Brett Johnson

Brett Johnson

Keynote Speaker: "Original Internet Godfather" & Former United States Most Wanted; Cybersecurity Expert & Consultant; Host of "The Brett Johnson Show"

Brett Johnson Biography

Once one of the most notorious cybercriminals in the world, Brett Johnson has been a central figure in the cybercrime landscape for over two decades. Dubbed “The Original Internet Godfather” by the United States Secret Service, Johnson was the architect and leader of ShadowCrew, a groundbreaking cybercriminal forum that laid the foundation for today’s darknet markets.

Johnson played a pivotal role in pioneering numerous forms of online fraud, including modern identity theft, account takeover fraud, card-not-present fraud, IRS tax scams, and a wide array of social engineering tactics and hacking operations.

After his initial capture, Johnson was hired by the U.S. Secret Service as a consultant and informant. However, he soon resumed criminal activity, embarking on a cross-country crime spree that led to his placement on the U.S. Most Wanted list. He was eventually apprehended, imprisoned, escaped custody, and was re-captured. It was only after this final arrest that Johnson took full responsibility for his actions.

Today, Johnson has reinvented himself as a cybersecurity consultant and public speaker, leveraging his unique insights to help organizations combat the very crimes he once helped invent. Recognized as one of the world’s leading authorities on cybercrime and identity theft, Johnson has shared his expertise globally, delivering keynotes at over 30 major conferences in 2017 alone.

He has been featured in Kevin Poulsen’s book "Kingpin" and has appeared in numerous media outlets, including The New York Times, NBC, CNN Money, Wired, Vice, RT TV, Ars Technica, and The Independent, among others.

Contact a speaker booking agent to check availability on Brett Johnson and other top speakers and celebrities.

Brett Johnson Speaking Topics

Synthetic Fraud. Synthetic Identity Fraud is the fastest-growing form of identity theft on the planet. It accounts for 80% of all new account fraud, 20% of all credit card chargebacks, and 5% of overall credit card debt. Brett Johnson discusses what it is, how it's committed, and what should be done to mitigate the problem.

Account Takeovers (ATO) Brett discusses a variety of account takeovers, from bot-driven attacks to social engineering schemes, and reverse proxy attacks. Attendees will learn how these attacks happen and how to defend against them.

Scams, Hustles, Frauds, and the Power of Social Engineering. What makes a scam successful? In order for fraud to exist you need to build trust first, either as an individual or as an organization. Brett dives into a variety of scams from Zelle Fraud, and Romance scams, to Crypto Schemes. We learn how criminals develop Trust with potential victims and what you can do to protect yourself.

Understanding the Cybercriminal Mindset. In order to defeat your enemy, you must understand your enemy. In this discussion, we dive deep into the psychology of cybercrime: How attackers think, how they pick their targets, how criminals develop Trust with each other, and more.

The Brett Johnson Story Brett Johnson details his life of crime and redemption. From committing crimes as a child to being convicted of 39 felonies, and placed on the US Most Wanted List.

Money Laundering. Ever wonder how criminals launder stolen funds? Find out in this incredible session

Crypto Currency and Its Criminal Roots Brett Johnson discusses the origins of cryptocurrency and why crime is so ingrained in the vertical.

Business Email Compromise. How BEC works, where it's headed, and what can be don't to mitigate the problem.

Refund Fraud. Brett dives deep into a fraud that is eating every merchant and retailer alive. Find out how it's committed, how criminals network together to succeed, and how to stop it.

Brett Johnson Videos

Brett Johnson: US Most Wanted Cybercriminal | Lex Fridman
A cybercriminal explains how to stop cybercrime | Brett Johnson
Shield 2018: How Do Criminals Think?

How do I book Brett Johnson to speak at my event?

Our experienced booking agents have successfully helped clients around the world secure speakers like Brett Johnson for speaking engagements, personal appearances, product endorsements, or corporate entertainment since 2002. Click the Check Schedule button above and complete the form on this page to check availability for Brett Johnson, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536 to discuss your upcoming event. One of our experienced agents will be happy to help you get speaking fee information and check availability for Brett Johnson or any other speaker of your choice.

How much does it cost to book Brett Johnson for a speaking engagement?

Speaking fees for Brett Johnson, or any other speakers and celebrities, are determined based on a number of factors and may change without notice. The estimated fees to book Brett Johnson are $20,000 - $30,000 for live events and $10,000 - $20,000 for virtual events. For the most current speaking fee to hire Brett Johnson, click the Check Schedule button above and complete the form on this page, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536 to speak directly with an experienced booking agent.

What topics does Brett Johnson speak about?

Brett Johnson is a keynote speaker and industry expert who speaks on a wide range of topics such as Cybersecurity, Security & Defense, Computer Science, Technology, Motivational, Finance, FinTech, Consulting, Host & Emcee, Podcast Hosts, Artificial Intelligence and Futurism.

Where does Brett Johnson travel from?

Brett Johnson generally travels from Birmingham, AL, USA and can be booked for (private) corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances.

Who is the agent for Brett Johnson?

AAE Speakers Bureau has successfully secured keynote speakers like Brett Johnson for clients worldwide since 2002. As a full-service speaker booking agency, we have access to virtually any speaker or celebrity in the world. Our agents are happy and able to submit an offer to the speaker or celebrity of your choice, letting you benefit from our reputation and long-standing relationships in the industry. Please click the Check Schedule button above and complete the form on this page including the details of your event, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536, and one of our agents will assist you to book Brett Johnson for your next private or corporate function.

What is a full-service speaker booking agency?

AAE Speakers Bureau is a full-service speaker booking agency, meaning we can completely manage the speaker’s or celebrity’s engagement with your organization from the time of booking your speaker through the event’s completion. We provide all of the services you need to host Brett Johnson or any other speaker of your choice, including offer negotiation, contractual assistance, accounting and billing, and event speaker travel and logistics services. When you book a speaker with us, we manage the process of hosting a speaker for you as an extension of your team. Our goal is to give our clients peace of mind and a best-in-class service experience when booking a speaker with us.

Why is AAE Speakers Bureau different from other booking agencies?

If you’re looking for the best speaker recommendations, paired with a top-notch customer service experience, you’re in the right place. At AAE Speakers Bureau, we exclusively represent the interests of our clients - professional organizations, companies, universities, and associations. We intentionally do not represent the speakers we feature or book. That is so we can present our clients with the broadest and best performing set of speaker options in the market today, and we can make these recommendations without any obligation to promote a specific speaker over another. This is why when our agents suggest a speaker for your event, you can be assured that they are of the highest quality with a history of proven success with our other clients.


Brett Johnson is a keynote speaker and industry expert who speaks on a wide range of topics including Cybersecurity, Security & Defense and Computer Science. The estimated speaking fee range to book Brett Johnson for live events is $20,000 - $30,000, and for virtual events $10,000 - $20,000. Brett Johnson generally travels from Birmingham, AL, USA and can be booked for (private) corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances. Similar motivational celebrity speakers are Nicole Perlroth, Eric O'Neill and John Sileo. Contact All American Speakers for ratings, reviews, videos and information on scheduling Brett Johnson for an upcoming event.

Speaker profile last updated by AAE Talent Team on 15/05/2025.

Brett Johnson Speaking Topics

  • Synthetic Fraud. Synthetic Identity Fraud is the fastest-growing form of identity theft on the planet. It accounts for 80% of all new account fraud, 20% of all credit card chargebacks, and 5% of overall credit card debt. Brett Johnson discusses what it is, how it's committed, and what should be done to mitigate the problem.

    Account Takeovers (ATO) Brett discusses a variety of account takeovers, from bot-driven attacks to social engineering schemes, and reverse proxy attacks. Attendees will learn how these attacks happen and how to defend against them.

    Scams, Hustles, Frauds, and the Power of Social Engineering. What makes a scam successful? In order for fraud to exist you need to build trust first, either as an individual or as an organization. Brett dives into a variety of scams from Zelle Fraud, and Romance scams, to Crypto Schemes. We learn how criminals develop Trust with potential victims and what you can do to protect yourself.

    Understanding the Cybercriminal Mindset. In order to defeat your enemy, you must understand your enemy. In this discussion, we dive deep into the psychology of cybercrime: How attackers think, how they pick their targets, how criminals develop Trust with each other, and more.

    The Brett Johnson Story Brett Johnson details his life of crime and redemption. From committing crimes as a child to being convicted of 39 felonies, and placed on the US Most Wanted List.

    Money Laundering. Ever wonder how criminals launder stolen funds? Find out in this incredible session

    Crypto Currency and Its Criminal Roots Brett Johnson discusses the origins of cryptocurrency and why crime is so ingrained in the vertical.

    Business Email Compromise. How BEC works, where it's headed, and what can be don't to mitigate the problem.

    Refund Fraud. Brett dives deep into a fraud that is eating every merchant and retailer alive. Find out how it's committed, how criminals network together to succeed, and how to stop it.

Brett Johnson Videos

Brett Johnson: US Most Wanted Cybercriminal | Lex Fridman
A cybercriminal explains how to stop cybercrime | Brett Johnson
Shield 2018: How Do Criminals Think?
Inspire 2019 Keynote Brett Johnson
InfoSeCon 2018 Afternoon Keynote - Brett Johnson

Brett Johnson Reviews

  • ISACA Pittsburgh Chapter - Dec 07 2022

  • How do I book Brett Johnson to speak at my event?

    Our experienced booking agents have successfully helped clients around the world secure speakers like Brett Johnson for speaking engagements, personal appearances, product endorsements, or corporate entertainment since 2002. Click the Check Schedule button above and complete the form on this page to check availability for Brett Johnson, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536 to discuss your upcoming event. One of our experienced agents will be happy to help you get speaking fee information and check availability for Brett Johnson or any other speaker of your choice.
  • How much does it cost to book Brett Johnson for a speaking engagement?

    Speaking fees for Brett Johnson, or any other speakers and celebrities, are determined based on a number of factors and may change without notice. The estimated fees to book Brett Johnson are $20,000 - $30,000 for live events and $10,000 - $20,000 for virtual events. For the most current speaking fee to hire Brett Johnson, click the Check Schedule button above and complete the form on this page, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536 to speak directly with an experienced booking agent.
  • What topics does Brett Johnson speak about?

    Brett Johnson is a keynote speaker and industry expert who speaks on a wide range of topics such as Cybersecurity, Security & Defense, Computer Science, Technology, Motivational, Finance, FinTech, Consulting, Host & Emcee, Podcast Hosts, Artificial Intelligence and Futurism.
  • Where does Brett Johnson travel from?

    Brett Johnson generally travels from Birmingham, AL, USA and can be booked for (private) corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances.
  • Who is the agent for Brett Johnson?

    AAE Speakers Bureau has successfully secured keynote speakers like Brett Johnson for clients worldwide since 2002. As a full-service speaker booking agency, we have access to virtually any speaker or celebrity in the world. Our agents are happy and able to submit an offer to the speaker or celebrity of your choice, letting you benefit from our reputation and long-standing relationships in the industry. Please click the Check Schedule button above and complete the form on this page including the details of your event, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536, and one of our agents will assist you to book Brett Johnson for your next private or corporate function.
  • What is a full-service speaker booking agency?

    AAE Speakers Bureau is a full-service speaker booking agency, meaning we can completely manage the speaker’s or celebrity’s engagement with your organization from the time of booking your speaker through the event’s completion. We provide all of the services you need to host Brett Johnson or any other speaker of your choice, including offer negotiation, contractual assistance, accounting and billing, and event speaker travel and logistics services. When you book a speaker with us, we manage the process of hosting a speaker for you as an extension of your team. Our goal is to give our clients peace of mind and a best-in-class service experience when booking a speaker with us.
  • Why is AAE Speakers Bureau different from other booking agencies?

    If you’re looking for the best speaker recommendations, paired with a top-notch customer service experience, you’re in the right place. At AAE Speakers Bureau, we exclusively represent the interests of our clients - professional organizations, companies, universities, and associations. We intentionally do not represent the speakers we feature or book. That is so we can present our clients with the broadest and best performing set of speaker options in the market today, and we can make these recommendations without any obligation to promote a specific speaker over another. This is why when our agents suggest a speaker for your event, you can be assured that they are of the highest quality with a history of proven success with our other clients.
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