This episode of The Protectors Podcast is a tough one. Today, Mike and Mark welcome back Bernie — a past guest who bravely shared how he was targeted in a romance scam. Now he’s back… because it happened again. How does this happen twice, and why do these schemes succeed — even when we believe we’re smarter than the last attempt?

Also joining us is licensed professional counselor Cassandra O’Hara, who helps break down the psychological side of romance fraud — why it’s so powerful, how manipulation works, and what Bernie — and anyone listening — can do moving forward. Because romance scams aren’t about being foolish. They’re about being human.

The Protectors Podcast - Helping You Spot the Scam Before It Starts.

Cassandra Dessureau-O'Hara: https://www.mjabehavioralhealthandwellness.com/cassandra-dessureau-ohara-lpc

IC3.gov: https://www.ic3.gov/

________________________________

IAFCI Website: https://iafci.org/

Phone: 916-939-5000

Advertising Opportunities and Guest Appearance: IAFCIProtectorspodcast@gmail.com

On this episode of The Protectors Podcast, hosts Mike and Mark welcome back Kelly Gowe, whose mother was the victim of a devastating romance scam that ended in tragedy. Since her last appearance, Kelly, working with members of the International Association of Financial Crimes Investigators, has uncovered critical details that were previously missed. Her pursuit of truth has not only advanced her mother’s case but also led her to found a foundation dedicated to preventing romance scams and supporting victims. Kelly is launching her new podcast, Girl with a Microphone, which documents her journey into what she describes as real crime in real time. This conversation is about resilience, accountability, and refusing to let the truth stay buried.

4041 Foundation: https://4041foundation.org/

IC3.gov: https://www.ic3.gov/

________________________________

IAFCI Website: https://iafci.org/

Phone: 916-939-5000

Advertising Opportunities and Guest Appearance: IAFCIProtectorspodcast@gmail.com

Today on The Protectors Podcast, Mike and Mark welcome back one of their most compelling guests — Dr. Declan Hill of the University of New Haven. A world-leading expert on sports gambling, match-fixing, and organized crime in athletics, Declan joins us to break down how legal betting, corporate media, and underground networks are colliding in ways most fans never see. If you love sports, this conversation will change how you watch the game.

The Protectors Podcast - Real Investigators. Real Crimes. Real Protection.

Dr. Declan Hill LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/declanhill/

Dr. Declan Hill - Substack: https://declanhill.substack.com/?utm_source=discover_search

Crime Waves Podcast: https://www.crimewavespodcast.com/home

Gamblers Anonymous: https://gamblersanonymous.org/

________________________________

IAFCI Website: https://iafci.org/

Phone: 916-939-5000

Advertising Opportunities and Guest Appearance: IAFCIProtectorspodcast@gmail.com

This week on The Protectors Podcast, Mike and Mark are joined by Kathy Stokes, AARP’s national fraud prevention authority, for a powerful look at the National Elder Fraud Coordination Center (NEFCC) — a groundbreaking program uniting law enforcement agencies nationwide to track, connect, and prosecute complex elder fraud cases. Kathy reveals how coordinated intelligence is leading to real arrests and real prison time - and shares AARP’s scam defense methods designed to keep Americans protected. Tune in — because if this information doesn’t protect you, it may protect someone you love.

The Protectors Podcast - Protection For You and Those You Love.

Kathy Stokes LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kathy-stokes/

National Elder Fraud Coordination Center: https://www.fightelderfraud.org/

Federal Trade Commission: https://www.ftc.gov/

Pause, Reflect, Protect: Remember These Steps!

________________________________

IAFCI Website: https://iafci.org/

Phone: 916-939-5000

Advertising Opportunities and Guest Appearance: IAFCIProtectorspodcast@gmail.com

In this special New Year’s Eve episode of The Protectors Podcast, the team comes together for a year-in-review conversation reflecting on the cases, conversations, and insights that defined the past year. Hosts Mark and Mike are joined by Executive Producer Doug Taylor and Editor-in-Chief Chris Warner to revisit standout moments with expert guests who helped shed light on today’s most complex financial crimes. The discussion highlights key themes, lessons learned, and how the show continues to evolve. The episode also looks ahead to the coming year, teasing new perspectives, deeper investigations, and powerful voices listeners can expect next. It’s a thoughtful close to the year — and a compelling setup for what’s ahead.

The Protectors Podcast — Educating and Protecting, All Year Long.

_______________________________

IAFCI Website: https://iafci.org/

Phone: 916-939-5000

Advertising Opportunities and Guest Appearance: IAFCIProtectorspodcast@gmail.com

In this episode of The Protectors Podcast, Mike and Mark sit down with Detective Mark DiBone from the Maricopa County Police Department in Arizona to talk about a type of crime we haven’t spent much time on before — healthcare fraud. Mark walks them through a real case involving stolen identity, insurance fraud, and fraudulent medical billing that added up to nearly half a million dollars. It’s a complex web of deception that impacts hospitals, insurers, and most importantly, innocent victims. These crimes happen every day, quietly piling up hundreds of millions of dollars in fraudulent debt nationwide. Tune in — this is an eye-opening episode you won’t want to miss.

The Protectors Podcast — Inside the Investigations That Protect Us All.

Mark DiBone LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mdibone/

Federal Trade Commission: https://www.ftc.gov/

Identity Theft - What to Do Next:

1. Inform the three major Credit Bureaus
2. Contact the Social Security Administration (SSA)
3. File a Police Report

________________________________

IAFCI Website: https://iafci.org/

Phone: 916-939-5000

Advertising Opportunities and Guest Appearance: IAFCIProtectorspodcast@gmail.com

Recorded live on stage in front of a packed audience at the 2025 IAFCI Conference in Oklahoma City, today’s episode of The Protectors Podcast features U.S. Marshals Service veteran Kaitlyn Kent. Kaitlyn breaks down how following the money helps close violent cases and how the IAFCI’s network gives investigators the edge. Her perspective comes straight from the front lines of the Marshals Service, where financial leads can make or break a case. This is the kind of insight most people never get to hear.

The Protectors Podcast - Powered by Partnerships That Close Cases.

________________________________

IAFCI Website: https://iafci.org/

Phone: 916-939-5000

Advertising Opportunities and Guest Appearance: IAFCIProtectorspodcast@gmail.com

On this episode of The Protectors, Mike and Mark are joined by Sarasota Police Detectives Andrew Rowe and Carlos Verdoni—two investigators who’ve been uncovering one of the most surprising types of organized fraud happening today.

We first met Andrew and Carlos at the 2025 Oklahoma Conference, and their story stuck with us. What started with a simple fraud report quickly led to something much bigger—a network of prison-based gangs running multimillion-dollar scams that stretched across states and into the world of cryptocurrency.

It’s a story about connection, coordination, and collaboration—law enforcement across the country working together to shut down a scheme run from behind bars, and the detectives who helped bring it all to light.

The Protectors Podcast - Where Crime Meets Consequence.

Detective Andrew Rowe LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrew-rowe-bb8893270/

Detective Carlos Verdoni LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/carlos-verdoni-cfci-41ab1a83/

________________________________

IAFCI Website: https://iafci.org/

Phone: 916-939-5000

Advertising Opportunities and Guest Appearance: IAFCIProtectorspodcast@gmail.com