Retired FBI special agent, Jerri Williams talks money and her unique perspectives gained from a career in economic fraud investigations where she studied the schemes con-artists and corrupt corporate and public officials used to steal other people’s money.

Guest Biography

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 major economic fraud investigations and was amazed at the schemes con-artist and corrupt corporate and public officials would devise to steal other people’s money. She has also had the opportunity to work bank robberies and drug investigations. The one thing she knows for sure is, “With a gun, you can steal hundreds. With a pen, you can steal millions.”

During her FBI career, Jerri specialized in cases targeting major economic crime and corruption. Her investigation of a $350 million Ponzi scheme perpetrated against unsuspecting nonprofit organizations, high profiled philanthropists and beneficiary donors, resulted in a 12-year prison sentence and multiple forfeitures. The international advance fee scam case she conducted resulted in a 14-year prison sentence and the forfeiture of the subject’s residence. And her major investigation of business to business telemarketing fraud, which included a long-term undercover operation, resulted in 16 search warrants, 25 convictions, and several multi-year prison terms. Jerri received numerous awards throughout her career, including four United States Attorney Awards for Distinguished Service. Being interviewed and appearing on CNBC’s American Greed in the episode—Confessions of a Con Man—was a highlight of Jerri’s career.

Toward the end of her federal law enforcement career, Jerri was appointed as the spokesperson for the Philadelphia Division of the FBI, taking on the responsibility of educating and informing the media and public about the Bureau. Post-FBI retirement, Jerri served for seven years as the spokesperson and Director of Media Relations for SEPTA, Philadelphia’s public transportation provider. Both positions often placed her in the spotlight in front of local and national news media.

Jerri is using her prior professional experiences with scams and schemers to write crime fiction inspired by actual true crime FBI cases. Her novels – Pay To Play and Greedy Givers – a series about a female FBI agent assigned to a Philadelphia Corruption Squad, are available at Amazon.com as e-books, trade paperbacks, and audiobook.

Jerri also produces and hosts FBI Retired Case File Review, a true crime podcast where she interviews retired FBI agents about their high-profile cases and careers, corrects clichés and misconceptions about the FBI in books, TV, and movies, and recommends crime fiction. The podcast will soon surpassed two million downloads, has listeners from around the world, and is regularly listed on iTunes’ History Top Charts. FBI Retired Case File Review can be accessed on her website, Apple Podcast, Google Podcast, Spotify, and other popular podcast apps.

You can learn more about Jerri Williams, her crime novels and her podcast at www.jerriwilliams.com.

Show notes: http://www.inspiredmoney.fm/072

In this episode, you will learn:

• How the FBI works and why Jerri loved fighting fraud.
• Tips for protecting yourself from becoming a victim of fraud and identity theft.
• The fine line between good and bad.

Find more from our guest:

• jerriwilliams.com
• twitter.com
• Facebook
• Instagram
• LinkedIn

Mentioned in this episode:

• FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3)
• Joseph Wambaugh

Books:

• Pay to Play by Jerri Williams
• Greedy Givers by Jerri Williams

Runnymede Money Tip of the Week:

• Fidelity Investments’® Tenth Annual New Year Financial Resolutions Study

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Special thanks to Jim Kimo West for the music.