Thomas is joined by Will Lyne, former Deputy Director of the National Crime Agency’s Cyber Intelligence team, and Matt Horne, Director of Intelligence and Investigations at Clue and Chair of TechUK’s National Security Committee, for a fireside chat on today’s rapidly evolving threat landscape.

They explore how cybercrime has transformed into a global criminal ecosystem – lowering barriers to entry, enabling ransomware at scale, and blurring the lines between state-backed activity and organised crime. Will and Matt unpack why this “grey zone” of threats demands new strategies, from smarter disruption operations to cross-sector collaboration and data-driven attribution.

The conversation also looks ahead to the challenges and opportunities of emerging technologies like AI and quantum computing, the double-edged role of digital ecosystems, and the importance of resilience and whole-of-society responses to national security risks.

It’s a candid discussion on the realities of cybercrime today – and what it will take to disrupt harm in an interconnected world.

In this powerful episode, Thomas sits down with Anna Rowe – survivor, activist, and founder of Catch the Catfish – to uncover the disturbing reality of romance fraud. Anna shares her deeply personal journey, from being manipulated by a serial fraudster living a double life to becoming one of the UK’s leading voices on deception in online dating.

Together, they explore how emotional manipulation, psychological grooming, and emerging technologies are reshaping the landscape of fraud. Anna reflects on the long-term trauma faced by victims – and the gaps in law enforcement, tech accountability, and public understanding that allow these crimes to thrive.

They also discuss how AI is turbocharging deception, how tech platforms are failing to act on fake profiles, and what policy and prevention strategies are urgently needed to protect the vulnerable. With insights from both victim and advocate perspectives, this is a rare and candid conversation about trust, control, and the human cost of digital deceit.

It’s a sobering look at how love can be weaponised – and how survivors are leading the fight back.

Join Thomas for a remarkable conversation with Will Lyne, former Deputy Director and Head of Cyber Intelligence at the UK’s National Crime Agency, as they unpack Operation Destabilise – a landmark investigation into one of the world’s most prolific money laundering networks.

What began with tracking ransomware payments on the blockchain led Will’s team to a sprawling illicit finance ecosystem connecting UK drug gangs, Russian cybercriminals, South American cartels, and even hostile state actors – all funnelling billions through crypto exchanges under a veil of legitimacy. At its core was “Smart,” a Moscow-based exchange that facilitated global cash-for-crypto swaps, enabling sanctioned elites and criminal networks to bypass traditional financial systems.

Together, they explore how the NCA coordinated dozens of complex operations across the UK and internationally, ultimately disrupting a network operating in every major Western jurisdiction. Will also reflects on why criminal justice alone isn’t enough in today’s threat landscape – and how disruption, intelligence sharing, and collaboration across borders and sectors are becoming vital to staying ahead.

Tune in for a fascinating inside look at the new face of organised crime, where digital innovation meets global scale – and how law enforcement is adapting to confront it.

Join Thomas for a compelling conversation with Alex Rothwell, CEO of the NHS Counter Fraud Authority, as they delve into one of the UK’s most complex and emotive crime landscapes: fraud in the National Health Service.

From insider threats and procurement scams to multi-million-pound prescription fraud and criminal infiltration of NHS supply chains, Alex shares how his decades in policing and cybercrime now help him protect one of Britain’s most cherished institutions. With the NHS handling over £192 billion a year and employing millions, the scale of the fraud risk is staggering - and so are the strategies to combat it.

Together, they explore how prevention must outweigh prosecution, why many fraudsters don’t set out to offend, and how data, deterrence, and cultural change can help safeguard healthcare. Alex also reflects on the ethical tightrope of risk appetite in public services, and why the goal isn’t perfection, but resilience.

Whether you work in healthcare, law enforcement, or fraud prevention, this episode offers a rare, unfiltered look at how fraud really happens inside the NHS - and what it takes to stop it.

Mark Button – Inside West Africa’s cybercrime ‘kingdoms’

Join Thomas for a revealing conversation with Professor Mark Button, Director of the Centre for Cybercrime and Economic Crime at the University of Portsmouth, as they delve into the hidden world of global fraud and the rise of sophisticated scam networks across West Africa.

Drawing on years of frontline research, Mark unpacks how deep-rooted socio-economic challenges in countries like Nigeria and Ghana have given rise to sprawling cybercrime ecosystems – where young, tech-savvy individuals turn to fraud not out of greed, but as a means of survival and status. From romance scams to business email compromise, Mark reveals how these digital hustlers are trained in “hustle kingdoms” – underground schools where scamming is a craft, complete with rituals and hierarchy.

Together, they explore how these networks are generating tens of billions globally, the psychological toll on victims, and how emerging technologies – including AI – are making scams harder to detect. Mark also highlights what it will take to turn the tide: international cooperation, public education, and addressing the root causes that push young people into cybercrime in the first place.

Tune in for a gripping exploration of how fraud has gone global, why it’s thriving in unexpected places, and what must be done to stop it.

Join Thomas for a compelling conversation with Laura Eshelby, former Cabinet Office counter fraud leader, as she unpacks two decades on the front lines of the UK’s fight against fraud. Starting her career as a graduate trainee and auditor, Laura quickly rose through the ranks to lead complex financial investigations into high-value legal aid fraud.

Together, they explore how fraud has transformed - from paper-based deception to high-tech crime fuelled by AI, deepfakes, and digital identity theft. Laura shares why fraud is no longer just a financial issue, but a systemic challenge that demands cultural change, cross-sector intelligence sharing, and smarter investment in prevention.

They also discuss the barriers to effective fraud response, the promise and peril of emerging technologies, and why breaking down silos across government and industry is essential for staying ahead of increasingly sophisticated criminal networks.

It’s a candid look at the evolving nature of fraud - and what it will take to fight back in a world where truth is harder than ever to verify.

Join Thomas for a revealing conversation with Nick Sharp, Deputy Director of the National Economic Crime Centre (NECC), as they unravel the hidden web of fraud and financial crime that’s costing the UK billions every year.

From romance scams and impersonation fraud to international laundering networks stretching from Southeast Asia to West Africa, Nick lifts the lid on the staggering scale and complexity of modern economic crime. With over 3.9 million fraud incidents annually, he shares how his career - from frontline civil servant to national crime strategist - has shaped his mission to dismantle criminal ecosystems.

Together, they explore why victim-blaming must stop, how AI is becoming a frontline defence, and why international collaboration is crucial in a borderless digital world. Nick offers a rare inside look at the UK’s fightback against economic crime, revealing both the scale of the challenge and the growing tools at their disposal.

Tune in for an eye-opening journey into the dark economy, and what it takes to stay one step ahead.

Join Thomas as he speaks with Martin Dubbey, a former UK drug liaison officer turned international investigator, whose career spans from narcotics investigations in Customs and Excise to exposing one of the most audacious doping scandals in modern sport.

Martin shares how his transition into private investigation led him to work alongside whistleblower Dr. Grigory Rodchenkov in uncovering the Russian state-sponsored doping programme during the Sochi Olympics, featured in the award-winning Netflix documentary Icarus. He details the forensic methods used to reveal tampered samples, FSB interference, and a doping scheme approved at the highest levels of government.

Together, they explore how international corruption investigations unfold, the geopolitical power plays behind sports, and the looming threats posed by online betting and AI-driven fraud.

Tune in for a compelling look at the murky intersection of sport, politics, and integrity.