Undercover Investigations, Cybercrime, and Operation Carder Kaos
July 18, 2026
I recently had the pleasure of joining Detonation Point with Matt O’Neill to discuss a topic that defined much of my career: cybercrime investigations and the undercover work that helped expose some of the world’s most prolific online criminal networks.
During my 22 years as a U.S. Secret Service Special Agent, I worked alongside law enforcement partners across the globe to identify, locate, and, at times, infiltrate organized cybercriminal organizations. Those experiences ultimately became the foundation for my book, Operation Carder Kaos.
In this episode, Matt and I discuss the investigation behind the book, what it takes to establish and maintain an undercover identity in criminal communities, and why intelligence remains one of the most powerful tools available to defenders today. Although technology has changed dramatically over the years, many of the principles that drove successful investigations then continue to shape modern cybersecurity and threat intelligence.
Among the topics we cover are:
- My journey into cybercrime investigations
- The origins of Operation Carder Kaos
- Building and protecting an undercover identity
- How organized carding forums operated
- The importance of international cooperation in combating cybercrime
- Why intelligence continues to transform cybersecurity operations
I’d like to thank Matt O’Neill and the Detonation Point team for the invitation and for an engaging conversation. It was a privilege to revisit these experiences and reflect on the lessons they continue to provide for today’s cybersecurity professionals.
Whether you’re interested in cybercrime investigations, threat intelligence, digital forensics, or simply enjoy hearing the stories behind complex international investigations, I hope you’ll find the conversation informative.
Watch the Episode
🎙️ Detonation Point with Matt O’Neill
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UAdNUCDQoIY
Read Operation Carder Kaos
If you’d like to learn more about the investigation discussed during the podcast, Operation Carder Kaos is available on Amazon:
As always, I’d appreciate hearing your thoughts after you’ve watched the episode. Feel free to leave a comment or connect with me on LinkedIn to continue the conversation.
