Thomas is joined by Will Lyne, former Deputy Director of the National Crime Agency’s Cyber Intelligence team, and Matt Horne, Director of Intelligence and Investigations at Clue and Chair of TechUK’s National Security Committee, for a fireside chat on today’s rapidly evolving threat landscape. They explore how cybercrime has transformed into a global criminal ecosystem – lowering barriers to entry, enabling ransomware at scale, and blurring the lines between state-backed activity and or...

In this powerful episode, Thomas sits down with Anna Rowe – survivor, activist, and founder of Catch the Catfish – to uncover the disturbing reality of romance fraud. Anna shares her deeply personal journey, from being manipulated by a serial fraudster living a double life to becoming one of the UK’s leading voices on deception in online dating. Together, they explore how emotional manipulation, psychological grooming, and emerging technologies are reshaping the landscape of fraud. Anna refle...

Join Thomas for a remarkable conversation with Will Lyne, former Deputy Director and Head of Cyber Intelligence at the UK’s National Crime Agency, as they unpack Operation Destabilise – a landmark investigation into one of the world’s most prolific money laundering networks. What began with tracking ransomware payments on the blockchain led Will’s team to a sprawling illicit finance ecosystem connecting UK drug gangs, Russian cybercriminals, South American cartels, and even hostile state acto...

Join Thomas for a compelling conversation with Alex Rothwell, CEO of the NHS Counter Fraud Authority, as they delve into one of the UK’s most complex and emotive crime landscapes: fraud in the National Health Service. From insider threats and procurement scams to multi-million-pound prescription fraud and criminal infiltration of NHS supply chains, Alex shares how his decades in policing and cybercrime now help him protect one of Britain’s most cherished institutions. With the NHS handl...

Mark Button – Inside West Africa’s cybercrime ‘kingdoms’ Join Thomas for a revealing conversation with Professor Mark Button, Director of the Centre for Cybercrime and Economic Crime at the University of Portsmouth, as they delve into the hidden world of global fraud and the rise of sophisticated scam networks across West Africa. Drawing on years of frontline research, Mark unpacks how deep-rooted socio-economic challenges in countries like Nigeria and Ghana have given rise to sprawling cyber...

Join Thomas for a compelling conversation with Laura Eshelby, former Cabinet Office counter fraud leader, as she unpacks two decades on the front lines of the UK’s fight against fraud. Starting her career as a graduate trainee and auditor, Laura quickly rose through the ranks to lead complex financial investigations into high-value legal aid fraud. Together, they explore how fraud has transformed - from paper-based deception to high-tech crime fuelled by AI, deepfakes, and digital identity th...

Join Thomas for a revealing conversation with Nick Sharp, Deputy Director of the National Economic Crime Centre (NECC), as they unravel the hidden web of fraud and financial crime that’s costing the UK billions every year. From romance scams and impersonation fraud to international laundering networks stretching from Southeast Asia to West Africa, Nick lifts the lid on the staggering scale and complexity of modern economic crime. With over 3.9 million fraud incidents annually, he shares...

Join Thomas as he speaks with Martin Dubbey, a former UK drug liaison officer turned international investigator, whose career spans from narcotics investigations in Customs and Excise to exposing one of the most audacious doping scandals in modern sport. Martin shares how his transition into private investigation led him to work alongside whistleblower Dr. Grigory Rodchenkov in uncovering the Russian state-sponsored doping programme during the Sochi Olympics, featured in the award-winni...

Join Thomas as he dives into a fascinating conversation with Sarah Lewis OBE OLY, Olympic ski racer turned Secretary General of the International Skiing Federation (FIS), where she spent over two decades leading one of sport’s most crucial but complex battles - anti-doping. From the explosive Lahti scandal in 2001 to the shocking revelations at the Salt Lake City Olympics in 2002, Sarah recounts the turbulent events that reshaped winter sports forever. Drawing from her extensive leaders...

In this episode, Ian Smith, Commissioner of the Esports Integrity Commission (ESIC), explores the fast-growing world of esports and its integrity challenges. Drawing from his experience tackling match-fixing in cricket, Ian explains his move into esports, where competitive gaming has surged in popularity, with players earning significant incomes and millions of fans. Key issues include cheating through software hacks and second-screen monitoring, and match-fixing driven by large betting...

In this episode, Thomas sits down with Neville Blackwood, a seasoned international law enforcement consultant and former senior police officer, to delve into the complexities of global policing. Neville recounts his journey from joining Thames Valley Police in 1982 to leading undercover operations against organised crime in Europe, which fueled his passion for international law enforcement. The conversation highlights the formidable challenges of working in developing nations, w...

Join Thomas as he delves into an enthralling conversation with Phil Suddick, the Head of Sport and Safeguarding at Clue Software, unravelling his remarkable career journey from law enforcement to becoming a torchbearer for sports integrity. Drawing from his specialised background in covert operations, Phil unveils how his prowess in undercover intelligence work paved the way for his seamless transition into the realm of sports, notably as an investigator at the International Tennis Int...

Thomas joins Adam Pacifico, as the lawyer and leadership podcaster shares his unconventional career trajectory from barrister to police officer and back. This episode explores how technology shaped Adam’s work in law over the years and underscores the importance of meticulous detail and rationale in investigations. Discover how the passage of time influences memory and decision-making and learn about the challenges of conveying complex information to non-experts like juries. Host of the podca...

Join Thomas as he delves into the intricate world of organised crime and technology with Matt Horne, a former detective with a distinguished 30-year career in law enforcement. As the former Deputy Director of Investigations at the National Crime Agency, Matt led Operation Venetic, a groundbreaking UK operation that dismantled an encrypted communications network used by criminals worldwide (more on this in a future episode). In this episode, Matt shares insight into how organised crime s...

In this compelling episode, Thomas sits down with Peter Spindler to delve into his distinguished career in law enforcement, spotlighting his pivotal role in Operation Yewtree. Spindler shares his journey from joining the police to spearheading one of the most significant investigations in UK history - the probe into sexual abuse allegations against Jimmy Savile and others. Listeners will gain a firsthand understanding of the origins and outcomes of Operation Yewtree following the wave o...

Join Thomas as he enters the complex world of financial crime with reformed fraudster Alex Wood, and Clue Software’s Director of Intelligence and Investigations, Matt Horne, a seasoned former law enforcement leader and economic crime expert. With raw honesty, Alex recounts his past transgressions, unveiling how he exploited vulnerabilities to orchestrate cyber-enabled fraud, leaving a trail of deception that engulfed businesses in losses of millions. Drawing from his time behind bars wh...

Joining the Dots provides real-world insights from those dedicated to justice, harm reduction, and global security. Hosted by Thomas Drohan, technologist and co-founder of Clue Software, each episode delves into the challenges and triumphs of those on the frontline tackling real issues like child abuse, human trafficking, corruption, organised crime, and fraud. Thomas leverages his experience working with diverse intelligence and investigations teams to explore candid conversations with vict...