About this episode
Fraud doesn't always announce itself with obvious warning signs. Quite often, it shows up wrapped inside something that feels routine — a purchase you've made before, a link that looks legitimate, a message that arrives at just the wrong moment. Nothing feels suspicious, so your guard stays down. By the time questions start forming, the transaction is already done. My guest today is Iremar Brayner. He's spent more than 15 years working in fraud prevention and risk management across payments, retail, ride-hailing, fintech, and digital marketplaces. In his role at G2A, he leads fraud strategy for one of the world's largest digital entertainment platforms, where speed, approval rates, and loss prevention are constantly pulling against each other. We discuss why scams continue to work despite smarter tools, how "friendly fraud" complicates the picture, and why digital goods create very different risk patterns than traditional retail. We also get into automation, AI-driven decisions, and what it really looks like to manage fraud in real time. Show Notes: [1:36] Iremar shares how his career in fraud prevention began, moving from bank customer service into reviewing suspicious transactions. [2:45] He explains why he completed law school but chose not to become a lawyer, and how legal training shaped his understanding of fraud psychology. [4:10] Fraud is framed as an emotional event, with urgency, financial stress, and excitement often lowering a person's defenses. [6:16] Digital marketplaces attract fraudsters due to low-cost items and products like gift cards that are easy to cash out. [7:10] The concept of card testing emerges, where stolen payment details are validated through small purchases. [8:05] Iremar discusses the rise of friendly fraud, where legitimate customers dispute transactions after receiving goods. [9:30] Major product launches, such as highly anticipated game releases, create predictable spikes in fraud risk. [11:05] Marketplace fraud requires managing risk on both sides, verifying sellers while monitoring buyers in real time. [12:40] He describes G2A's shift away from manual review toward fully automated transaction decisioning. [14:15] The tension between frictionless customer experience and effective fraud prevention is unpacked. [16:05] Automation and AI are positioned as essential tools for scaling fraud defenses without overwhelming operations. [18:10] AI's real impact is discussed: not changing fraud itself, but making attacks faster and
