Wicked Coin

What 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.

In 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.

In 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.

In 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.

What happens when a Chinese metal magnate decides to become one of the world's most daring tariff dodgers? Join Diana Shaw, Tatiana Sainati, and their special guest, trade-law powerhouse Greta Peisch, for this month's Wicked Coin episode where they dive into the staggering tale of "Big Boss" Liu Zhongtian – an aluminum industry tycoon whose audacious scheme to conceal aluminum imports helped him evade $1.8 billion in U.S. tariffs. From humble beginnings to the heights of China's rich list, Liu's story is one of ambition, deception, and a trail of ghost pallets that fooled authorities and investors alike. Greta and the team pull back the curtain on how Big Boss gamed the U.S. tariff system, why DOJ is cracking down on tariff evasion harder than ever, and what companies should be watching for as trade enforcement ramps up. Tune in for a wild ride through one of the world's most notorious corruption scandals that proves that, sometimes, the biggest scandals are hiding in plain sight.