In a world where the lines between reality and fiction increasingly blur, how can we discern truth from lies? This episode dives into the realm of deepfake technology—a sophisticated tool that manipulates audio and video to create alarmingly realistic impersonations. From a deceptive video call that cost a company $25 million, to cunning celebrity-endorsed crypto scams, deepfakes are the new frontier for financial fraudsters aiming to siphon vast sums of money.

We explore the minds of criminals by wielding the very tools they use. To demonstrate the ease and effectiveness of this technology, we'll create a deepfake of our own host, Deb Caron. Throughout the episode, we’ll also pinpoint the subtle clues that can help you identify these fakes.

As we navigate the rapid evolution of deepfake technology, we confront the ongoing battle between law enforcement and scammers. The race is on, with tools to create deepfakes advancing swiftly against emerging technologies developed to detect and counteract them. This episode is a stark reminder that in today's digital age, seeing shouldn't always be believing.

About the Show

Nickel & Crime takes you deep inside the true stories of the shocking scams that white collar criminals almost got away with. At a time when fraud is on the rise, and financial crime is increasingly sophisticated, go behind the investigations to understand the victims, the criminal minds at work, and the risk. 

In season 2, Nickel & Crime returns with mind-blowing new crimes, and immersive, stirring details. Each episode dives into the victims, the set-up, the sting, and that bold blunder that unraveled it all.  

Hear about a billion-dollar tax fraud that sucked in some of the world’s most savvy investors, or the tales of the real victims and perpetrators of "grandparent scams". We’ll also bring you stories from the bizarre world of job phishing. 

From identity theft to social engineering attacks, and Ponzi schemes, Nickel & Crime breaks down some of the most fascinating and insidious financial crimes of the last decade and examines what new crimes are coming our way. 

About Early Warning

Nickel & Crime is brought to you by Early Warning®, a financial services technology leader that has been empowering and protecting consumers, small businesses, and the U.S. financial system with cutting-edge fraud and payment solutions for more than three decades. Early Warning is also the company behind Zelle®, and the soon-to-launch PazeSM, a wallet that reimagines e-commerce payments. Early Warning partners with more than 2,500 banks and credit union brands to increase access to financial services and products and protect financial transactions.  

Learn more about Early Warning at https://www.earlywarning.com/ 

What financial crimes fascinate you? What questions do you have about risk and security? Connect with Nickel & Crime by commenting in the reviews, or email us at nickelandcrime@earlywarning.com