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30 Years In Intelligence Taught Me Your Data Is The Real Danger

The 8 Warning Signs You're A Target And How To Stop It - Philip Grindell

22 September 2026 · 1hr 04min · Security & Threat Management

In this episode of True Wealth, Fintan and Anthony sit down with Philip Grindell – founder of Defuse Global and a 30-year police and intelligence veteran to unpack the modern personal security playbook for HNW and UHNWI.

Most successful people think security means bodyguards, CCTV and armoured cars. Philip argues that’s completely wrong. The real risks often come from the data you unknowingly leave behind, the information your family shares online, and the predictable patterns that make you vulnerable.

Along the way, Philip reveals how criminals identify wealthy targets, why deleting social media may actually make you less safe, the simple systems every founder should implement immediately, and the behavioural indicators that separate genuine threats from online noise.

— Chapters

00:00 Why success makes you a target 04:54

04:54 Why crypto millionaires are being kidnapped 04:45

09:39 The biggest security mistake wealthy people make 05:09

14:48 Should wealthy people delete social media? 05:29

20:17 We found Fintan’s private information online 03:45

24:02 Why your phone is more valuable than your wallet 03:48

27:50 How AI is changing scams forever 03:17

31:07 Why CCTV won’t protect your home 03:13

34:20 How to tell if a threat is real 01:59

36:19 The 8 warning signs you’re being targeted 00:54

37:13 The difference between a “howler” and a “hunter” 07:27

44:40 What to do if you think you’re a target 03:25

48:05 The difference between threat and risk 08:50

56:55 The #1 security rule: trust your intuition 07:05

In Philip's words.

“They don’t stop the problem, they just stop the bleeding.”

On why bodyguards, armored cars, and physical security alone aren't enough.

“Because what they’re looking for is predictability. They wanna know where you are at a certain time and place in order to attack you.”

On how attackers use publicly available information to target individuals.

“But first and foremost, you’ve got to understand, how do they target me? And how do they target my family?”

On the importance of understanding your vulnerabilities before investing in security.

“It’s not having a social media account that is the problem, it’s what you put on your social media account.”

On why deleting social media isn't necessarily the answer.

Philip Grindell

Be hard to find. Even harder to target.

Website

Philip Grindell was a Detective Inspector at Scotland Yard and worked within the UK’s counter-terrorism and intelligence environments.

Following the murder of Jo Cox MP, he set up and led The Parliamentary Liaison and Investigation Team, the unit that went on to identify and stop a planned terrorist attack against another MP.

Today Philip’s work has two sides. The first is prevention: expert security advice that makes clients harder to find and harder to target in the first place. The second is judgement: advising prominent individuals, families and their professional advisers when someone’s behaviour begins to feel wrong, usually early, before a situation looks dangerous from the outside.

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