Scammer Payback Podcast

The Biggest Ponzi Scheme in Washington

Tod McDonald, founder of Valid8 Financial and former forensic accountant, joins the Scammer Payback Podcast to tell the story of Darren Berg, the mastermind behind what became one of the largest Ponzi schemes in Washington State history.In this episode, we explore how Berg convinced hundreds of investors to hand over millions of dollars, the promises that fueled the scheme, and the warning signs that were missed along the way. Tod shares his firsthand experience investigating complex financial crimes and explains what it takes to unravel a fraud operation involving hundreds of victims, millions of dollars in losses, and years of deception. Tod also explains how his work on major financial investigations ultimately led him to create Valid8 Financial, a platform designed to help investigators and organizations analyze financial data more effectively.

Exposing the Ransomware Crisis (feat. Anja Shortland)

Ransomware has quietly become one of the most powerful criminal business models in the world. It shuts down hospitals, cripples infrastructure, and extracts millions from companies that often have no choice but to pay. But behind the headlines is something far more structured and, in some ways, more predictable than you might think. In this episode of the Scammer Payback Podcast, we sit down with Anja Shortland to break down how this ecosystem actually works. We unpack ransomware in simple terms before zooming out to the bigger picture: how these groups operate, why they’re so effective, and what keeps the whole system running. We also get into what really happens during an attack, the decision-making process behind paying or refusing a ransom, and the role insurers, negotiators, and even reputation play in shaping outcomes. Finally, we look ahead at how AI could change the landscape and whether ransomware is something we can realistically reduce or just learn to live with. If you’ve ever wondered why ransomware keeps working, and why it’s so hard to stop, this conversation breaks it down.

"The Crime of Our Time!" Former FBI Agent Speaks Out

Former FBI agent Brady Finta joins the Scammer Payback Podcast to break down how the FBI actually fights scams, transnational organized crime, and elder fraud. With more than 20 years of experience targeting criminal networks, Finta shares behind-the-scenes insight into major scam investigations like the first elder fraud RICO case. AnyDesk is incredible and one of the biggest contributors in helping fight back against scammers! To learn more about AnyDesk, visit https://anydesk.com/en [https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description&redir_token=QUFFLUhqbG96X2tDNjhLV1NIT3plYkZwbTlaSUkwRjV2UXxBQ3Jtc0ttRFJJSjAteXAwbkx0XzdoMkF1R2taTmtyOVU5VEcxQjlEbzVzT3FqLTN0ZWdJaUlvdGh5S2VFamVES0lFMHJTTEgxaUNWRTV2Y093Sm5Sd3gtdGY5U3hZYTVQeS1DUjNFZWd1ZnpWdE9EOXdGVzFLdw&q=https%3A%2F%2Fanydesk.com%2Fen&v=O19JSONiJWU]

Tech CEO: Banks Can Do More to Stop Scams

Al Pascual, CEO of Scamnetic and a leading expert in fraud and financial crime, joins the Scammer Payback Podcast to answer a critical question: why aren’t banks doing more to stop scams? In this episode, we dive into the growing gap between modern scam tactics and outdated fraud prevention systems, and why financial institutions often fail to intervene before victims lose money. Al Pascual shares insights from his role at Scamnetic, a company focused on detecting and preventing scams in real time. Follow the Scammer Payback Podcast for more conversations with cybersecurity experts, investigators, and industry leaders working to expose scams and protect consumers.

The Company Google Doesn't Want You To Know About...

AnyDesk is incredible and one of the biggest contributors in helping fight back against scammers! To learn more about AnyDesk, visit https://anydesk.com/en [https://anydesk.com/en] Proton CEO Andy Yen joins us for a conversation about online privacy, Big Tech surveillance, and why more people are trying to de-Google their lives. Andy explains how companies like Google built their business around collecting and monetizing user data, why corporate surveillance may be more dangerous than government surveillance, and how Proton is building privacy-focused alternatives like Proton Mail, Proton VPN, and Proton Drive to give people control over their digital lives. If you're concerned about Google tracking, data privacy, cybersecurity, and reclaiming control of your online identity, this conversation breaks down why it matters and what the future of a privacy-first internet could look like.Andy Yen and ProtonProton Born Private: https://proton.me/blog/born-private [https://proton.me/blog/born-private]Proton’s YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ProtonPrivacy [https://www.youtube.com/@ProtonPrivacy]Proton’s X: https://x.com/ProtonPrivacy [https://x.com/ProtonPrivacy]Andy’s X: https://x.com/andyyen [https://x.com/andyyen]