On this episode of Prevent and Protect, host Monte Rossetti sits down with Carol Severin, Group Executive Vice President and Chief Risk Officer at Frost Bank, for an executive-level look at the evolving fraud landscape. Drawing on more than three decades at Frost across internal audit and risk management, Carol describes how criminals now use automation and artificial intelligence to make scams look like a trusted vendor, coworker, or even your banker.
The conversation centers on a theme that may surprise some leaders: many attacks succeed not because a system fails, but because people are manipulated. Carol shares where organizations tend to be most vulnerable, from payment requests that appear to come from an executive to last-minute vendor changes, and explains why the strongest teams create room for employees to slow down, ask questions, and challenge anything unusual.
Carol also reflects on her leadership journey and her perspective as a woman in the industry, including early career advice about giving clear, direct feedback and why constructive challenge produces better results in risk management. She offers practical steps for embedding fraud awareness into daily conversations, hiring, and recognition rather than a once-a-year training event.
Press play for an executive perspective on building a proactive fraud prevention culture and Carol's single most important piece of advice for leaders. Prevent and Protect is brought to you by Frost Bank.