Guest: Geoff White, Author, Investigative Journalist
On LinkedIn | https://www.linkedin.com/in/geoffwhitetech/
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Hosts:
Sean Martin, Co-Founder at ITSPmagazine [@ITSPmagazine] and Host of Redefining CyberSecurity Podcast [@RedefiningCyber]
On ITSPmagazine | https://www.itspmagazine.com/sean-martin
Marco Ciappelli, Co-Founder at ITSPmagazine [@ITSPmagazine] and Host of Redefining Society Podcast
On ITSPmagazine | https://www.itspmagazine.com/itspmagazine-podcast-radio-hosts/marco-ciappelli
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Episode Notes
In this episode of On Location, Marco Ciappelli and Geoff White dive into a fascinating conversation about the intricate world of cybercrime, investigative journalism, and the dark realms of money laundering. The duo explored the symbiotic relationship between technology, organized crime, and the evolving landscape of digital currencies like Bitcoin and NFTs.
From billion-dollar cyber heists to global money laundering rings and crypto-gangsters – Geoff White has covered it all. As an author, speaker, investigative journalist and podcast creator, his work’s been featured by Penguin, the BBC, Audible, Sky News, The Sunday Times and many more.
His new book for Penguin, Rinsed, reveals how technology has revolutionized money laundering, from drug cartels washing their cash in Bitcoin to organized fraud gangs recruiting money mules on social media.
His first book, Crime Dot Com, covered cybercrime’s emergence as a primal threat to modern society and was published in August 2020 by Reaktion Books. One of the key chapters detailed North Korea’s unlikely emergence as a cyber superpower. It was adapted by the BBC World Service into the hit 10-part podcast series The Lazarus Heist, co-created and co-hosted by Geoff, which immediately ranked number one in the UK Apple chart and within the top 7 in the US.
Marco Ciappelli invited Geoff White to join him on Broadcast Alley at RSA Conference 2024 to unravel the complex web of interconnected crimes and technologies shaping our modern world. Geoff shared insights from his extensive research and experience, shedding light on the hidden layers of organized crime and technological advancements.
From Investigative Journalism to Podcasting
Geoff White discussed his journey from covering technology stories for Channel 4 News to delving deep into cybercrime, highlighting how stories of North Korean hacking and money laundering captured his attention. His work on "The Lazarus Heist" podcast and the subsequent book delves into the astonishing world of cybercrime, where trust between criminals and innovative tactics play a pivotal role.
Unraveling the Mysteries of Money Laundering
In their conversation, Geoff White elaborated on the processes of money laundering, emphasizing the three crucial steps - placement, layering, and integration. He explained how technology has revolutionized the ways in which criminals launder money, leveraging crypto assets like Bitcoin while evading traditional detection methods.
The Rise of Cybercrime and AI
Geoff White addressed the adversarial battle between cybercriminals and security professionals, pointing out the attacker's advantage in exploiting vulnerabilities rather than developing advanced weaponry. He discussed the role of artificial intelligence in spotting suspicious transactions and the cat-and-mouse game between criminals and law enforcement agencies.
A Thought-Provoking Discussion on Ethical Dilemmas
As the conversation turned philosophical, Marco Ciappelli and Geoff White pondered the ethical implications of cybercrime and money laundering in modern society. They touched upon the coexistence of good and evil forces, the necessity of crime prevention, and the ongoing battle between innovation and criminal tactics.
Audience Engagement and Impact
Geoff White highlighted the diverse target audience for his work, encompassing cybersecurity professionals, financial crime experts, and cryptocurrency enthusiasts. By crafting engaging narratives and insightful analyses, Geoff aims to make complex topics like money laundering accessible to a broad readership, inviting them to delve into the dark corners of financial crime.
This dialogue between Marco Ciappelli and Geoff White serves as a poignant reminder of the intricate connections between technology, crime, and societal structures. By bringing these complex topics to light through compelling storytelling and in-depth research, they invite audiences to explore the hidden layers of cybercrime and money laundering, prompting critical reflections on the ethical and practical implications of these phenomena.
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About the Book
Rinsed reveals how organized crooks have joined forces with the world’s most sophisticated cybercriminals. The result: a vast virtual money-laundering machine too intelligent for most authorities to crack. Through a series of jaw-dropping cases and interviews with insiders at all levels of the system, Geoff White shows how thieves are uniting to successfully get away with the most atrocious crimes on an unprecedented scale.
The book follows money from the outrageous luxury of Dubai hotels to sleepy backwaters of coastal Ireland, from the backstreets of Nigeria to the secretive zones of North Korea, to investigate this new cyber supercartel. Through first-hand accounts from the victims of their devastating crimes, White uncovers the extraordinary true story of hi-tech laundering – and exposes its terrible human cost.
'Rinsed is as twisty, colourful and terrifyingly eye-opening as the people White investigates. You’ll never look at wealth, technology and crime in the same way’
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Follow our RSA Conference USA 2024 coverage: https://www.itspmagazine.com/rsa-conference-usa-2024-rsac-san-francisco-usa-cybersecurity-event-infosec-conference-coverage
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Resources
Rinsed: From Cartels to Crypto: How the Tech Industry Washes Money for the World's Deadliest Crooks (Book): https://amzn.to/4ez6ks7
Learn more about RSA Conference USA 2024: https://itspm.ag/rsa-cordbw
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