Due Diligence Download

Sylwia Wolos & Amritha Edachery

A podcast about the untold stories and secrets of corporate investigations, risk, and compliance. Hosted by experienced women in the field. Tune in for real stories, case studies, expert tips, and industry insights. If you are a professional in compliance, risk, due diligence, investigations, and strategic intelligence - this is your new favourite weekly podcast!

  1. The One Where Becky Takes on Romance Fraud

    6 DAYS AGO

    The One Where Becky Takes on Romance Fraud

    In this episode of Due Diligence Download, Sylwia and Amritha sit down with Becky Holmes, author of Keanu Reeves Is Not in Love With You, to unpack the reality behind romance fraud — one of the most emotionally manipulative and misunderstood financial crimes out there. What starts as funny (and often absurd) interactions with celebrity impersonators quickly reveals something much darker: a global, organised system of deception that blends psychology, technology, and financial crime. You’ll learn: Why romance fraud is not a victimless crime — and why victim stereotypes are dangerously wrong How Becky went from “bored in lockdown” to uncovering repeatable scam scripts, tactics, and patterns The evolution from traditional romance scams to “pig butchering” — where emotional grooming turns into large-scale investment fraud The growing role of AI in fraud, from synthetic personas to scaling deception faster than ever The uncomfortable truth about scam farms, organised crime, and links to human trafficking Where this all intersects with money laundering, mule activity, and the financial system This episode is a reminder that romance fraud isn’t just about fake relationships — it’s a gateway crime that feeds wider criminal networks and exposes serious gaps in how we detect and prevent financial crime. Author profile: Becky Holmes is an author, journalist, speaker and the creator of the popular Twitter/X account @deathtospinach, which exposes fraudsters in humorous ways. In 2020, having been on the receiving end of an annoying number of direct messages from online romance scammers, Becky started to enjoy wasting their time and publicly ‘outing’ their accounts. Six years later she is now a well-known expert on romance fraud, called upon by both professionals and the media. Her first book, Keanu Reeves Is Not in Love with You, received outstanding reviews from critics, journalists, counter-fraud professionals, comedians and everyday readers. Her second book, The Future of Fraud, which examines AI, cryptocurrency, social media and the dark web, hit the shelves in April 2026. She also sometimes writes for The Times about fraud. Becky uses humorous examples of her conversations with online fraudsters to shine a light on the darkest corners of the world of romance fraud. Examining the similarities between romance fraud and domestic abuse, she talks about coercive control and confirmation bias, gaslighting and shame. She also reveals the even lesser-known sides to this crime: human trafficking, voodoo and scammer pyramid schemes. No other woman has had so many online romances – from Keanu Reeves to Brad Pitt to Prince William and she is a firm favourite with brave US peacekeeping soldiers and oil rig workers who desperately need iTunes vouchers or Amazon gift cards. Resources & Links: https://www.linkedin.com/in/erinnordbywest/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/anna-rowe-95323753/ https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2026/feb/24/destitute-survivors-of-south-east-asias-cyberscam-farms-an-international-crisis https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c5yr7j18edjo https://news.un.org/en/story/2026/03/1167144 Becky’s Books: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Keanu-Reeves-Not-Love-You/dp/1789651638 https://www.amazon.co.uk/Future-Fraud-FUTURES-Book-11-ebook/dp/B0GK2RJG9J?ref_=ast_author_dp&th=1&psc=1 Subscribe, leave a review, and share with anyone in risk, compliance, or investigations and share with anyone who thinks they’d never fall for it.

    49 min
  2. The One on Environmental Crime

    22 APR

    The One on Environmental Crime

    Illegal gold mining in the Amazon is not just an environmental disaster. It is also a financial crime story. In this episode of Due Diligence Download, Sylwia and Amritha explore how environmental crime moves from remote mining sites into legitimate global markets. From the Elemetal and NTR Metals scandal to a high-profile UAE–DRC gold deal, they break down how illegally mined gold is mixed with legitimate supply, disguised through paperwork, and sold into global markets as clean. They also dig into why environmental crime is now a major predicate offence, how it connects to corruption, organised crime, and money laundering, and what investigators and compliance professionals should be looking for. From dirty gold to clean paperwork, this is the story of how environmental harm gets laundered into business as usual. You’ll learn: What environmental crime actually is and why it’s more than just an environmental issue How illegal resources like gold, timber, and waste are blended into legitimate global supply chains Why environmental crime is a key predicate offence under anti-money laundering frameworks How environmental crime links to organised crime, corruption, and financial systems Key red flags investigators and compliance professionals should watch for in due diligence Resources & Links https://globalinitiative.net/analysis/tracing-opaque-gold-supply-chains-and-deals-central-africa/ https://www.interpol.int/en/Crimes/Environmental-crime https://www.globalforestwatch.org/ https://www.icij.org/investigations/deforestation-inc/ https://glanlaw.org/focus-areas/environment-climate-change/ Sponsors We’re proudly independent but we partner with companies who share our passion for smarter due diligence and investigations. A Data Pro turns global data into actionable intelligence. For over 26 years, we have helped decision-makers in risk, compliance, and communications with tailored solutions. Our three core divisions deliver measurable impact: Risk Intelligence strengthens compliance and KYC/AML programmes through due diligence, sanctions lists, UBO tracing, and PEP/SEP screening; Media Intelligence equips PR, marketing, and executives with insights on reputation, crises, competitors, influencers, and trends; and Data Solutions provide clean, structured data for automation and AI. With 500+ multilingual specialists across 80+ jurisdictions, we catch risks before they catch up to you—helping your business act confidently and proactively. Find out more here - https://adata.pro/ Inquirify is a global risk intelligence partner providing due diligence, OSINT, GSOC and investigative support across complex jurisdictions. Our philosophy is simple: Verify before you trust. We provide clear, actionable insights to protect your business and support growth. Find out more at Inquirify.net Subscribe & Follow Subscribe, leave a review, and share this episode with anyone in risk, compliance, or investigations — or anyone who still thinks environmental crime is just about trees and turtles!

    41 min
  3. The One with Counterfeit Goods & IP Crime

    16 APR

    The One with Counterfeit Goods & IP Crime

    Counterfeit handbags, fake medicines, pirated content - intellectual property crime is everywhere, but it’s still widely misunderstood and underestimated. In this episode of Due Diligence Download, Sylwia and Amritha kick off Season 2 by unpacking intellectual property (IP) crime — what it is, how it works, and why it matters for anyone in due diligence, investigations, or compliance. From billion-dollar counterfeit markets to organised crime networks and serious health risks, this is not just about fake luxury goods, it’s the story about a global criminal economy that’s been thriving under the radar. You’ll learn: What intellectual property actually is and why it’s a critical business asset The difference between counterfeiting, piracy, and broader illicit trade Why IP crime is a predicate offence under frameworks like the Financial Action Task Force The true scale of the problem — from everyday products to a trillion-dollar criminal ecosystem The links between IP crime, organised crime, and exploitation Key red flags investigators should watch for in due diligence Resources & Links https://www.europol.europa.eu/crime-areas/intellectual-property-crime https://www.iipcic.org/ https://www.oecd.org/en/topics/sub-issues/counterfeit-and-pirated-goods.html https://ebrand.com/blog/grey-markets-and-anti-counterfeiting-combining-online-and-offline-investigations https://www.theguardian.com/global/2016/sep/11/the-great-wine-fraud-a-vintage-swindle https://anti-fraud.ec.europa.eu/media-corner/news/eu10-million-worth-illicit-refrigerant-gases-seized-2021-10-19_en https://pod.wave.co/podcast/the-athletic-fc-podcast/the-underground-world-of-fake-football-shirts-0d00ea61 Sponsors We’re proudly independent but we partner with companies who share our passion for smarter due diligence and investigations. A Data Pro turns global data into actionable intelligence. For over 26 years, we have helped decision-makers in risk, compliance, and communications with tailored solutions. Our three core divisions deliver measurable impact: Risk Intelligence strengthens compliance and KYC/AML programmes through due diligence, sanctions lists, UBO tracing, and PEP/SEP screening; Media Intelligence equips PR, marketing, and executives with insights on reputation, crises, competitors, influencers, and trends; and Data Solutions provide clean, structured data for automation and AI. With 500+ multilingual specialists across 80+ jurisdictions, we catch risks before they catch up to you—helping your business act confidently and proactively. Find out more here - https://adata.pro/ JAM Insights delivers human‑driven intelligence you can’t get from screens alone. When conventional OSINT and AI fall short, JAM taps into trusted local sources, on‑the‑ground research, and deep industry assessments to identify hidden risks, reputational red flags, and jurisdiction‑specific issues that matter for high‑stakes due diligence, compliance, and strategic decision‑making. With tailored insights spanning key regions and strict confidentiality, JAM helps clients see what others overlook and act with confidence Find out more: https://www.jam-insights.com Subscribe, leave a review, and share with anyone in risk, compliance, or investigations — or anyone who’s ever been tempted by a “too good to be true” deal!

    40 min
  4. The One Where We Tie It All Together to Write a Good Report

    09/12/2025

    The One Where We Tie It All Together to Write a Good Report

    In this season-finale episode of Due Diligence Download, Sylwia and Amritha tackle one of the most underrated skills in investigations and compliance: how to write a clear, defensible, and genuinely useful due diligence and investigations report. Drawing on decades of reviewing (and rewriting!) thousands of EDD and intelligence reports, they break down what makes reporting actually effective — from understanding your audience and filtering irrelevant noise, to structuring findings in a way that enables fast, confident decision-making. They also compare analytical writing with narrative-driven HUMINT reporting, unpack why proportionality matters more than page count, and discuss practical techniques like BLUF, the Pyramid principle, and the classic 5W+H framework. The episode also explores how AI can support (and sometimes undermine) good reporting, and why QA/QC remains the backbone of reliable investigations. If you’ve ever asked yourself, “What does a good EDD report really look like?” — this one’s for you. Resources & Links https://medium.com/lessons-from-mckinsey/the-pyramid-principle-f0885dd3c5c7 https://www.cmu.edu/student-success/other-resources/handouts/comm-supp-pdfs/bluf-topic-sentence.pdf https://airfocus.com/glossary/what-is-the-5ws-1h-framework/ https://asq.org/quality-resources/quality-assurance-vs-control https://oecd.ai/en/ai-principles Sponsors We’re proudly independent - but we partner with companies who share our passion for smarter due diligence and investigations. Ethixbase360: Confident decisions, powered by people and platform . Market-leading third-party risk management platform combining smart automation, expert-led due diligence, and responsive support to deliver a clear, connected view of global third-party risk. Deploy a third-party risk management program that grows with your organization – from a single function to enterprise-wide coverage. Empower faster, smarter decisions with the data and insights trusted by global leaders. Gain a unified, real-time view of your third-party risk landscape — with built-in insight, and audit readiness. Maximize efficiency and performance with dedicated, expert support designed to save time, reduce costs, and strengthen your program. Learn more at ethixbase360.com Control Risks has combined the best of human and tech-enabled intelligence to help clients make confident, risk-based decisions and pursue opportunities anywhere in the world. Discover VANTAGE, their award-winning suite of third-party compliance solutions, designed to streamline your compliance processes and protect your business. Visit https://www.controlrisks.com/our-products/vantage?utm_source=linkedin&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=26_vantage_group&utm_content=due_diligence_download_podcast to find out how VANTAGE can make a difference for you. Subscribe, leave a review, and share this episode with your colleagues, friends, and fellow investigators who care about good reporting, better decisions, and making sense of complex risk.

    36 min
  5. The One Where Svetlana Explains Sanctions Investigations

    02/12/2025

    The One Where Svetlana Explains Sanctions Investigations

    In this episode of Due Diligence Download, Sylwia and Amritha go beyond basic sanctions lists and dive into the real investigative work behind detecting sanctions evasion and avoidance. Our guest, Svetlana Djurdjevic -a leading sanctions expert-joins us to break down the fast-moving world of sanctions investigations. We explore where red flags truly come from, how investigators piece together onboarding data, internal records, media checks, and transaction patterns, and why speed and context matter more than ever. Svetlana also shares practical advice for compliance professionals, discusses the global shortage of sanctions expertise, and explains where technology can help (and where only human judgment will do). Resources & Links https://www.theguardian.com/business/2022/mar/18/germany-share-tui-russia-alexei-mordashov https://sanctionsmap.eu https://ofac.treasury.gov https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/financial-sanctions-regime-specific-consolidated-lists-and-releases https://www.un.org/securitycouncil/sanctions/information https://nationalsecurityjournal.org/a-top-university-in-russia-is-offering-a-masters-degree-in-sanctions-busting/ Books mentioned in this episode: ‘Breakneck: China's Quest to Engineer the Future’ by Dan Wang ‘Chip War: The Fight for the World's Most Critical Technology’ by Chris Miller Subscribe, leave a review, and share this episode with your friends, family and colleagues who live and breathe ethics & compliance or just love a good investigative story.

    32 min
  6. Bonus Episode: The One Where We Break Down the ABCs of Sanctions

    01/12/2025 ·  BONUS

    Bonus Episode: The One Where We Break Down the ABCs of Sanctions

    A quick, clear primer on what sanctions are, how they work, and why they matter for financial crime and due diligence professionals. On this bonus episode of Due Diligence Download, Sylwia and Amritha break down the main types of sanctions, who issues them, and the difference between targeted and narrative sanctions. We also touch on recent real-world examples and explain why investigators — not just screening tools — are essential for spotting hidden risks and evasion. Perfect if you’re new to sanctions or need a fast refresher. Resources & Links https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/the-uk-sanctions-list https://www.un.org/securitycouncil/content/un-sc-consolidated-list https://ofac.treasury.gov https://main.un.org/securitycouncil/en/sanctions/information https://www.eeas.europa.eu/eeas/eu-sanctions-against-russia-stop-war-ukraine_en https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/5/23/us-sanctions-sudan-after-ruling-chemical-weapons-used-during-civil-war Subscribe, leave a review, and share this episode with your friends, family and colleagues who live and breathe ethics & compliance or just love a good investigative story.

    20 min
  7. The One About Human Rights Due Diligence

    25/11/2025

    The One About Human Rights Due Diligence

    Human rights abuses aren’t confined to distant places. They are intricately woven into the global supply chains we depend on every day. In this episode of Due Diligence Download, Sylwia and Amritha break down what Human Rights Due Diligence (HRDD) truly entails, how it differs from traditional KYC or ABC checks, and why companies must shift their focus from stakeholders to rightsholders. They discuss how human rights abuses frequently occur alongside financial crime, why companies can’t simply “find a problem and walk away,” and how global regulations such as CSRD, CSDDD, US import bans, and legislation in France and Germany are raising the bar for corporate responsibility. From Qatar’s World Cup worksites to fast fashion and labor exploitation across Europe, they examine real investigations that reveal where HRDD succeeds in practice and where it falls short. They also explore how technology, from satellite imagery to worker-voice apps, can support this work. At the same time, they emphasize a simple truth: nothing replaces direct conversations with people and a genuine understanding of local context. This episode offers a clear and unfiltered look at the systems that enable exploitation, and outlines what investigators and companies must do to protect the people at the center of global supply chains. Resources & Links https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2021/feb/23/revealed-migrant-worker-deaths-qatar-fifa-world-cup-2022 https://www.hrw.org/topic/childrens-rights/child-labor https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-leicestershire-67927678 https://www.nytimes.com/2024/05/30/business/hyundai-child-labor-lawsuit.html https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/news/2023/10/saudi-arabia-migrants-workers-who-toiled-in-amazon-warehouses-were-deceived-and-exploited/ https://commission.europa.eu/business-economy-euro/doing-business-eu/sustainability-due-diligence-responsible-business/corporate-sustainability-due-diligence_en https://finance.ec.europa.eu/capital-markets-union-and-financial-markets/company-reporting-and-auditing/company-reporting/corporate-sustainability-reporting_en https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2023/apr/04/how-tiktoks-algorithm-exploits-the-vulnerability-of-children Sponsors We’re proudly independent - but we partner with companies who share our passion for smarter due diligence and investigations. Ethixbase360: Confident decisions, powered by people and platform Market-leading third-party risk management platform combining smart automation, expert-led due diligence, and responsive support to deliver a clear, connected view of global third-party risk. Deploy a third-party risk management program that grows with your organization – from a single function to enterprise-wide coverage. Empower faster, smarter decisions with the data and insights trusted by global leaders. Gain a unified, real-time view of your third-party risk landscape — with built-in insight, and audit readiness. Maximize efficiency and performance with dedicated, expert support designed to save time, reduce costs, and strengthen your program. Learn more at ethixbase360.com A Data Pro turns global data into actionable intelligence. For over 26 years, we have helped decision-makers in risk, compliance, and communications with tailored solutions. Our three core divisions deliver measurable impact: Risk Intelligence strengthens compliance and KYC/AML programmes through due diligence, sanctions lists, UBO tracing, and PEP/SEP screening; Media Intelligence equips PR, marketing, and executives with insights on reputation, crises, competitors, influencers, and trends; and Data Solutions provide clean, structured data for automation and AI. With 500+ multilingual specialists across 80+ jurisdictions, we catch risks before they catch up to you—helping your business act confidently and proactively. Find out more here - https://adata.pro/

    36 min
  8. The One With AI in Due Diligence

    18/11/2025

    The One With AI in Due Diligence

    AI is everywhere in compliance platforms, in vendor pitches, in risk tools, and (apparently) in Boris Johnson’s heart. But what does it actually do for due diligence and investigations? In this episode of Due Diligence Download, Amritha and Sylwia break down the reality behind the hype, joined by special guest Maya. Together, they explore how AI is changing corporate investigations, where it genuinely adds value, and the critical areas where humans are still irreplaceable. From evolving regulations (DOJ, EU AI Act, Colorado CAIA) to AI sycophancy, scam farms, dark-web intelligence, and the rise of agentic AI that can act autonomously, this conversation cuts through the noise to focus on what matters for risk and compliance professionals. They also shine a light on one of the industry’s biggest emerging problems: AI washing, when tools claim to be “AI-powered” but rely heavily on humans, or when generative AI quietly makes its way into official reports with… disastrous results. Resources & Links https://www.silenteight.com/blog/ai-washing-in-aml-and-compliance-a-growing-challenge-for-financial-institutions https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-025-03390-0 https://theaugmentedinvestigator.substack.com/?utm_campaign=profile_chips https://www.clydeco.com/en/insights/2025/05/the-fine-print-of-ai-hype-the-legal-risks-of-ai-wa https://www.businessinsider.com/amazons-just-walk-out-actually-1-000-people-in-india-2024-4 https://fortune.com/2025/10/07/deloitte-ai-australia-government-report-hallucinations-technology-290000-refund/ https://www.bloomberglaw.com/external/document/XA09NCM0000000/commercial-comparison-table-eu-ai-act-vs-colorado-s-ai-accountab https://www.youtube.com/shorts/JAVMEs5CG1Y https://www.economist.com/audio/podcasts/scam-inc https://app.sesame.com/ Sponsors: We’re proudly independent - but we partner with companies who share our passion for smarter due diligence and investigations. Control Risks has combined the best of human and tech-enabled intelligence to help clients make confident, risk-based decisions and pursue opportunities anywhere in the world. Discover VANTAGE, their award-winning suite of third-party compliance solutions, designed to streamline your compliance processes and protect your business. Visit www.controlrisks.com/vantage to find out how VANTAGE can make a difference for you. Link: https://www.controlrisks.com/our-products/vantage?utm_source=linkedin&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=26_vantage_group&utm_content=due_diligence_download_podcast A Data Pro turns global data into actionable intelligence. For over 26 years, we have helped decision-makers in risk, compliance, and communications with tailored solutions. Our three core divisions deliver measurable impact: Risk Intelligence strengthens compliance and KYC/AML programmes through due diligence, sanctions lists, UBO tracing, and PEP/SEP screening; Media Intelligence equips PR, marketing, and executives with insights on reputation, crises, competitors, influencers, and trends; and Data Solutions provide clean, structured data for automation and AI. With 500+ multilingual specialists across 80+ jurisdictions, we catch risks before they catch up to you—helping your business act confidently and proactively. Find out more here - https://adata.pro/ Subscribe, leave a review, and share this episode with your friends, family and colleagues who live and breathe ethics & compliance or just love a good investigative story.

    42 min
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About

A podcast about the untold stories and secrets of corporate investigations, risk, and compliance. Hosted by experienced women in the field. Tune in for real stories, case studies, expert tips, and industry insights. If you are a professional in compliance, risk, due diligence, investigations, and strategic intelligence - this is your new favourite weekly podcast!

Information

  • Creator
    Sylwia Wolos & Amritha Edachery
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    17
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Show Website
    Due Diligence Download

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