Former US Secret Service agent links up with GeoComply in risk services role
Cybercrime expert Michael Dawson joins geolocation tracking firm having spent time investigating cryptocurrency-related fraud
GeoComply has announced the appointment of former US Secret Service Special Agent Michael Dawson to its Risk Services team.
The geolocation technology firm confirmed that Dawson will serve as GeoComply’s law enforcement liaison, working with government agencies across both the US and Canada. He will report to GeoComply’s director of risk services Danny DiRienzo.
Dawson spent more than 23 years within the US government agency, initially joining as a member of the Electric Crime Taskforce in 1999 and subsequently moving up through the ranks to become an expert on fraud, money laundering, cryptocurrency and organised crime.
He previously served as the lead agent for a multi-agency priority transnational organised crime investigation called ‘Operation Crypto Runner’.
The operation focused on identifying, mitigating, seizing, arresting and disrupting global cybercrime money laundering.
Speaking on his new role, Dawson highlighted the need for effective tools in the fight against cybercrime both in the US and globally.
“This feels like such a good fit for me because it allows me to continue the fight against fraud using GeoComply’s technology.
“Geolocation is such an effective tool. If more of the banks and platforms I’ve helped had used GeoComply, it would have made investigations a lot simpler and the life of the criminals a lot harder,” he added.
Dawson’s appointment comes less than a week after GeoComply published data coinciding with the one year anniversary of Ontario’s regulated online gambling and sports betting market.
Results of investigations by the firm found targeting of the Canadian province by international individuals seeking to fraudulently access the Ontario market to be increasing, with several operators targeted specifically by fraudsters.
Regarding the growing role of automation within the igaming and sports betting industry, GeoComply’s DiRienzo cited the need for continued human involvement in the fraud prevention process.
“While automating fraud alerts is a big part of what we do to protect our customers, we have found that machines still don’t learn as fast as fraud evolves,” DiRienzo said.
“Our fraud-fighting capabilities are therefore rooted in a blend of human analysis meshed with the very best that data science can provide,” he added.