The $6 Million Bitcoin Disappearing Act
Overview:
Crypto scams surged to record highs in 2025, and PHENIX President and CEO, Brian Bauer, worked one of the most shocking: a small business owner whose employees quietly drained his Bitcoin wallet.
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The victim had asked two young employees to set up his cold storage wallet, a decision that gave them full access to his seed phrases. They waited until they were off payroll, then swept all funds into untraceable wallets. The total loss? Nearly $6 million, gone in minutes.
Quote
“He wasn’t sophisticated enough to set up the crypto wallets himself. The people who did had the seed phrases. When he went to check, he found that all $6 million was gone.”
Protect Yourself:
- Never let employees or contractors set up your financial accounts.
- Store crypto seed phrases offline in secure, private locations.
- Vet anyone with financial access through a detailed background investigation.
- Treat “guaranteed” investments as guaranteed scams.
🎧 Hear the Full Story: Episode 2 — “The Art of Scamming and Deception”
Romance or Robbery?
Overview:
Romance scams cost Americans over $1.1 billion last year. Senior Investigator, Joel Weis, handled a case where a widower spent nearly five years believing he’d found a soulmate, but it was all an intricate deception.
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The scammer created multiple personas, used emotional manipulation, and slowly groomed the victim into sending money. Each “emergency” seemed believable. Over time, the victim lost large sums of money, but the emotional damage ran even deeper. Joel ultimately traced the scam to an organized group laundering funds through crypto and elderly money mules.
Quote:
“They prey on the heartbreak of losing a spouse. It's the first time they felt something in two, three, four, five years, and you have to tell them it's not real..”
Protect Yourself or Loved Ones:
- Be wary of people who avoid video chats or in-person meetings.
- Never send money to someone you’ve never met.
- Encourage older family members to talk openly about online relationships.
- Use discreet background checks early if anything feels “off.”
🎧 Hear the Full Story: Episode 16 — “Joel Weis Exposes the Truth About Scams”
Seven Corvettes and a “Broke” Defendant
Overview:
Hidden asset schemes are exploding in lawsuits and divorce cases. Janet Henson worked a case where a man claimed he was penniless, but disciplined surveillance revealed a driveway full of high-end vehicles.
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The subject funneled money through relatives and shell companies, registering assets under different names. He appeared broke on financial statements, yet lived a luxury lifestyle. Janet’s surveillance provided the courtroom-proof images attorneys needed to expose the fraud and recover the assets.
Quote:
“If somebody is going to the extent of hiding their financials, you never know what you're gonna go out and see. That's one of the whole reasons why we push for surveillance, to be able to get visual evidence.”
Spot the Deception:
- A mismatched lifestyle to reported income can be a red flag.
- Conduct a thorough investigation to find assets owned by relatives, shell companies, etc.
- Combine asset search with real surveillance to get a complete picture.
- Never take “I’m broke” at face value in litigation.
🎧 Hear the Full Story: Episode 18 — “Asset Search & Surveillance | When They Overlap”
Unmasking the Online Attacker
Overview:
Online harassment and identity manipulation hit record levels in 2025. Senior Investigator, Anjanette DuSold, managed a case involving an anonymous attacker using burner accounts to defame a business owner. This digital smear campaign took months to unravel.
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The attacker hid behind disposable emails, VPNs, and fake profiles. Small clues, posting patterns, and digital tells helped Anj identify the real person behind the harassment. Once PHENIX identified them, legal teams were able to serve the individual and halt the attacks.
Quote:
“At first I thought, this seems impossible… but after months of monitoring and connecting little pieces, we found them.”
Protect Your Reputation:
- Save everything: screenshots, timestamps, URLs, deleted posts, etc.
- Don’t respond publicly; it fuels the attacker.
- Bring in investigators to trace digital identities discreetly, without raising alarms.
- Use appropriate legal action once the real perpetrator is identified.
🎧 Hear the Full Story: Episode 19 — “How a Simple Locate Turns Into a Full Social Media Investigation"
Extortion Plot Targeting Wealthy Businessperson
Overview:
High-net-worth targeting is rising, especially through insider leaks and digital tracking devices. Senior Investigator, Tara Eaves, handled a case where a wealthy client was extorted by unknown assailants on an overseas trip.
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The client reported being confronted overseas about a supposed debt of “hundreds of millions.” After returning home, they found GPS trackers hidden in luggage seams, prompting the call to PHENIX. Tara’s investigation uncovered ties between the perpetrators and a recently terminated employee, turning a frightening mystery into a solved case.
Quote:
“Our client actually found trackers on their luggage…they were specifically targeted by a group of people with ties to a former employee.”
Stay Safe:
- Regularly sweep vehicles and luggage for tracking devices.
- Lock down travel plans, sharing only with essential contacts.
- Revoke employee access to business systems immediately after termination.
- Call professional investigators if you suspect digital or physical tracking.
🎧 Hear the Full Story: Episode 15 — “Senior Investigator Talks Missing Person Cases”