How To Spot a Con | Jerri Williams on Cons, Scams, and FBI Myths

Zone 7 with Sheryl McCollum

Jerri Williams has always been a storyteller and, after serving 26 years as a special agent in the FBI, she has plenty of stories to tell. During most of her Bureau career, she worked on major economic fraud investigations and is amazed at the schemes and deceptions con-artist and corrupt corporate and public officials devise to steal other people’s money. She notes that with a gun, they can steal hundreds. But with a lie, they can steal millions.

Listeners can learn more about Jerri Williams at her website, and her podcast

Resources:

Jerri’s Books including Pay To Play and FBI Myths and Misconceptions

Jerri’s podcast FBI Retired Case File Review

In this episode of Zone 7, Crime Scene Investigator, Sheryl McCollum, is joined by Jerri Williams, a former FBI agent, author, and host of FBI Retired Case File Review. Sheryl and Jerri discuss Jerri's extensive experience with fraud and economic crimes during her 26 years in the FBI including crimes surrounding the elderly, and adoption. Jerri shares stories from the various cons and schemes she encountered, and the psychological impact on victims. Lastly, Jerri debunks myths about what the media portrays the FBI as in shows and movies, and advocates for accurately representing the FBI in media.

Show Notes:

• (0:00) Welcome back to Zone 7 with Crime Scene Investigator, Sheryl McCollum
• (0:10) Sheryl introduces Jerri Williams
• (1:00) Jerri's background in the FBI and her focus on economic crimes
• (6:00) The impact of fraud on elderly victims
• (8:00) Examples of fraud cases involving adoption scams
• (12:00) The challenge of victims feeling shame and responsibility
• (15:00) Misconceptions about the FBI
• (19:15) The importance of humor and camaraderie within the FBI
• (21:00) Jerri's critique of "Silence of the Lambs"
• (26:00) Sheryl and Jerri review TV shows and movies for FBI accuracy
• (36:30) Personal experiences and reflections
• (37:55) Pay To Play and FBI Myths and Misconceptions
• (39:49) “With a gun, they can steal hundreds. But with a lie, they can steal millions.” -J.W
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Sheryl “Mac” McCollum is an Emmy Award winning CSI, a writer for CrimeOnLine, Forensic and Crime Scene Expert for Crime Stories with Nancy Grace, and a CSI for a metro Atlanta Police Department. She is the co-author of the textbook., Cold Case: Pathways to Justice. Sheryl is also the founder and director of the Cold Case Investigative Research Institute, a collaboration between universities and colleges that brings researchers, practitioners, students and the criminal justice community together to advance techniques in solving cold cases and assist families and law enforcement with solvability factors for unsolved homicides, missing persons, and kidnapping cases.

Social Links:

• Email: [e-mail]
• Twitter: @ColdCaseTips
• Facebook: @sheryl.mccollum

• Instagram: @officialzone7podcast

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