Understanding Fraud Through Human Behavior: A Criminologist’s Lens #FraudFrontlines
Welcome to “Fraud Frontlines,” a special limited series within the DataTalk™ podcast, hosted by Kathleen Peters and dedicated to exploring the latest trends and strategies in fraud prevention.
In this episode, Kathleen Peters, Chief Innovation Officer of Experian Identity and Fraud, sits down with Dr. Nicola Harding, a criminologist, and founder of The Financial Crime Lab. Dr. Harding shares her unique insights into the human behaviors behind fraud, emphasizing the importance of understanding the lived experiences of both victims and perpetrators.
Dr. Harding discusses her journey into criminology, driven by a curiosity about why people make these choices. She highlights the need to ask “how” fraudsters operate to better prevent financial crime. Her approach combines human insight with technology, advocating for a balance that leverages both to combat fraud effectively.
The conversation also delves into the power of storytelling in fraud prevention, the role of restorative justice, and the mission of The Financial Crime Lab to turn research into actionable insights. Dr. Harding emphasizes designing fraud prevention strategies for moments of vulnerability, not just ideal scenarios.
On DataTalk™, we talk about important data and analytics topics with data science leaders from around the world. You can subscribe to the DataTalk™ podcast on iTunes, Google Podcast, iHeartRadio, Stitcher, Spotify and YouTube.
Here are video highlights from this conversation:
- Understanding the Human Element of Fraud
- Collaborating with Victims and Fraudsters for Education
- Advice for Fraud Prevention Teams
You can also catch the full video conversation with Dr. Nicola Harding here.
About Dr. Nicola Harding
Dr. Nicola Harding is a criminologist and leading voice in financial crime prevention, known for translating complex research into practical action. Her journey into criminology was shaped by a fascination with why people commit harm and how systems either enable or prevent it, a question that has guided her work across academia, policy and industry.
Nicola was CEO of We Fight Fraud, where she worked at the frontline with banks, law enforcement, regulators and victims, helping organizations better understand the human behaviors behind fraud and scams. That experience exposed not just how sophisticated financial crime has become, but how often prevention systems fail the people they are meant to protect.
She is now the founder of The Financial Crime Lab, a not-for-profit focused on turning evidence into action. The Lab brings together research, lived experience and industry insight to reduce the real-world harm caused by financial crime, particularly for those most vulnerable to exploitation.
Across her work, Nicola’s mission is simple but uncompromising: to reduce the harm of financial crime by designing systems, stories and interventions that put people, not just technology, at the center.
About Kathleen Peters
Kathleen Peters leads innovation and strategy for Experian’s Fraud and Identity business in North America, continuously exploring new ways to solve market challenges in identity, risk, and fraud detection. She and her team define business strategies and investment priorities while incubating new products, analyzing industry trends and leveraging the latest technologies to bring ideas to life.
Kathleen joined Experian in 2013 to lead business development and global product management for Experian’s newest fraud products. She later served as the Head of the North America Fraud & Identity business, until being named Chief Innovation Officer for Decision Analytics in 2020. Kathleen has twice been named a “Top 100 Influencer in Identity” by One World Identity (now Liminal), an exclusive list that annually recognizes influencers and leaders from across the globe, showcasing a who’s who of people to know in the identity space.
For nearly two decades, she has lived in the heart of Silicon Valley in California, working for a variety of companies including early-stage technology startups. Living in this epicenter of fast-paced innovation, leading-edge technology and disruption influences Kathleen’s own approach to strategy and business thinking at Experian. Kathleen is regularly quoted in prominent media outlets. A sought-after speaker and thought leader, Kathleen frequently shares her insights on innovation, AI and fraud prevention at industry conferences and events.