Women in Fraud: Issue 2

Introduction

The Women in Fraud newsletter is officially a hit! 🎉 After just one edition, we’ve already passed 350 subscribers — and that’s no surprise when you realize how many women are leading the charge in fraud prevention across financial institutions.

We’re running the models. We’re setting the strategies. We’re managing the risk. We’re mentoring the next generation of fraud fighters. This month, we’re spotlighting two incredible women whose careers reflect what makes this field so dynamic — curiosity, adaptability, and collaboration.

First up is Jenn Zatkos of Synchrony, whose story shows what happens when a sharp eye for detail meets a love of solving mysteries. Then we meet Yasmin Jones, AAP, APRP of Caltech Employees Federal Credit Union, whose leadership, optimism, and color-filled energy are reshaping how financial institutions think about fraud prevention and education.

🟠Spotlight: Jenn Zatkos, VP – Digital Deposit Fraud Prevention Manager | Synchrony

 

For Jenn Zatkos, a career in fraud prevention wasn’t planned — it found her.

Early in her banking career, she was managing ACH operations when she came across a set of transactions that didn’t make sense. She escalated them to the fraud team and moved on with her day. Months later, her boss placed a newspaper clipping on her desk: a woman had been arrested for embezzlement. Jenn’s attention to detail had uncovered the case — and sparked a lifelong passion for solving financial mysteries.

Her foundation in payments became her greatest asset. Jenn understood how money moves — the rails, timing, rules, and nuances across each method. That holistic view helped her see patterns others missed and connect activity across payment channels to uncover the bigger story.

Throughout her career, one of Jenn’s biggest challenges has been balancing the priorities of business growth with the realities of fraud risk. “I used to see things as black and white,” she shared, “but true partnership with strong fraud detection happen in the gray.”

A defining moment came when she left the bank where she had spent over 20 years to join a fintech. That leap broadened her view of fraud entirely. Working with data scientists and modern tools, she led a major initiative that stopped a fraud attack within weeks — one the company had battled two years. The experience gave her renewed confidence in her expertise and instincts.

Jenn’s advice to other women in the field? Stay hands-on. “Work cases yourself — it keeps you grounded and sharp.” She also emphasizes the power of community: sharing insights with peers across institutions, because “we’re all fighting the same enemy.”

She’s quick to point out that not all wins are visible. “The fraud we deflect before it happens matters just as much as the cases we catch,” she said. “It’s harder to quantify, but just as important.”

Outside of work, Jenn’s story comes with a fun twist — she holds a degree in Equine Science (the study of horses). “I haven’t yet detected a horse-related fraud ring,” she joked, “but you never know.” If her career were a book title, she says it would be: “Right When You Think You Have It All Figured Out… It Changes.”

 🟠Spotlight: Yasmin Jones, AVP/Controller, Accounting & Payments Operations | Caltech Employees Federal Credit Union

 For Yasmin Jones, the path into payments and risk started with curiosity—and a spreadsheet. She began her career on the front lines (think teller windows and member service), moved into accounting, and discovered her talent for connecting details across back-office operations. Today she oversees accounting while handling ACH, wires, and in-clearings at Caltech Employees Federal Credit Union, where resources are lean, the stakes are high, and being proactive beats being reactive every time.

What defines Yasmin’s approach isn’t a single fraud case—it’s a mindset. Mentors throughout her career helped her sharpen systems-level thinking: see the big picture, remove assumptions, and translate back-office fluency into clear training for staff and members. She’s relentless about education and trend spotting (“learn what’s happening today, then implement something useful tomorrow”), and she leans hard on collaboration and networking so her team benefits from what peers have already learned.

Her toughest lessons have come the honest way—through experience. In a world where many rely on expensive tools to surface signals, Yasmin’s environment is more hands-on and compartmentalized, forcing creativity and cross-team coordination. That perspective fuels her conviction that member education is as important as any model. It’s personal: she’s seen heartbreaking elder fraud cases—including an 86-year-old member who lost $2M—reminding her why prevention and outreach matter.

Yasmin’s advice to women considering fraud and payments: surround yourself with the right people, build your daily habit of scanning new fraud trends, and turn insight into action. You don’t need every tool—start with curiosity, community, and a plan.

And the fun twist? Despite the “accountant” stereotype, she’s anything but drab. Yasmin describes herself as a “wannabe hippie”—peace signs, color, rainbows, and a daily goal to make a positive difference. If her career were a book title, it would be: “A Wannabe Hippie in The Modern World”.

The Women in Fraud community continues to grow because of women like Jenn and Yasmin — professionals who are redefining what leadership in fraud prevention looks like.

If you know someone who deserves to be featured in a future edition, reach out to Laura Hollaway at lhollaway@validadvantage.com or call/text 201-247-1638. Together, we’ll keep celebrating the women who make the fraud industry stronger, smarter, and more connected than ever.