Easy Prey

Scams are often explained as a failure of judgment, but the truth is far more human. People are not fooled because they are foolish. They are manipulated at the exact moment emotion overrides logic, whether that emotion is fear, loneliness, hope, urgency, financial stress, or the desire to believe something better is finally possible.
My guest today is Dr. John Demartini, one of the world's leading authorities on human behavior, perception, resilience, and personal development. For more than five decades, he has researched, written, and taught in the fields of human awareness and potential. He is the founder of the Demartini Method, a structured process used around the world by clinicians, coaches, and individuals to help dissolve emotional trauma, restore clarity, and support better decision-making. He is also the author of more than 40 books, has spoken in over 100 countries, and has worked with tens of thousands of people navigating everything from personal crises to high performance.
Dr. Demartini explains why scammers are so effective at exploiting emotional blind spots, especially when someone is dealing with loss or uncertainty. We talk about what happens in the brain when a person reacts before they think, why "too good to be true" offers can feel so convincing in the moment, and how people can recover after being deceived without turning shame into part of their identity. 
Show Notes:
[02:09] Dr. John Demartini shares how a childhood learning challenge, speech impediment, and a powerful encounter with a teacher in Hawaii shaped his lifelong work in human behavior and potential.
[03:08] Scams, fraud, and the emotional impact these experiences have on people beyond the mechanics of how money moves.
[04:31] Why scammers exploit emotions like fear, loneliness, urgency, hope, greed, trust, authority, and compassion to push people into reactive decisions.
[07:30] We learn how pain points and pleasure points make people vulnerable, especially when scammers know how to present relief, reward, or escape in the exact area where someone feels exposed.
[08:22] Dr. Demartini shares a story about his son being targeted by a money-making scam and how he quickly recognized the promise of turning $2,000 into $20,000 as a classic red flag.
[10:32] The difference between emotional, fast-response thinking and more objective thinking, and why "too good to be true" offers should immediately trigger caution.
[11:56] Why one-sided promises are dangerous, whether they are built around fantasy, fear, or a claim that reward comes without risk.
[13:09] Dr. Demartini explains why people going through major transitions, loss, financial pain, or relationship struggles are often targeted by scammers.
[14:50] Money, investing, and why excitement can be a warning sign when someone is being pushed toward a financial decision.
[16:40] How scams often succeed when people believe they can get a reward without an equal risk.
[18:00] The aftermath of scams and how people can avoid letting one painful experience become part of their identity.
[19:04] A story about a man who lost hundreds of millions of dollars and began to see the hidden gains, lessons, and protections that came from the loss.
[22:55] How asking better questions can help someone reframe a painful experience and move from feeling like a victim of history to becoming more intentional about the future.
[24:40] Romance scams and the difficult moment when victims realize they may not only struggle to trust others, but also struggle to trust themselves.
[25:49] How people can rebuild self-trust by examining what the experience taught them instead of staying stuck in shame or self-blame.
[27:28] We discuss prevention, including how to listen to the inner warning voice when something feels emotionally extreme or too perfectly one-sided.
[29:25] Examples of recognizing suspicious behavior and using direct questions to disrupt situations where someone may be trying to manipulate or exploit him.
[31:10] We hear about a seminar speaker making unrealistic promises about fast wealth and bestseller success, and why that kind of highly polished fantasy can pull people in.
[33:15] The value of having trusted people as sounding boards, especially when emotions make it harder to see a decision clearly.
[34:11] How people around us often see what we miss and why asking others for input can reduce the risk of acting impulsively.
[35:44] Why trust should be based on understanding what someone is truly dedicated to, not on expecting them to share our values or fantasies.
[38:22] How identifying your highest values can make you less vulnerable to manipulation and more grounded in your decisions.
[39:23] The value determination process, including the questions that reveal how people actually spend their time, energy, money, attention, and emotional focus.
[41:43] Advice for people who have been scammed, encouraging them to see the experience as a revealed blind spot rather than a permanent source of shame.
[43:07] A reminder that sharing a painful experience can help others feel less alone and may prevent someone else from falling into the same trap.
Thanks for joining us on Easy Prey. Be sure to subscribe to our podcast on iTunes and leave a nice review. 
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Dr. John Demartini
The Demartini Value Determination Process
Books by Dr. John Demartini

Investment losses can be confusing because they do not always tell the whole story. Sometimes money is lost because the market has changed. Other times, an investor was sold something they did not understand, pushed into a product that was never appropriate, or denied the information they needed to make a real decision. Courtney Werning has built her career in that space, helping investors sort through what happened and whether someone can be held responsible.
Courtney is a named partner at Meyer, Wilson, and Werning, a national investor protection firm that has recovered more than $350 million since 1999. She leads the firm's crypto investment fraud practice through CryptoCourt, serves on FINRA's National Arbitration and Mediation Committee, and is the incoming PIABA president. In this conversation, she explains the difference between a bad investment, misrepresentation, misconduct, Ponzi schemes, and the newer wave of crypto fraud that has become especially devastating for older investors.
We also talk about the warning signs people often miss, from guaranteed returns and "secret" opportunities to unsolicited messages on social media, WhatsApp, LinkedIn, and Instagram. Courtney shares why trusted contacts on brokerage accounts matter, how recovery scams target people who have already been defrauded, and why it is so important to verify lawyers, financial advisors, and investment opportunities before sending money anywhere.
Show Notes:
[00:57] Courtney Werning explains how she became an investor protection attorney and why representing regular investors against large Wall Street institutions has been such meaningful work.
[03:29] Investment losses do not always mean misconduct occurred, but Courtney explains how negligence, misrepresentation, unsuitable recommendations, and outright fraud can create valid claims.
[05:25] Misrepresentation often happens when investors are not given the material facts they need to understand risks, fees, liquidity issues, or the potential loss of principal.
[07:19] Many investors don't know what they were missing until after a product fails and an attorney reviews what should have been disclosed.
[09:22] Ponzi schemes continue to appear in many forms, using new investor money to pay earlier investors until the scheme eventually collapses.
[12:01] Scammers build confidence by showing early returns, encouraging victims to invest more, and making the opportunity feel safe before the larger loss occurs.
[14:44] Cryptocurrency fraud losses have climbed sharply, and Courtney explains why the reported numbers likely represent only part of the true scale.
[17:03] Repeated scam playbooks, fake insider connections, AI tools, voice replication, and polished platforms make crypto fraud increasingly difficult to recognize.
[19:54] A trusted contact on a brokerage account can give firms a way to alert someone the investor trusts when unusual activity or possible exploitation appears.
[22:27] Trusted contacts work more like emergency contacts than account controllers, helping preserve independence while adding a layer of protection.
[24:35] Once someone realizes they may have been defrauded, the first steps are shutting down the account, contacting law enforcement, and getting legal guidance.
[27:29] Even if months or years have passed, some losses may still be recoverable, though quick reporting gives law enforcement the best chance of stopping funds.
[30:06] Recovery scams prey on people who are already panicked, promising to trace or retrieve stolen crypto in exchange for more money.
[31:29] Courtney shares the devastating case of a Modesto man who lost millions in a pig butchering scam and was later pressured with fake insider trading threats.
[34:11] A trusted contact was listed on the victim's account, and Courtney believes a brief phone call to his wife could have prevented both the financial loss and the tragedy that followed.
[36:39] Investor recovery cases are often handled on contingency, which means firms must evaluate whether litigation can realistically benefit the client.
[39:12] Because the firm is selective about the cases it takes, Courtney says clients offered representation can usually feel confident there is a strong case.
[40:18] Unsolicited messages on social media, WhatsApp, LinkedIn, Instagram, or X should be treated with extreme skepticism, especially when investment opportunities are involved.
[42:25] Hacked social media accounts can make scams appear to come from trusted local figures, friends, or family members.
[44:06] Secret or exclusive investment opportunities that cannot be discussed openly are major red flags, especially if someone coaches the investor on what to say.
[45:06] Courtney explains how to contact her firm, verify that an attorney is real through a state bar search, and check financial professionals through FINRA BrokerCheck.
Thanks for joining us on Easy Prey. Be sure to subscribe to our podcast on iTunes and leave a nice review. 
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Courtney Werning - Meyer Wilson Werning
Courtney Werning - LinkedIn
FBI's IC3
FINRA BrokerCheck

Aging parents often rely on the people closest to them for help, but what happens when that help becomes a way to take control? For Charles Wallace, the warning signs started small. His mother's fridge was suddenly overfilled. A caregiver refused to provide receipts. Spending patterns began to shift in ways that did not make sense. At the time, each concern could be explained away. Looking back, they were part of something much larger.
Charles spent 15 years in banking and finance, and after his mother's death, he used that experience to reconstruct more than 3,000 transactions. What he found was a devastating pattern of elder financial abuse involving a professional caregiver, nearly a million dollars in losses, missing belongings, questionable legal changes, and systems that failed to respond when the red flags were already there.
This conversation is both personal and practical. Charles shares the story behind his book, The Caregiver's Game, while also explaining what families can do differently when hiring caregivers, monitoring finances, protecting valuables, and watching for subtle signs of manipulation. It is a difficult story, but an important one for anyone with aging parents, vulnerable relatives, or concerns about how easily trust can be weaponized.
Show Notes:
[01:06] Charles Wallace explains how his background in IT, project management, banking, healthcare, and application development later shaped the way he investigated his mother's case.
[04:23] A neurology appointment became a turning point when the caregiver observed the cognitive testing and likely understood the seriousness of the results.
[07:18] After his mother's death, the family learned about a new will and an annuity that could have paid the caregiver roughly half a million dollars.
[10:31] Looking back, Charles reflects on trusting the broker, CPA, and other professionals to watch out for his mother, not realizing how much could still slip through.
[12:49] Credit card activity told a larger story, with spending spreading across the county in ways that did not match his mother's habits.
[15:05] Over three years, the caregiver billed for 24-hour care, seven days a week, despite having no credentials.
[18:22] Once the bank and credit card statements were finally available, the changes in spending habits were obvious.
[21:38] The conversation turns to how banks, CPAs, and families might better monitor accounts by looking beyond total spending and watching detailed patterns.
[24:52] Hiring a caregiver outside an agency is identified as a major risk factor, especially when the caregiver is unlicensed and approaches the older adult directly.
[28:42] After the annuity payout was blocked, later emails and property activity left Charles with unresolved questions about what really happened next.
[31:48] Families can reduce risk by hiring caregivers through an agency and making sure they retain the authority to hire and fire.
[34:47] Removing valuables, keeping a mental inventory, and noticing when belongings disappear can help families catch problems sooner.
[37:46] Charles points to possible improvements such as caregiver registries, fingerprinting, and stronger systems to protect older adults from financial exploitation.
[38:26] The Caregiver's Game offers a forensic look at elder financial abuse and the daily warning signs families may miss until it is too late.
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The Caregiver's Game

The world of art theft looks glamorous in the movies, but the reality is far more complicated. From multi-million dollar forgery schemes to undercover FBI operations recovering stolen national treasures, art crime is a global industry hiding in plain sight. 
This conversation digs into how these crimes actually play out and why the people who pull them off often end up stuck with the very pieces they thought would make them rich.
My guest today is Robert Wittman, a former FBI special agent and the founder of the FBI's Art Crime Team. Over a 20-year career, he worked undercover in more than 20 countries and helped recover over $300 million in stolen art and cultural property. He's also the author of Priceless, where he shares stories from those investigations and what really goes on behind the scenes.
We discuss the movie version of art crime and how it actually works. Whitman explains why most stolen masterpieces are nearly impossible to sell, how insider access plays a role in many museum thefts, and why forgery and fraud now make up the bulk of the market. There's also a practical side to it. Whether it's fine art, prints, or even sports memorabilia, the same patterns show up again and again. People trust the wrong details, skip the research, and get pulled in by what feels like a deal. The takeaway is pretty straightforward. Slow down, check what you're buying, and don't assume something is real just because the story sounds convincing.
Show Notes:
[01:06] Robert Wittman introduces his FBI career and explains how he founded the Art Crime Team, leading investigations across 20 countries and recovering over $300 million in stolen art.
[04:01] He shares how he ended up in art crime almost by accident, getting assigned museum theft cases early in his career when no one else wanted them.
[07:00] We get a breakdown of the art crime industry, including how much of it is driven by forgery and fraud versus outright theft.
[10:00] Whitman explains why stolen high-value artwork is extremely difficult to sell and often becomes a liability for the criminals who take it.
[13:43] A reality check on museum security, comparing Hollywood portrayals to how thefts actually happen in the U.S. and abroad.
[16:18] The conversation shifts to jewelry theft and why stolen gems are far easier to break down and resell than famous works of art.
[19:19] He walks through a major forgery case involving a well-known New York gallery that unknowingly sold millions of dollars in fake paintings.
[22:55] Practical advice for everyday buyers on how to avoid getting scammed when purchasing art or collectibles online.
[26:34] One of the most fascinating recoveries: an original copy of the Bill of Rights stolen in the 1800s and tracked down over a century later.
[30:20] A much smaller but equally interesting case involving ancient cylinder seals and how they were unknowingly brought back from Iraq.
[32:30] The risks in the sports memorabilia market, including widespread forgery and why authentication matters more than ever.
[35:37] Final advice on protecting yourself as both a buyer and seller by doing basic research and understanding the true value of what you have.
Thanks for joining us on Easy Prey. Be sure to subscribe to our podcast on iTunes and leave a nice review. 
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Robert Wittman
Robert Wittman - LinkedIn
FBI Art Crime Team
Priceless
The Devil's Diary

We make predictions all the time including about the weather, about traffic, about what someone is going to say next. It feels natural, even rational. But when algorithms start making predictions about us, whether we'll repay a loan, reoffend after prison, or respond to a medical treatment, something fundamental shifts. The forecast stops being a guess and starts becoming a verdict.
My guest today is Carissa Veliz, a philosopher and associate professor at the University of Oxford, where she also researches at the Oxford Internet Institute. Her work focuses on the ethics of technology, privacy, and artificial intelligence, and she advises companies and governments around the world on these issues. She's the author of the widely acclaimed book Privacy is Power, The Ethics of Privacy and Surveillance, and her new book, Prophecy: Prediction, Power, and the Fight for the Future, from Ancient Oracles to AI, is out now.
We talk about how the role of prophet has simply changed costumes throughout history  from oracles and astrologers to economists and now tech executives and why that matters more than most people realize. Carissa explains how predictions about human beings are fundamentally different from predictions about the weather, why so many AI-driven forecasts are closer to commands than hypotheses, and what it actually looks like to take back your agency in a world increasingly shaped by algorithms.
Show Notes:
[01:13] Carissa Veliz shares her background in philosophy, ethics, and advising companies and governments on technology and data.
[02:35] She explains how prediction has existed throughout human history, from survival instincts to ancient prophecy.
[03:49] The role of "prophets" evolves over time—from oracles and astrologers to economists, data scientists, and tech leaders.
[07:05] Predictions about people differ from predictions about nature because they can influence outcomes and become self-fulfilling.
[07:55] Many modern predictions, especially from tech leaders, function more like commands than neutral observations.
[10:13] Carissa outlines key questions to ask when evaluating any prediction, including who benefits if it comes true.
[10:13] She argues society has been overly naive about predictions, often mistaking power plays for objective knowledge.
[14:18] AI systems are designed to please users, which can conflict with truth-seeking and scientific rigor.
[14:54] Growing superstitions around AI include attributing agency, intention, or even spirituality to algorithms.
[15:47] People begin trying to "please the algorithm," creating a modern version of superstition in digital systems.
[19:55] The lack of regulation in AI places the burden of understanding risks entirely on individuals.
[19:55] Carissa argues the real issue isn't just bias, but whether predictions about people should be used at all.
[24:49] Insurance shifts from pooling risk across populations to targeting individuals, increasing inequality and personal burden.
[27:02] Self-fulfilling prophecies in medicine and decision-making can hide their own failures by erasing alternative outcomes.
[30:25] Predictive systems risk limiting human potential by filtering out those who don't fit expected patterns.
[30:25] Society thrives when individuals can defy expectations, something prediction-heavy systems may suppress.
[35:21] Algorithms reduce exposure to randomness, while real-world interactions create unexpected opportunities and insight.
[36:11] Over-reliance on AI can replace human relationships and narrow life experiences.
[36:11] Carissa reframes uncertainty as a positive force that enables freedom, choice, and democratic possibility.
[36:11] She encourages treating predictions as possibilities to question—not instructions to follow.
Thanks for joining us on Easy Prey. Be sure to subscribe to our podcast on iTunes and leave a nice review. 
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Carissa Veliz
Carissa Veliz - LinkedIn
How Privacy Can Save Your Life | Carissa Véliz | TEDxPorto
Prophecy: Prediction, Power, and the Fight for the Future, from Ancient Oracles to AI
Oxford Handbook of Digital Ethics
Privacy is Power: Why and How You Should Take Back Control of Your Data
The Ethics of Privacy and Surveillance