The Utah Fraudcast

When we think of crime, we often picture broken windows or stolen property. But in Utah, some of the most devastating theft happens behind a desk, hidden in forged documents, fake policies, and AI voice scams. In this episode, the Utah Fraudcast sits down with Armand Glick, Fraud Division Director for the Utah Insurance Department, to unpack how modern fraudsters target vulnerable and financially stressed communities. From the high-profile prosecution of "ghost broker" Carlos Garcia to door-to-door roofing scams and illegal kickback schemes that inflate everyone's premiums, we reveal the major red flags of insurance fraud and provide actionable advice on how Utahns can protect themselves. Please note that the Department of Commerce, along with its divisions and offices, refrains from commenting on ongoing and current investigations. Statements are issued only after action is taken against a business or individual. This podcast is hosted by Will McFarland and produced by Katie Scheuch.   Links mentioned in the episode: Utah Department of Commerce: www.commerce.utah.gov. Utah Insurance Department Fraud Division: https://insurance.utah.gov/fraud/ Utah Division of Professional Licensing: https://commerce.utah.gov/dopl/ Information on the Carlos Garcia Case: https://insurance.utah.gov/insurance-fraud-division-stops-ghost-broker/  

On our season two finale of the Utah Fraudcast, we sit down with one of the world's leading minds in cybercrime intelligence, Gary Warner, a co-founder of the non-profit Intelligence for Good, to peel back the layers of modern digital fraud. While Utah has a long history of traditional financial crimes such as affinity fraud and multi-level marketing traps, the threat landscape has undergone a massive shift. Today's bad actors aren't pitchmen on stages in Salt Lake City; they are highly organized, keyboard-driven syndicates operating behind encrypted networks and offshore cryptocurrency rails to strip everyday citizens of their life savings. Gary shares his decades of intelligence experience to expose the psychological playbooks behind these multi-billion dollar operations, breaks down the three primary "on-ramps" of crypto investment scams, and introduces a groundbreaking university initiative that is actively hitting scammers where it hurts. Please note that the Department of Commerce, along with its divisions and offices, refrains from commenting on ongoing and current investigations. Statements are issued only after action is taken against a business or individual. This podcast is hosted by Will McFarland and produced by Katie Scheuch. Links mentioned in the episode: Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3): https://www.ic3.gov/ Intelligence for Good: https://www.intelligenceforgood.org/ Utah Department of Commerce: www.commerce.utah.gov. Utah Division of Securities: https://commerce.utah.gov/securities/ Thinking Fast and Slow by Daniel Kahneman: https://www.amazon.com/Thinking-Fast-Slow-Daniel-Kahneman/dp/0374533555

In the final installment of our series on the Alpha Influence Ponzi scheme, we examine the rise and devastating fall of Jeremiah Joseph Evans, known online as "The Bull." Evans built a $20 million empire by promising investors fully managed Amazon storefronts, but instead used the funds to finance a white Lamborghini and a luxurious lifestyle. We are joined by Liz Blaylock, Chief of Enforcement of the Utah Division of Securities, as we go inside the Salt Lake City courtroom for his standing-room-only sentencing hearing and discuss the hard reality of recovering funds for over 500 victims across the country. Evans, who once boasted he was "the king" above the law, ultimately faced a reckoning that underscored the true cost of affinity fraud. Please note that the Department of Commerce, along with its divisions and offices, refrains from commenting on ongoing and current investigations. Statements are issued only after action is taken against a business or individual. This podcast is hosted by Will McFarland and produced by Katie Scheuch. Links Mentioned in the Episode: Utah Department of Commerce: www.commerce.utah.gov Utah Division of Securities: https://commerce.utah.gov/securities/ Utah White Collar Crime Registry: https://www.utfraud.com/  

How do you dismantle a $21 million empire built on bravado and bad checks? In part two of this series, we go behind the scenes of the federal investigation into Jeremiah "The Bull" Evans. Cidne Orchard, Senior Enforcement Investigator with the Utah Division of Securities, joins us to reveal how forensic accounting and a complex paper trail exposed the Alpha Influence Ponzi scheme. We discuss the "done-for-you" Amazon pitch that led to a 96-month prison sentence and identify the red flags you need to know to protect your own investments. Please note that the Department of Commerce, along with its divisions and offices, refrains from commenting on ongoing and current investigations. Statements are issued only after action is taken against a business or individual. This podcast is hosted by Will McFarland and produced by Katie Scheuch. Links Mentioned in the Episode: Utah Department of Commerce: www.commerce.utah.gov. Utah Division of Securities: https://commerce.utah.gov/securities/ Broker Check: https://brokercheck.finra.org/ Investment Adviser Public Disclosure website: https://adviserinfo.sec.gov/ Upcoming in this series: Join us for part three as we wrap up this case and sit down with Liz Blaylock, Chief of Enforcement of the Utah Division of Securities, to discuss Jeremiah's 96-month prison sentence and what happens next for the "Bull".

On this episode of the Utah Fraudcast, we explore the rise and fall of Jeremiah "The Bull" Evans and his "Alpha Influence" empire. Evans used a hyper-masculine social media persona to lure over 530 victims into a $21 million Ponzi scheme. Promising impossible 7% to 10% monthly returns on automated Amazon drop-shipping stores, Evans instead used the initial buy-ins to fund a lavish lifestyle of rented private jets, designer clothes, and luxury cars. Evans ultimately pleaded guilty to securities fraud and money laundering, resulting in an 8-year federal prison sentence and an order to pay $19.1 million in restitution. Upcoming in this Series: Part two features an interview with an investigator who worked on the case, and Part three will cover the sentencing and the challenges of recovering restitution for the victim. Please note that the Department of Commerce, along with its divisions and offices, refrains from commenting on ongoing and current investigations. Statements are issued only after action is taken against a business or individual. This podcast is hosted by Will McFarland and produced by Katie Scheuch. Sources for the Episode: Utah Department of Commerce: www.commerce.utah.gov. Utah Division of Securities: https://commerce.utah.gov/securities/ Deseret News article about Alpha Con: https://www.deseret.com/2022/2/22/22945829/perspective-how-a-beta-like-me-managed-to-get-kicked-out-of-alpha-con-business-conference/ Deseret News article about Alpha Influence fraud complaints: https://www.deseret.com/utah/2023/3/9/23579761/jeremiah-evans-the-bull-alphacon-business-complaints/ Jeremiah Evans pleads guilty: https://commerce.utah.gov/2025/01/23/news-release-alpha-influence-ringleader-admits-to-defrauding-investors-of-over-20m/. Sentencing press releases: https://www.justice.gov/usao-ut/alpha-influence-investment. https://commerce.utah.gov/2025/05/08/news-release-investment-scammer-sentenced-to-96-months-imprisonment-for-defrauding-alpha-influence-investors-of-over-20m/, https://commerce.utah.gov/2025/05/06/news-release-utah-county-man-sentenced-to-prison-for-affinity-fraud-scheme-that-scammed-over-5m-from-alpha-influence-investors/ Alpha Influence's Vimeo Account: https://vimeo.com/user152824328  

Show Notes: In this episode of the Utah Fraudcast, we sit down with a pipeline lead safety engineer for the Utah Division of Public Utilities to unpack the tragic November 2024 home explosion in South Jordan. He explains how an underground leak from an aging plastic gas main migrated into the home, silently "scrubbing" away the familiar rotten egg odor of natural gas along the way. We dive into the science of gas-to-air flammability and discuss actionable steps homeowners can take to protect their families. Tune in to learn why standard smoke and carbon monoxide alarms aren't enough, how certified methane detectors placed near your ceiling provide a vital early warning, and the essential safety protocols you must follow, like evacuating the house before dialing 911, if you ever suspect a natural gas leak. Please note that the Department of Commerce, along with its divisions and offices, refrains from commenting on ongoing and current investigations. Statements are issued only after action is taken against a business or individual. This podcast is hosted by Will McFarland and produced by Katie Scheuch. Please note that the Department of Commerce, along with its divisions and offices, refrains from commenting on ongoing and current investigations. Statements are issued only after action is taken against a business or individual. This podcast is hosted by Will McFarland and produced by Katie Scheuch. Links Mentioned in the Episode: NTSB Investigation into the 2024 South Jordan Home Explosion: https://www.ntsb.gov/investigations/Pages/PLD25FR001.aspx What to know about natural gas alarms:https://www.ntsb.gov/advocacy/safety-alerts/Pages/SA-098.aspx Utah Division of Public Utilities: dpu.utah.gov Utah Department of Commerce: commerce.utah.gov, scams.utah.gov  

Show Notes: In this episode of the Utah Fraudcast, we are joined by Salt Lake County Recorder Rashelle Hobbs to discuss the essential role her office plays in protecting homeowners from property fraud. From predatory mail scams charging unnecessary fees to audacious real estate heists and deceptive title changes within a family's "circle of trust," property fraud is a very real and evolving threat. Hobbs explains how Utah residents can stay proactive by signing up for Property Watch, a free alert service that notifies subscribers via text or email whenever a document, such as a new lien, refinance, or deed transfer, is officially recorded on their property. Whether you are a prospective buyer or managing a family estate, tune in to learn why it is crucial to "trust, but verify" your property records and how to utilize the free public resources available at your local recorder's office. Please note that the Department of Commerce, along with its divisions and offices, refrains from commenting on ongoing and current investigations. Statements are issued only after action is taken against a business or individual. This podcast is hosted by Will McFarland and produced by Katie Scheuch. Links Mentioned in the Episode: Salt Lake County Recorder: https://www.saltlakecounty.gov/recorder/residents/property-watch/ Utah Department of Commerce: commerce.utah.gov, scams.utah.gov  

In this episode of the Scamalot Fraudcast, we sit down with Salt Lake County Sheriff Rosie Rivera to discuss government imposter scams. Sheriff Rivera explains how fraudsters impersonate deputies to exploit fear, why you should never try to "outsmart" a scammer on the phone, and the one thing law enforcement will never ask you to do. Please note that the Department of Commerce, along with its divisions and offices, refrains from commenting on ongoing and current investigations. Statements are issued only after action is taken against a business or individual. This podcast is hosted by Patrick Fitzgibbon and produced by Katie Scheuch. Links Mentioned in the Episode: dcp.utah.gov https://www.fbi.gov/how-we-can-help-you https://www.saltlakecounty.gov/sheriff/  

In this episode, the Scamalot Fraudcast explores a major new crackdown on human trafficking and illicit industries in Utah. Host Patrick Fitzgibbon speaks with Jeff Shumway from the Office of Professional Licensure Review to discuss HB278, the "Massage Therapy Amendments". They explain how this new law addresses a regulatory "blind spot" to protect consumers, support legitimate business owners, and empower law enforcement to shut down illicit operations. Please note that the Department of Commerce, along with its divisions and offices, refrains from commenting on ongoing and current investigations. Statements are issued only after action is taken against a business or individual. This podcast is hosted by Patrick Fitzgibbon and produced by Katie Scheuch. Links Mentioned in the Episode: Utah Division of Professional Licensing: dopl.utah.gov Utah Office of Professional Licensure Review: oplr.utah.gov Utah Department of Commerce: commerce.utah.gov, scams.utah.gov

Have you ever booked a trip, bought concert tickets, or rented an apartment, only to find the final price was significantly higher than advertised? In this episode, we discuss the pervasive issue of "junk fees," those vague, hidden line items, such as "service charges" or "resort fees," that appear only at the checkout screen. We examine how deceptive pricing tactics influence consumer psychology, identify the industries where these fees are most prevalent, and discuss new legislative efforts in Utah aimed at leveling the playing field for honest businesses and protecting consumers. Please note that the Department of Commerce, along with its divisions and offices, refrains from commenting on ongoing and current investigations. Statements are issued only after action is taken against a business or individual. This podcast is hosted by Patrick Fitzgibbon and produced by Katie Scheuch. Links Mentioned in the Episode: Utah Division of Consumer Protection: dcp.utah.gov Utah Department of Commerce: commerce.utah.gov, scams.utah.gov  Junk Fees presentation: https://le.utah.gov/interim/2025/pdf/00002808.pdf HB 29:https://le.utah.gov/Session/2026/bills/static/HB0029.html