Banking on Fraudology is part of the Fraudology Podcast Network.

In this episode of Banking on Fraudology, Hailey Windham takes listeners inside the world of pig butchering scams and Operation Shamrock's efforts to combat them. Windham shares insights from her recent presentation at the ACFE Twin Cities Fraud Summit, where she and Erin West highlighted the growing threat of transnational organized crime syndicates. The episode focuses on Operation Shamrock's groundbreaking Survivor Series initiative, which brings victims' stories directly to financial institutions to identify vulnerabilities and prevent future scams.

Windham recounts a particularly impactful case study of a young woman who lost $160,000 in just 10 days to a sophisticated pig butchering scheme. The scam began on a dating app and quickly escalated, with the scammer using psychological manipulation tactics to build trust and isolate the victim from her bank. Key takeaways include how scammers coach victims to lie during transaction reviews, exploit distrust in financial institutions, and structure wire transfers to avoid detection. The episode also highlights the importance of educating entire families, as the victim's mother was inadvertently pulled into supporting the scam.

This episode serves as a wake-up call for banks and credit unions, emphasizing the need for greater transparency with customers about banking operations and fraud prevention measures. Windham passionately argues that financial institutions must proactively address common misconceptions about banking practices before scammers can exploit them. Listeners are challenged to consider how they can build trust and educate customers to resist manipulation attempts. Don't miss this crucial episode - tune in and join the fight against pig butchering scams.

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About Hailey Windham:

As a 2023 CU Rockstar Recipient, Hailey Windham, CFCS (Certified Financial Crimes Specialist) demonstrated unbounding passion for educating her community, organization and credit union membership on scams in the market and best practices to avoid them. She has implemented several programs within her previous organizations that aim at holistically learning about how to prevent and detect fraud targeted at membership and employees.

Windham’s initiatives to build strong relationships and partnerships throughout the credit union community and industry experts have led to countless success stories. Her applied knowledge of payments system programs combined with her experience in fraud investigations offers practical concepts that are transferable, no matter the organization’s size.

Connect with Hailey on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hailey-windham/