking action against fraud.

Be sure to follow Ayelet on LinkedIn: Ayelet Biger-Levin: [https://www.linkedin.com/in/ayelet-biger-levin/] https://www.linkedin.com/in/ayelet-biger-levin/
Learn more about her work at RangersAI: https://www.rangersai.com/

Deceptive Practices: A Deep Dive into Online Scammers’ Behavior, A conversation with David Maimon,  Professor at Georgia State University

In this episode, talk to Toby Evans, Head of Economic Crime, Australian Payments Network to explore the newly introduced Australian scams prevention framework and its implications for various industries. We discuss the importance of collaborative efforts across sectors, including banking, telecommunications, and digital platforms, in addressing the growing threat of scams.

Key Themes:

 * New Legislation Overview: Introduction of a draft scams prevention framework open for comments until October 4, 2024.
   Key principles include scam prevention, detection, and disruption.
   
 * Scope Beyond Banks: Emphasis on the involvement of multiple sectors, including telecommunications and digital platforms.
   Recognition of the shared responsibility to combat scams.
   
 * Significant Penalties: Overview of substantial penalties for non-compliance, with fines reaching over $50 million for severe breaches.
   Importance of companies taking proactive measures against scams.
   
 * Collaborative Approach: Insights from Toby Evans on the necessity for all industries to work together in the fight against scams.
   Discussion on how a unified front can enhance protection for consumers.
   
 * Proactive Measures and Strategies: Importance of businesses implementing robust anti-scam strategies.
   Encouragement for sharing intelligence and aligning efforts to create a safer environment.
   

Follow Toby On LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/toby-evans-635661231/



This podcast is hosted by Ayelet Biger-Levin  who spent the last 15 years building technology to help financial institutions authenticate their customers and identify fraud. She believes that when it comes to scams, the story starts well before the transaction. She has created this podcast to talk about the human side of scams, and to learn from people who have decided to dedicate their lives to speaking up on behalf of scam victims and who take action to solve this problem. Be sure to follow her on LinkedIn and reach out to learn about her additional activities in this space.     h

ttps://www.linkedin.com/in/ayelet-biger-levin/  

ScamRanger: https://scamranger.ai/

04 Sep 2024 · 46 minutes

The Australian Formula for Tackling Scams: A Shared Responsibility Approach, A conversation with Toby Evans, Head of Economic Crime, Australian Payments Network

In this episode of ScamRangers, we dive into the transformative power of storytelling with Niels Vink and Kathelijne Swaak from ABN AMRO's fraud prevention team. Discover how ABN AMRO is flipping social engineering on its head by using real customer stories to strengthen their fraud awareness strategies.

Learn how this innovative approach creates a deeper emotional connection with customers, making fraud prevention messages more memorable and impactful. We also explore insights from Nobel laureate Daniel Kahneman on decision-making and how ABN AMRO leverages these principles to better engage and empower their customers.

Key Takeaways:

 * How storytelling can effectively communicate scam risks and avoid fear.
 * The role of emotional connection in enhancing customer engagement.
 * The impact of internal collaboration on successful fraud prevention campaigns.
 * Addressing new fraud threats and reaching diverse audiences.

Tune in to see how ABN AMRO is leading the charge in protecting customers through the art of storytelling.



Here is more information about our speakers:

Niels Vink:https://www.linkedin.com/in/nielsvink1/

Kathelijne Swaak [https://www.linkedin.com/in/kathelijneswaak/overlay/about-this-profile/]: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kathelijneswaak/



This podcast is hosted by Ayelet Biger-Levin  who spent the last 15 years building technology to help financial institutions authenticate their customers and identify fraud. She believes that when it comes to scams, the story starts well before the transaction. She has created this podcast to talk about the human side of scams, and to learn from people who have decided to dedicate their lives to speaking up on behalf of scam victims and who take action to solve this problem. Be sure to follow her on LinkedIn and reach out to learn about her additional activities in this space.    

https://www.linkedin.com/in/ayelet-biger-levin/ 

ScamRanger: https://scamranger.ai/

Empowering Customers Against Scams: The Power of Storytelling, A conversation with Kathelijne Swaak and Niels Vink, Fraud prevention leaders at ABN AMRO Bank

In this crucial episode of Scam Rangers, we explore the dark and disturbing world of Sextortion. This crime occurs when online predators trick individuals, often teens, into sharing nude images or videos and then use these compromising materials to extort money, more images, or other demands. These predators threaten to share the images with the victim's friends and family if they don't comply. Our guest, Paul Raffile, a Senior Intelligence Analyst with a career dedicated to investigating online crimes and financial scams, joins us to shed light on this pressing issue.

Key Discussion Points:

Paul explains how sextortion scams unfold, the social media platforms commonly used by predators, and the emotional impact on victims, particularly teens. He shares advice for social media companies on preventing these scams, drawing on strategies from financial institutions that detect account takeovers. We also explore how money is transferred to criminals and the risk signals financial institutions can monitor to spot suspicious activities.



Resources:

Follow Paul on LinkedIn: https://www.nbcnews.com/tech/internet/sextortion-yahoo-boys-snapchat-tiktok-teen-wizz-rcna134200

NCRI Report: https://networkcontagion.us/reports/yahoo-boys/

New York Times: https://www.nytimes.com/2024/05/15/nyregion/social-media-scam-sextortion.html

Article on WIRED: https://www.wired.com/story/yahoo-boys-scammers-facebook-telegram-tiktok-youtube/

Training materials on NBC News: https://www.nbcnews.com/tech/internet/sextortion-yahoo-boys-snapchat-tiktok-teen-wizz-rcna134200

This podcast is hosted by Ayelet Biger-Levin  who spent the last 15 years building technology to help financial institutions authenticate their customers and identify fraud. She believes that when it comes to scams, the story starts well before the transaction. She has created this podcast to talk about the human side of scams, and to learn from people who have decided to dedicate their lives to speaking up on behalf of scam victims and who take action to solve this problem.

Be sure to follow her on LinkedIn and reach out to learn about her additional activities in this space.   

https://www.linkedin.com/in/ayelet-biger-levin/

ScamRanger: https://scamranger.ai/

Sextortion: The Evil Scam Targeting our Teens in Their Bedrooms, A Conversation with Paul Raffile, Senior Intelligence Analyst

In this episode, we are joined by Hailed Windham, a leading voice in the credit union community, who shares her expertise on the collaborative efforts to fight fraud. Hailed tells us about her involvement in multiple impactful initiatives, such as promoting awareness programs through the #cufightfraud campaign she initiated on social media and co-leading the bank and FI subgroup in Operation Shamrock. She also discusses her active role in Mission Omega, highlighting the importance of coordinated efforts in fraud prevention.

Hailed further explains how she is driving the fight against #pigbutechering scams with the Crypto Coalition in South Carolina, aiming to drive regulatory changes and improve enforcement against cryptocurrency investment scams. 

Tune in to learn about the innovative strategies credit unions are employing to safeguard their members and stay ahead of emerging threats in the financial sector.



Hailey Windham on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hailey-windham/

Banking on Fraudology Podcast: https://pod.link/1744207174



This podcast is hosted by Ayelet Biger-Levin  who spent the last 15 years building technology to help financial institutions authenticate their customers and identify fraud. She believes that when it comes to scams, the story starts well before the transaction. She has created this podcast to talk about the human side of scams, and to learn from people who have decided to dedicate their lives to speaking up on behalf of scam victims and who take action to solve this problem.



 Be sure to follow her on LinkedIn and reach out to learn about her additional activities in this space.   https://www.linkedin.com/in/ayelet-biger-levin/ 

ScamRanger: https://scamranger.ai/

Getting in Front of the Scam: How to Build Trust With Your Customers, A conversation with Hailey Windham, a Credit Union Fraud Fighter

In this episode of Scam Rangers, we sit down with Ken Westbrook, a former member of the US intelligence community, as he shares the story that sparked his mission to combat online scams. Ken opens up about his mother's unfortunate encounter with online criminals and how it inspired him to take action.

With the founding of Stop Scams Alliance, Ken discusses his efforts to drive change at the national level, drawing inspiration from successful initiatives implemented by the British government. He outlines the strategies employed across the pond and advocates for similar action within the United States, emphasizing the importance of government intervention in combating cybercrime.

Join us as we explore Ken Westbrook's journey from personal tragedy to public advocacy, shedding light on the pressing issue of online scams and the collective effort needed to address it effectively. This episode serves as a call to action for individuals and policymakers alike, urging everyone to unite in the fight against digital deception.


This podcast is hosted by Ayelet Biger-Levin  who spent the last 15 years building technology to help financial institutions authenticate their customers and identify fraud. She believes that when it comes to scams, the story starts well before the transaction. She has created this podcast to talk about the human side of scams, and to learn from people who have decided to dedicate their lives to speaking up on behalf of scam victims and who take action to solve this problem. Be sure to follow her on LinkedIn and reach out to learn about her additional activities in this space.   https://www.linkedin.com/in/ayelet-biger-levin/ 

ScamRanger: https://scamranger.ai/

Resources:

Stop Scams Alliance: https://www.stopscamsalliance.org/

Op Ed New York Times: 

https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2024/03/25/scams-ruin-american-lives-present/

Stop Scams UK: https://stopscamsuk.org.uk/

UK Strategy to sop scams: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/new-blueprint-to-protect-public-from-scammers

Australia strategy to stop scams:





Coordinated Action: The Key to a National Strategy Against Scams, A conversation with Ken Westbrook, CEO and Founder of Stop Scams Alliance

In the first episode of Season 2 of Scam Rangers, we dive into the perspective of a Fraud Strategy leader in a US financial institution.  What is the difference between dealing with traditional account takeover fraud (unauthorized payments) and online scams (authorized payments) from the perspective of serving and retaining customers? What are the considerations leadership should take into account and how do financial institutions create the right level of friction while protecting their customer from online scams? We also explore a bank's standpoint regarding forthcoming regulations on a global scale and the much-needed but often overlooked aspect of cross-industry collaboration in the United States. Lastly, Karen sheds light on the demanding role of fraud analysts who often double as customer service representatives and therapists, a challenge faced by many members of fraud operations teams

This podcast is hosted by Ayelet Biger-Levin  who spent the last 15 years building technology to help financial institutions authenticate their customers and identify fraud. She believes that when it comes to scams, the story starts well before the transaction. She has created this podcast to talk about the human side of scams, and to learn from people who have decided to dedicate their lives to speaking up on behalf of scam victims and who take action to solve this problem. Be sure to follow her on LinkedIn and reach out to learn about her additional activities in this space.   https://www.linkedin.com/in/ayelet-biger-levin/

ScamRanger: https://scamranger.ai/

Is Fraud Prevention the New Customer Service? A Conversation with Karen Boyer, SVP Financial Crimes and Fraud Intelligence, M&T Bank

In this episode we take a look at the activity around regulation with regards to online scams in the US, UK and Australia, following comprehensive analysis done by Ken over the last year. The overall outlook is pretty positive. We see a lot of good attention, especially in the UK, and we are optimistic about the future of protecting consumers. However, there is still a lot more to be done.

To learn more about Ken and his work, follow him on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ken-palla-09b585/



This podcast is hosted by Ayelet Biger-Levin  who spent the last 15 years building technology to help financial institutions authenticate their customers and identify fraud. She believes that when it comes to scams, the story starts well before the transaction. She has created this podcast to talk about the human side of scams, and to learn from people who have decided to dedicate their lives to speaking up on behalf of scam victims and who take action to solve this problem. Be sure to follow her on LinkedIn and reach out to learn about her additional activities in this space.   https://www.linkedin.com/in/ayelet-biger-levin/ ScamRanger: https://scamranger.ai/

Will Regulation Drive Action? Reimbursement and Liability in Online Scams, A Conversation with Ken Palla, Retired Director, MUFG Union Bank

In this episode we talk to Gabi Friedlander at Wizer about how financial institutions can create effective awareness to educate their customers on online scams, and how educating kids in school about basic concepts of online safety can help prevent scams later in life, such as romance scams, investment scams, sextortion and phishing, to name a few. At the end of the episode Gaby provides concrete advice on how you, as fraud fighters, can collaborate with your marketing teams to drive differentiated scam awareness for your customers.

You can find Gaby here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gabrielfriedlander/

Wizer: https://www.wizer-training.com/



This podcast is hosted by Ayelet Biger-Levin  who spent the last 15 years building technology to help financial institutions authenticate their customers and identify fraud. She believes that when it comes to scams, the story starts well before the transaction. She has created this podcast to talk about the human side of scams, and to learn from people who have decided to dedicate their lives to speaking up on behalf of scam victims and who take action to solve this problem. Be sure to follow her on LinkedIn and reach out to learn about her additional activities in this space.   https://www.linkedin.com/in/ayelet-biger-levin/

ScamRanger: https://scamranger.ai/

Online Scam Awareness That Sticks: How to Get Marketing on Board, With Gabriel Friedlander, CEO of Wizer - Free Security Awareness Training 

Scam Rangers - A podcast about the human side of fraud and the people who are on a mission to protect us. We will hear from activists, researchers, prosecutors, human trafficking experts and other advocates, telling the story of scams and scam victims from their perspectives. Most importantly - we can learn what we can do about it. If you are enjoying this show, subscribe, and follow me on LinkedIn for more information and news about online scams: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ayelet-biger-levin/

Ayelet Biger-Levin

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