What’s poppin’ Con-gregation? Brittani Nichols, producer and writer on Abbott Elementary joins us to discuss the fraud surrounding the WGA writers strike. Also, we discuss how a group of creators scammed their way into shooting a movie by staging a fake engagement. Plus, a man and woman in the U.K. defrauded 80 victims, mostly gay men, they met on dating apps over a 16-year period. Stay Schemin’! Scam Goddess Live @ the Elysian Theatre on Thursday, June 22, 2023 in Los Angeles. Get your tickets go to:https://www.elysiantheater.com/shows/scamgoddess Research by Kaelyn Brandt SOURCEShttps://www.advocate.com/crime/2023/1/03/couple-sentenced-after-scamming-over-400k-mostly-gay-menhttps://www.vice.com/en/article/884gw5/these-artists-scammed-a-dollar36k-film-shoot-by-faking-an-engagementhttps://letterboxd.com/film/cons-pros/https://www.google.com/search?rlz=1C1GCEU_enUS890US892&q=kyla+pratt+little+mermaid&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwi987SZufj-AhXJJ0QIHYT7DE0Q0pQJegQIDBAB&biw=905&bih=775&dpr=1.1#imgrc=VxXjND0faDfgCM

Scam Goddess

The Fake Film for…Feminism?! w/ Brittani Nichols

Con-gregation! In a special What’s Hot in Fraud, comedian Mano Agapion returns to discuss our favorite CON-gressman George Santos being indicted. Also, Laci and Mano discuss Garrison Kenneth Courtney, a former government official who pretended to be a spy and scammed nearly $4.5 million. Plus, conservative media figurehead Alex Jones found himself the victim of an AI prank call. Stay Schemin’!  Scam Goddess Live @ the Elysian Theatre on Thursday, June 22, 2023 in Los Angeles. Get your tickets HERE.Research by Kaelyn BrandtSOURCEShttps://gizmodo.com/alex-jones-ai-tucker-carlson-fox-news-infowars-1850410076https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/sandy-hook-alex-jones-tucker-carlson-prank-call-b2333520.htmlhttps://www.thedailybeast.com/how-fake-cia-spy-garrison-courtney-fooled-everyone-and-swindled-millionshttps://www.washingtonpost.com/local/legal-issues/garrison-courtney-fraud/2020/10/28/c033d122-fc4d-11ea-b555-4d71a9254f4b_story.htmlhttps://www.oxygen.com/crime-news/garrison-courtney-convicted-of-wire-fraud-in-elaborate-spy-ruse

Shantay You Stay…In Prison! w/ Mano Agapion

What’s Poppin’ Con-gregation? This week, comedians Michelle Buteau and Jordan Carlos join us to discuss Victor Lustig, a con artist of the 1920s who's notorious for selling the Eiffel Tower, twice. Plus, a German photographer has rejected an award from the Sony World Photography Awards after winning with an AI-generated “photograph.” Stay Schemin’!Research by Kaelyn Brandt  SOURCES:https://www.cnn.com/style/article/ai-photo-win-sony-scli-intl/index.htmlhttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/the-smoothest-con-man-that-ever-lived-29861908/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/man-who-sold-eiffel-tower-twice-180958370/https://www.newspapers.com/image/147064321/https://www.casino.org/blog/lustigs-money-machine-scam/

The Smooth Talking Swindler of the 1920s w/ Michelle Buteau & Jordan Carlos

What’s Poppin’ Con-gregration? This week, Naomi Ekperigin & Andy Beckerman join us to discuss the film Landscape of Lies. Filmmaker Paul Knight was approached to do to the project not knowing it was created for fraud. Plus, fashion influencers have been accused of embezzlement and failure to pay suppliers and employees. Stay Schemin’!  Research by Kaelyn Brandt https://www.irishtimes.com/culture/film/the-irish-actor-the-iraqi-producer-and-the-gangster-film-scam-1.2506809https://www.theguardian.com/film/2013/aug/24/landscape-lies-blockbuster-tax-scamhttps://www.townandcountrymag.com/society/money-and-power/a42199292/something-navy-business-is-failing/https://www.independent.ie/entertainment/movies/movie-news/bonnie-and-clyde-aoife-maddens-landscape-of-lies-34388601.htmlhttps://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2298937/A-Landscape-Of-Lies-Fraudsters-conned-Loose-Women-host-Andrea-McLean-3million-tax-scam-jailed.htmlhttps://pagesix.com/2022/12/07/something-navy-ceo-denies-arielle-charnas-husband-embezzled-money/Shout out to TikTok account @BullishStudio for reporting on Arielle Charnas.

The Film That Hid Fraud w/ Naomi Ekperigin & Andy Beckerman

What’s poppin’s con-gregation? This week, actor and comedian Carl Tart joins the show to discuss Artur Samarin, an immigrant college student who pretended to be a teenager and attended high school in hopes of achieving his NASA dreams. Plus, a 26-year-old has been sentenced to 14 years in prison after stealing $1.2 million from at least 50 people in an elaborate fraud scheme. Stay Schemin'!Research by Kaelyn Brandt https://news.yahoo.com/texas-grifter-j-nicholas-bryant-041102482.htmlhttps://www.pennlive.com/news/2018/05/artur_samarin_asher_potts_harr.htmlhttps://www.gq.com/story/the-great-high-school-impostor

The High School Imposter w/ Carl Tart

What’s poppin’ con-gregation? This week Vanessa Bayer and Jonah Bayer join the show to discuss Lady Bandit Pearl Hart, one of the wildest bandits in the Wild West. Plus, an investor attempted to purchase Manhattan’s iconic Flatiron Building for $190 million. Stay Schemin’! Research by Kaelyn Brandt https://therealdeal.com/new-york/2023/03/24/meet-the-mysterious-buyer-of-the-flatiron-building/https://time.com/4575757/pearl-hart-stagecoach-robber/https://nypost.com/2021/10/30/the-wild-life-and-death-of-old-west-feminist-bandit-pearl-hart/https://lithub.com/the-true-story-of-pearl-hart-straight-shooting-poetry-writing-woman-bandit/Wildcat: The Untold Story of Pearl Hart, the Wild West’s Most Notorious Woman Bandit by John Boessenecker

The Baddest Bitch Bandit of the West w/ Vanessa Bayer & Jonah Bayer

What’s poppin’ con-gregation? This week, TV writer Kara Brown joins the show to discuss Threatin, a made up heavy metal band that toured 10 cities across Europe and eventually gained a cult following. Plus, an Italian man has pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud for a crime that has plagued the book publishing community for years. Stay Schemin’!Research by Kaelyn Brandt SOURCEShttps://apnews.com/article/new-york-city-fraud-4832c57101d507d427ac4516d525e752https://www.rollingstone.com/culture/culture-features/threatin-metal-tour-fake-ticket-sales-hoax-767580/https://www.nytimes.com/2018/11/16/style/threatin-fake-band-tour.htmlhttps://www.metalsucks.net/2018/11/09/l-a-band-threatin-faked-a-fanbase-to-land-a-european-tour-no-one-attended/https://www.metalsucks.net/2021/09/28/new-documentary-the-rise-and-fall-of-threatin/Anomaly Documentaries' mini-doc: This Band Faked an International Tourhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7XG2ZmiBHQA&t=1148s

Threatin: The Rip-Off Rock Band w/ Kara Brown

What’s poppin’ congregation? This week, actor Matt Shively joins the show to discuss the Antwerp Diamond Heist, in which a group of Italian thieves attempted to break into the world’s most impenetrable safe filled diamonds and jewels. Plus, the city of Newark, New Jersey was reportedly scammed into becoming a “sister city” with a fake Hindu nation. Stay Schemin’!  Research By Kaelyn Brandt  SOURCES:https://www.wired.com/2009/03/ff-diamonds-2/https://thecinemaholic.com/leonardo-notarbartolo-now-where-is-antwerp-heist-mastermind-today/https://nbc24.com/news/nation-world/newark-nj-admits-it-fell-for-sister-city-scam-after-holding-official-ceremony-for-fake-country-kailasa-ras-baraka-swami-nithyanandahttps://www.cbsnews.com/newyork/news/newark-sister-city-scam-kailasa/

The Dismal Diamond Heist of Antwerp w/ Matt Shively

What’s poppin’ con-gregation? This week, Allison Raskin joins the show to discuss Crazy Eddie, a businessman who became popular during the 1970’s and 80’s for his outlandish commercials selling discount electronics. Eventually, he was exposed as the King of Fraud. Plus, a popular social media photographer recently confesses to using AI technology to gain followers. Stay Schemin’! Research by Kaelyn Brandt SOURCES:https://petapixel.com/2023/02/21/popular-instagram-photographer-revealed-as-ai-fraud/https://arstechnica.com/information-technology/2023/02/viral-instagram-photographer-has-a-confession-his-photos-are-ai-generated/https://www.newyorker.com/culture/culture-desk/remembering-crazy-eddie-his-prices-were-insanehttps://nypost.com/2022/09/10/retail-king-crazy-eddie-antar-led-an-even-crazier-real-life/https://www.nytimes.com/2022/08/09/books/review-retail-gangster-gary-weiss.html

The King of Discount Electronics w/ Allison Raskin

What’s poppin’ con-gregation? This week, Amanda Montell & Isa Medina, host of the podcast Sounds Like a Cult, join Laci to discuss Danielle Miller, a former New York socialite turned influencer-scammer, who got mentored by Anna Delvey during her time at Rikers. Plus, a new way to scam takeout customers out of their Thai food and dollars. Stay Schemin’!  Research by Kaelyn BrandtSources: https://nymag.com/intelligencer/article/danielle-miller-scammer.htmlhttps://nymag.com/news/features/45592/https://thecinemaholic.com/danielle-miller-where-is-the-con-artist-now/https://www.bradenton.com/news/local/crime/article267793432.htmlhttps://www.justice.gov/usao-ma/pr/miami-woman-indicted-wire-fraud-and-identity-theft-related-covid-19-pandemichttps://nypost.com/2022/02/15/horace-mann-con-artist-danielle-miller-looking-for-a-roommate/https://nypost.com/2023/02/25/cory-doctorow-duped-by-fake-thai-restaurant-scam/

The Devious Anna Delvey Mentee w/ Amanda Montell & Isa Medina

What’s poppin’ con-gregation? This week, Langston Kerman and David Gborie join the show to discuss James Stunt, a flashy, royalty-worshipping ex-billionaire who involved the now King of England in a multi-million-dollar art forgery scandal. Plus, a 69-year-old Californian woman has found herself short of $250,000 after being scammed by online romance scammers, twice. Stay Schemin’!Langston and David host the podcast My Momma Told Me, which is part of Will Ferrell’s and iHeartMedia’s Big Money Players Network. Research by Kaelyn BrandtSources: https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-11533341/James-Stunt-faces-retrial-266m-dirty-money-scam.htmlhttps://www.dailymail.co.uk/home/books/article-11603927/As-Tony-Tetro-discovered-fortune-forging-art-caught.htmlhttps://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-leeds-64432146https://archive.vanityfair.com/article/2020/4/the-prince-the-flash-and-the-forgerhttps://www.kcrw.com/news/shows/greater-la/holidays-art-radio-race/tony-tetrohttps://bestlifeonline.com/news-woman-romance-con-artists/

The Royal Art Ruse w/ Langston Kerman and David Gborie

What’s poppin’ con-gregation? This week, comedian Tone Bell joins the show to discuss a group of men in the 1980s who created a sweepstakes company that barely created any winnings. Plus, a 19-year-old has been caught after scamming $37,000 from 439 concerned donors after falsely claiming she had pancreatic cancer.  Research by Kaelyn Brandt SOURCEShttps://nypost.com/2023/01/31/madison-russo-19-charged-in-gofundme-cancer-scam/https://www.newyorker.com/news/american-chronicles/donald-trump-and-the-sweepstakes-scammershttps://www.bizjournals.com/philadelphia/stories/2002/09/23/newscolumn2.htmlhttps://www.upi.com/Archives/1989/09/29/Five-charged-in-corporate-sweepstakes-scam/5185623044800/

The Sweepstakes Scammers w/ Tone Bell

What’s poppin’ Con-gregation? This week, Kelsey McKinney, host of the podcast Normal Gossip joins the show to discuss Tina Duong, a romance scammer who thrives on using her lavish lifestyle to scam others. Plus, a 29-year-old woman has been arrested after enrolling and attending as a student at a New Brunswick, New Jersey high school. Stay Schemin’! Research by Kaelyn BrandtSOURCES: https://vietnam.postsen.com/trends/104163/What-does-the-boyfriend-in-the-case-Tina-Duong-accused-of-scamming-17-billion-VND-say.htmlhttps://www.vice.com/en/article/88qj7z/anna-delvey-tina-duong-vietnamhttps://vietbao.vn/anna-bac-giang-thua-nhan-lua-dao-hai-vu-dau-tien-388860.htmlhttps://congthuong.vn/he-lo-ban-tuong-trinh-ve-dam-cuoi-trong-truyen-thuyet-cua-anna-bac-giang-222795.htmlhttps://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2023/jan/28/woman-29-arrested-fake-high-school-student-new-jersey#:~:text=New%20Jersey-,Woman%2C%2029%2C%20arrested%20for%20allegedly%20posing%20as%20high,school%20student%20in%20New%20Jersey&text=A%2029%2Dyear%2Dold%20woman,arrested%2C%20authorities%20said%20this%20week.

The Sexy Scammer of Vietnam w/ Kelsey McKinney

What’s poppin’ con-gregation? This week, comedian Jay Jurden joins the show to discuss David Bunevacz, a frustratingly handsome man who ripped off the well-to-do in Los Angeles with his fake weed vape enterprise. Plus, a Canadian man was arrested shortly after being rescued by the Coast Guard from his capsized boat. Stay Schemin’! Research done by Kaelyn Brandt. SOURCES:https://www.timescolonist.com/local-news/wanted-victoria-man-arrested-after-falling-into-sea-from-stolen-yacht-that-flipped-was-rescued-by-us-coast-guard-6487742https://lawandcrime.com/crime/yacht-captain-rescued-amid-choppy-seas-is-allegedly-canadian-fugitive-wanted-for-leaving-a-dead-fish-at-the-goonies-house-but-canada-doesnt-want-him-back/https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2023-02-01/david-bunevacz-marijuana-swindle-los-angeles

The Fine-ass Fake Weed Mogul w/ Jay Jurden

What’s poppin’ Con-gregation? For Valentine’s Day, we have the legendary Paula Poundstone on the show to discuss Susan Meachen, an independent romance novelist who faked her death in 2020, miraculously resurrecting in 2022. Plus, a Florida woman has been arrested after a 4-year-long romance scam that resulted in the defrauding of an 87-year-old Holocaust survivor. Stay Schemin’! Research done by Kaelyn Brandt. SOURCES:https://www.nytimes.com/2023/01/16/health/fake-death-romance-novelist-meachen.htmlhttps://www.rollingstone.com/culture/culture-news/book-author-exposed-fake-suicide-facebook-group-1234655830/?fbclid=IwAR0T1Z8YBSGjkOmKkE2bqww-XVhj2142WqdD97YlxSd0QWLr_eCm8LSaJKchttps://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/susan-meachen-author-fake-death-b2265223.html?r=21062https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/kelseyweekman/susan-meachen-author-alleged-death-hoaxTwitter user @Draggerofliars thread: https://twitter.com/Draggerofliars/status/1610491152091717632https://abcnews.go.com/US/woman-allegedly-steals-28-million-holocaust-survivor-romance/story?id=96673243https://www.news4jax.com/consumer/2019/04/30/how-to-avoid-falling-for-fake-online-product-reviews/

The Resurrecting Romance Novelist w/ Paula Poundstone

“Scam Goddess is a podcast dedicated to fraud and all those who practice it! Each week host Laci Mosley (aka Scam Goddess) keeps listeners up to date on current rackets, digs deep into the latest scams, and breaks down historic hoodwinks alongside some of your favorite comedians! It's like true crime only without all the death! True fun crime!”

hubhopper

Scam Goddess

hubhopper