Easy Prey

What happens when the drive to succeed masks deep emotional wounds and addiction? In this episode, Jonathan Schwartz shares a powerful and painfully honest account of how his life unraveled.  Once one of Hollywood’s most trusted financial advisors, Jonathan worked with icons like Beyoncé, Mariah Carey, and Gwyneth Paltrow. On the surface, he had it all. But underneath the success was a secret struggle with gambling and drug addiction that led him to steal millions from the very clients who trusted him most.  His fall from grace was dramatic and public, ending in a prison sentence and the loss of everything he had built. But that wasn’t the end of his story. Today, Jonathan is sober and rebuilding his life with purpose. As Program Director at Altus Rehab, he now helps others find their own way out of addiction and shame. His story is raw, real, and full of hard-earned wisdom for anyone who has ever felt like they couldn’t ask for help. Show Notes: * [01:30] Jonathan is a different person from who he was. He grew up in Upstate New York and his father left when he was four. His mom had a lot of stress and took it out on him which created childhood trauma. * [03:34] Accounting was the subject that he was good at. * [05:02] Eventually, his cousin gave him a job working in Los Angeles for celebrities. * [06:33] In 2004, he became a partner in GSO business management. He got a break when Linkin Park was looking for someone in business management. Their success opened up the floodgates. * [08:37] He began getting more and more A-list clients. * [09:04] In 2010, he became addicted to gambling. * [10:01] This eventually led to embezzlement from his celebrity clients. He placed the bet with this bookie everyday for 6 years. * [13:48] He ended up embezzling about 7 million dollars. * [14:12] When he stopped gambling he had suicidal ideation. * [17:05] He always intended to pay the money back. * [19:37] Jonathan shares a time when the bank wanted to call Alanis.  * [21:03] There was a point when his partners started to notice something wasn't right. * [22:04] In 2015 he was fired by Alanis, but he continued to give his attention to his A-list clients. * [24:42] He didn't want to expose anyone to the fact that he was committing crime. He never told a soul. * [25:07] The dark secret was eating him inside, and he also had to deal with his unresolved trauma. * [27:12] How Jonathan had to come clean with his wife, because he was scheduled for a lie detector test. * [28:48] After failing the test, he was facing 23 years in prison. He negotiated a four to six year plea agreement. * [31:14] He ended up being released early because of COVID. * [32:11] He struggled to get a job and ended up going back to school, and now he's a marriage and family therapist with an emphasis on addiction and trauma. * [34:00] In prison he had the opportunity to reflect on his bad decisions and read a lot of books. * [36:33] He's proud to be sober and a nerd. His trauma is resolved, and he gets to help people in treatment not make the same mistakes that he made. * [41:34] Celebrities today need to understand not to trust their business manager so quickly and to make sure that they're proactive in their financial affairs and that they're asking for source documents. * [42:11] Audit your business manager with some level of frequency. * [48:43] Don't go out and spend all your money. Treat your first dollars as your last dollars. * [50:56] Jonathan has a book coming out in about 12 months. Thanks for joining us on Easy Prey. Be sure to subscribe to our podcast on iTunes [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/easy-prey/id1488678905] and leave a nice review.  Links and Resources: * Podcast Web Page [https://www.easyprey.com/] * Facebook Page [https://www.facebook.com/EasyPreyPodcast] * whatismyipaddress.com [https://whatismyipaddress.com/] * Easy Prey on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/easypreypodcast/] * Easy Prey on Twitter [https://twitter.com/easypreypodcast] * Easy Prey on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/company/easy-prey-podcast/] * Easy Prey on YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCCgy_xKrjiXghSgGFEAFdTQ] * Easy Prey on Pinterest [https://www.pinterest.com/easypreypodcast/] * Jonathan Schwartz - Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/therealjonathanschwartz/?hl=en] * Jonathan Schwartz - Altus Rehab [https://altus.rehab/meet-our-staff/] * Jonathan Schwartz - LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonathan-todd-schwartz-58585b333/] * Altus Rehab [https://altus.rehab/] * Gamblers Anonymous [https://gamblersanonymous.org/]

People used to think fraud was something that happened in the shadows, rare, distant, and mostly affecting big companies. But after talking to PJ Rohall, it’s clear that fraud is evolving fast, and it’s showing up in places most of us don’t even think to look. In this episode, I sit down with PJ Rohall, Head of Fraud Strategy and Education at SEON and co-founder of About Fraud. PJ’s work is all about staying ahead of scammers and helping businesses and individuals understand how fraud actually works. From synthetic identities and AI-powered scams to account takeovers and refund fraud, he breaks it all down in a way that’s both eye-opening and surprisingly accessible. We talk about how fraudsters think, what makes people vulnerable, and why collaboration is one of the best defenses we have. PJ shares practical tips, real-world examples, and some of the patterns he’s seeing that everyone should be aware of. Whether you run a business or just want to better protect yourself online, this conversation might change the way you think about trust, technology, and the digital world we live in. Show Notes: * [00:52] PJ Rohal is a co-founder of About Fraud and Fraud Fight Club, which is our in conference, in-person experience. He started that back in 2017, but his fraud prevention journey started back in 2011. * [02:45] He began studying finance and business. He had some mental health issues and was open to trying something different when he saw a job for a fraud analyst. * [06:22] His experience transferred really well into the entrepreneurial journey. * [11:13] It's in the best interest of everyone to collaborate and share tips and tricks when trying to prevent fraud. * [13:05] Everybody is open or vulnerable to being a victim of a scam. There shouldn't be a stigma around it. * [14:51] It's powerful to see even tech savvy people being victims of scams. * [17:20] How a contextually relevant scam could actually get you. * [21:16] It's PJ's dream to get outside of his bubble and help educate the community the best he can. * [23:43] Two-factor authentication codes have changed, because they give warnings and instructions for the consumer now. * [28:45] People with platforms could get the word out about the risk of scams. * [34:30] Getting fighting scams to the front and center is a challenge. * [36:57] Handling calls from people who've lost large amounts of money in a scam. Having a psychologist or people who understand human behavior would really help with this journey. * [40:39] Banks and financial institutions are starting to think differently about handling these issues. * [41:05] There's also a lot of technology on the market that's designed for scams. Thanks for joining us on Easy Prey. Be sure to subscribe to our podcast on iTunes [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/easy-prey/id1488678905] and leave a nice review.  Links and Resources: * Podcast Web Page [https://www.easyprey.com/] * Facebook Page [https://www.facebook.com/EasyPreyPodcast] * whatismyipaddress.com [https://whatismyipaddress.com/] * Easy Prey on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/easypreypodcast/] * Easy Prey on Twitter [https://twitter.com/easypreypodcast] * Easy Prey on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/company/easy-prey-podcast/] * Easy Prey on YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCCgy_xKrjiXghSgGFEAFdTQ] * Easy Prey on Pinterest [https://www.pinterest.com/easypreypodcast/] * PJ Rohall - LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/pjrohall/] * SEON [https://seon.io/] * About Fraud [https://www.about-fraud.com/about-us/] * Fraud Fight Club [https://www.fraudfightclub.com/] *  PJ@about-fruad.com [PJ@about-fruad.com]

Sometimes it feels like every new technology we adopt comes with a new risk we didn’t see coming. From AI and data breaches to phishing scams and ransomware, it's clear we live in a time when cybersecurity isn’t just a tech issue, it’s a human issue. In this episode, I talk with Jeff Reich, Executive Director of the Identity Defined Security Alliance. Jeff has been in the cybersecurity world since the early days, with decades of experience helping organizations protect what matters most. His passion for identity security and risk management runs deep, and he brings a thoughtful perspective on how the industry has changed and what we need to do to keep up. We explore why identity is the real perimeter in today’s digital world, how businesses and individuals can be proactive rather than reactive, and what it really takes to build a security-first mindset. Jeff also shares why communication is just as important as tech when it comes to staying secure. Whether you're a cybersecurity professional or just someone trying to stay safe online, this conversation will leave you thinking differently about the role identity plays in your digital life. Show Notes: * [00:54] Jeff Reich is the Executive Director of the Identity-Defined Security Alliance, a nonprofit focused on raising the level of awareness of identity and identity security. * [01:52] Jeff began studying physics and astrophysics in school. He even taught in a planetarium. He also went into law enforcement. * [03:10] He went into security and was planning on working at EDS, but he ended up at ARCO. He then moved to Dell computers and a financial services company. He started the security program at Rackspace and was also a research director at the University of Texas, San Antonio. * [03:49] He is now enjoying the nonprofit space. * [04:43] Not becoming a victim of a scam comes down to situational awareness. If you're receiving something from someone you don't know, assume it's hostile. * [06:33] Jeff tells the story about when he was working at a hosting company, and he noticed clusters of servers turning from green to red and then back to green. * [07:42] It turned out scammers were taking over customers' websites. It ended up being ransomware. * [16:03] Be very aware of fake invoices and spoofed emails and scam phone calls. * [20:18] They recently had identity management day 2025. They had a lot of presentations on what existential identity might mean to a certain individual or corporation. * [21:57] People can protect themselves by using different email accounts. * [24:34] Tips on protecting yourself when someone is impersonating you. * [27:21] The future of identity should have big advances going forward that will involve AI. * [31:40] Improved authenticator apps and DNA-based identity are in our futures. * [36:22] Hackers are stealing credentials and logging into companies not breaking in.  * [39:01] Our identity needs to be protected more than an account number. * [40:01] Clean house and get separate accounts for important things like banking. Thanks for joining us on Easy Prey. Be sure to subscribe to our podcast on iTunes [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/easy-prey/id1488678905] and leave a nice review.  Links and Resources: * Podcast Web Page [https://www.easyprey.com/] * Facebook Page [https://www.facebook.com/EasyPreyPodcast] * whatismyipaddress.com [https://whatismyipaddress.com/] * Easy Prey on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/easypreypodcast/] * Easy Prey on Twitter [https://twitter.com/easypreypodcast] * Easy Prey on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/company/easy-prey-podcast/] * Easy Prey on YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCCgy_xKrjiXghSgGFEAFdTQ] * Easy Prey on Pinterest [https://www.pinterest.com/easypreypodcast/] * Jeff Reich - Identity Defined Security Alliance [https://www.idsalliance.org/about-leadership/] * Identity Defined Security Alliance [https://www.idsalliance.org/] * Jeff Reich - LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/jreich/] * Jeff@IDSAlliance.org [Jeff@IDSAlliance.org]

I used to think of my car as just a tool to get from point A to point B. But after this conversation, I can’t help but see it as something else entirely, a powerful data collection device that knows far more about me than I realized. From where I go and who I text to how I drive and even what’s on my phone, today’s vehicles are gathering a staggering amount of personal information. In this episode, I talk with Andrea Amico, the founder of Privacy4Cars [https://privacy4cars.com/]. Andrea is one of the leading voices in automotive data privacy and someone who’s spent years uncovering the hidden ways cars collect, store, and share our information. He breaks down how connected cars work, what’s actually being tracked, and why it matters not just for your privacy, but for your safety and finances too. We get into everything from rental car risks and data left behind when you sell a car, to how automakers and third parties might be profiting off your data without your knowledge. If you’ve ever paired your phone with a vehicle or assumed your texts disappear when you disconnect, this episode is going to change the way you think about driving and how to take back control. Show Notes: * [01:28] Andrea started Privacy4Cars [https://privacy4cars.com/] because cars collect a lot of data. There were zero protections for privacy and security. He's dedicated to turning your car into a more private space and giving you more choice, understanding, and control. * [02:25] We talk about when cars started collecting data. OnStar started about 25 years ago. Things really began to evolve when Bluetooth and navigation became common. * [03:12] Things really exploded with modern telematics which is like putting a cell phone inside your car that calls home all the time. The average car collects around 25 GB of data per day. * [04:08] We talk about the type of data that is collected by cars from GPS to having your phone collected and the car even knowing your weight. * [05:26] The sensors in your car know exactly how you drive. * [06:46] Informed consumers are better off. These data collecting policies are usually hidden in the car manufacturers privacy policies. * [08:46] You can find your car's privacy policy at Vehicle Privacy Report [https://vehicleprivacyreport.com/]. * [10:21] The goal is to make the car manufacturer's behavior visible to consumers, because that's the way to drive better company behavior. * [11:26] When you rent a car and when you sell a car, your car is like a giant unencrypted hard drive that contains your data. * [12:06] We should wipe the data in our cars the same way we wipe the data in our phones when we replace them. * [13:05] You can find a tool to help remove data from your car at Privacy4Cars [https://privacy4cars.com/]. * [14:21] We talk about what rental cars get from your connected phone.  * [17:24] Found data can be used in targeted spear phishing attacks. * [19:18] Most cars since 2017 have a SIM card. If a prior owner consented to data collection, that data is still being collected when you take over the car. * [22:15] Ford estimated that they would make $2,000 per car per year from data services. * [24:17] It's common for cars to even have a camera that looks at you. In a few years it might be common for vehicles to monitor for things like intoxication. * [26:56] Organizations creating standards like the Future of Privacy Forum. * [29:09] Cars have an EDR electronic data recorder. It's like a black box for when an accident happens. * [34:05] Delete data when you buy, rent, or sell a car. Opt out if you can. * [36:33] Think about your car just like your computers and your phone. * [37:15] Andrea shares a story about how an ex-spouse was able to duplicate her key. The dealer wanted $1,000 to reset her car. * [40:23] Parting advice includes looking up your car's VIN at Vehicle Privacy Report. Thanks for joining us on Easy Prey. Be sure to subscribe to our podcast on iTunes [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/easy-prey/id1488678905] and leave a nice review.  Links and Resources: * Podcast Web Page [https://www.easyprey.com/] * Facebook Page [https://www.facebook.com/EasyPreyPodcast] * whatismyipaddress.com [https://whatismyipaddress.com/] * Easy Prey on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/easypreypodcast/] * Easy Prey on Twitter [https://twitter.com/easypreypodcast] * Easy Prey on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/company/easy-prey-podcast/] * Easy Prey on YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCCgy_xKrjiXghSgGFEAFdTQ] * Easy Prey on Pinterest [https://www.pinterest.com/easypreypodcast/] * Andrea Amico - Privacy4Cars [https://privacy4cars.com/about/] * Privacy4Cars [https://privacy4cars.com/] * Vehicle Privacy Report [https://vehicleprivacyreport.com/] * Andrea Amico - LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/%F0%9F%9B%A1%EF%B8%8F%F0%9F%9A%98-andrea-amico-a44aa/] * Future of Privacy Forum [https://fpf.org/] * Endpoints-On-Wheels – Protecting Company And Employee Data In Cars. Ciso Mitigation Strategies For Fleets, Rentals, And Personnel-Owned Vehicles [https://privacy4cars.com/CISO/]

Some scams are so convincing, they’re almost impossible to spot. With phishing emails that look like they’re from your bank, deep fake videos that mimic real people, and AI-generated messages that feel personal, it’s getting harder to know what’s real and what’s a trap. In this episode, I sit down with Gabrielle Hempel, a security operations specialist at Exabeam and a current law student at Purdue University. Gabrielle brings a sharp perspective shaped by years in cybersecurity, a master’s in cybersecurity and global affairs from NYU, and hands-on experience navigating everything from vulnerability management to executive risk consulting. She even wrote her graduate thesis on critical infrastructure security. We talk about the new era of digital deception, why younger people are actually falling for scams more often, and how criminals are using AI and current events to build trust and bypass defenses. Gabrielle shares practical advice, personal stories, and a fresh way to think about digital safety that could help you spot the next scam before it costs you. Show Notes: * [01:09] Gabrielle has held quite a few jobs in cybersecurity. She's currently the Security Operations Strategist at Exabeam.  * [01:40] She's involved with anything to do with the internal security operation. * [02:04] She majored in psychology and neuroscience. Working in Pharma and with medical devices led her to the path of cybersecurity. * [04:34] We learn about an incident that she was involved in. Her parents were attempting to file their taxes with TurboTax, but they were flagged as already filing. This led to a lot of shenanigans with the IRS. * [06:29] Most everyone has been a victim to some type of fraud or scam. * [07:20] Our information is out there. It's more about staying vigilant and keeping an eye on things. * [08:05] A lot of the current scams are blending with the cybercrime ecosystem. * [09:17] AI has made it easier for people to craft more convincing phishing emails. * [12:51] Are modern phishing emails getting through the spam filters more often? * [15:48] How it's not retirees being the people most frequently caught in scams. * [16:42] Why 20 to 29 year-olds frequently fall for scams. It could be because of their comfort with technology. * [21:12] Better education surrounding threats might be a good idea for young people. * [22:47] As scammers get more information about us, targeting will be easier. * [24:32] Big trends are voice cloning and deep fakes. * [27:51] Scams around shipping fees and tariffs are skyrocketing. * [29:15] Advice includes adopting zero trust with communication. * [33:10] If you're not expecting it. It's potentially suspect. * [34:45] Best practices include doing your due diligence, and if you feel like something may not be legitimate go around and check. Thanks for joining us on Easy Prey. Be sure to subscribe to our podcast on iTunes [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/easy-prey/id1488678905] and leave a nice review.  Links and Resources: * Podcast Web Page [https://www.easyprey.com/] * Facebook Page [https://www.facebook.com/EasyPreyPodcast] * whatismyipaddress.com [https://whatismyipaddress.com/] * Easy Prey on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/easypreypodcast/] * Easy Prey on Twitter [https://twitter.com/easypreypodcast] * Easy Prey on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/company/easy-prey-podcast/] * Easy Prey on YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCCgy_xKrjiXghSgGFEAFdTQ] * Easy Prey on Pinterest [https://www.pinterest.com/easypreypodcast/] * Gabrielle Hempel - LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/gabrielle-hempel/] * Exabeam [https://www.exabeam.com/] * @gabsmashh on X [https://x.com/gabsmashh?lang=en]