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He didn't just chase cybercriminals-he became one of them.
In this electrifying blend of true crime, cyber espionage, and undercover spycraft, former U.S. Secret Service agent Richard LaTulip recounts his covert mission to infiltrate one of the world's most dangerous online criminal networks.
Operating under an alias, LaTulip embedded himself deep inside the digital underground, building trust with elite carders, traffickers, and hackers, while secretly gathering the intelligence that would bring them down.
Operation Carder Kaos offers a rare inside look at the murky world of cybercrime, where deception is currency and exposure can be deadly. It's a high-stakes, real-world thriller about betrayal, digital warfare, and the price of living two lives.
For readers of spy thrillers, cybercrime exposés, and intelligence memoirs, this is the true story they've never heard-told by the agent who lived it.
List of contents
It Was Always About the Mission - The mindset of an undercover cyber agent.
How Did I Get There? - The journey into law enforcement and cyber investigations.
Feeling Special, At Least for the Time - The adrenaline and dangers of working undercover.
When One Door Closes, Another Opens - Tactical shifts and adapting to evolving threats.
Life Always Has a Curveball to Throw - The unpredictability of covert cyber ops.
Everyone Has to Pay for Their Sins - The consequences of cybercrime.
A Brief History Lesson - The evolution of cybercriminal networks.
It All Started in San Diego - The case that set everything in motion.
The State of California's Role Ends - Jurisdictional challenges in cyber investigations.
I Already Knew Who You Were - Gaining the trust of cybercriminals.
Breaking New Ground - First successful penetration into the underground.
The First Order of Business - Establishing an undercover identity.
The Briefing Room and Beyond - The role of intelligence and surveillance.
With a Small Bang - The Show Began - The first major bust.
The Fallout from a Successful Operation - Consequences and collateral damage.
Maksik Goes to Egypt - Following the cybercriminal trail across borders.
A Man Called Vincent - A major target emerges.
Vincent and I Go to Bangkok - International cybercrime investigations.
Home - How Nice It Is to Be Back in San Diego - Reflections on the operation.
Back to Macau - Fixing What We Screwed Up - Managing intelligence failures.
A Lot to Do, But with Little Time - The urgency of law enforcement.
Time to Cut Through the Red Tape - Bureaucratic challenges.
Maksik and I Go to Dubai - Tracking cybercriminals in luxury hideouts.
The Case Flutters! - Unforeseen setbacks.
Missed Opportunities - Learning from investigative mistakes.
Off to Turkey - The Last Hurrah! - The final moves in a global cyber crackdown.
Maksik and I Go Clubbing - Blending in while staying alert.
Where Do We Go From Here? - Reflections on cybercrime's future.
Hello, It's Belarus Calling - The next big case.
About the author
Richard K. LaTulip is a cybersecurity expert, retired U.S. Secret Service Special Agent, and Field Chief Information Security Officer (Field CISO) for Recorded Future. With a career spanning law enforcement and cybersecurity, he has led high-profile investigations into cybercrime, financial fraud, and digital threats. He holds a bachelor's degree in Criminal Justice and is pursuing a Master of Science in Cybersecurity Policy and Governance at Boston College. His professional certifications include CISM, CISSP, CEH, and CySA+.
Richard is also a sought-after speaker on cybersecurity, insider threats, and cybercriminal methodologies. His firsthand experience in undercover cyber investigations and penetrating criminal networks gives him a unique perspective on digital crime and espionage.
