Scam Goddess

This week on Fraud Friday, Laci is joined live at Chicago's Den Theatre by Sydnee Washington, Skyler Higley, and Ashley Ray to unpack the infamous scam that rocked the Windy City and the nation, the Jussie Smollett case. Stay Schemin’! (Originally Released 01/08/2024) 

This was recorded in Nov. 11th 2023.

CON-gregation, catch Laci's new TV Show, Scam Goddess, now on Freeform and Hulu!

Follow on Instagram:

Scam Goddess Pod: @scamgoddesspod

Laci Mosley: @divalaci

Sydnee Washington: @justsydbw

Skyler Higley: @skylerhigley

Ashley Ray: @theashleyray

Research by Kaelyn Brandt, Emily Jones, and Laci Mosley

SOURCES:

https://nationalpost.com/news/man-arrested-after-faking-20-heart-attacks-to-avoid-paying-restaurant-bills#:~:text=A%2050%2Dyear%2Dold%20man,newspaper%20El%20Pais%20and%20EFE.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/arts-entertainment/2021/11/30/jussie-smollett-hate-crime-trial/

https://www.cnn.com/2022/03/10/us/jussie-smollett-sentencing-trial/index.html#:~:text=Former%20%E2%80%9CEmpire%E2%80%9D%20actor%20Jussie%20Smollett,hate%20crime%20in%20January%202019

https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-viz-jussie-smollett-incident-night-details-htmlstory.html

https://people.com/crime/jussie-smollett-wears-rope-around-his-neck-police-video-footage/

https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/tv/story/2023-03-03/jussie-smollett-appeal-conviction-sentencing

https://www.nytimes.com/2019/03/28/us/jussie-smollett.html

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-47711535

https://www.vox.com/2019/2/17/18228444/jussie-smollett-attack-hate-crime-arrest-hoax-empire

https://www.cbsnews.com/chicago/news/jessie-smollett-letter-brothers-attack/

https://www.rollingstone.com/culture/culture-commentary/jussie-smollett-hero-hoax-hate-crime-sentencing-1318293/

https://www.al.com/news/2021/12/jussie-smollett-testifies-he-did-drugs-made-out-with-abimbola-osundairo.html

Subscribe to SiriusXM Podcasts+ to listen to new episodes of Scam Goddess ad-free and a whole week early. Start a free trial now on Apple Podcasts or by visiting siriusxm.com/podcastsplus.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On today’s episode, Laci is joined by Ambie Award-winning podcaster Ronald Young Jr. to unpack the wild Graceland grift — the one that had Priscilla Presley firing up Microsoft Paint to fight back against scammer Lisa Jeanine Findley. Turns out, in Memphis, Tennessee, all you need to fake-sell someone else’s house is a mailbox and a dream. Plus, title pirates are on the rise. Stay frosty, friends! Stay schemin'!

CON-gregation, catch Laci's new TV Show Scam Goddess, now on Freeform and Hulu!

Follow on Instagram:

Scam Goddess Pod: @scamgoddesspod

Laci Mosley: @divalaci

Ronald Young Jr.: @ohitsbigron

Research by Kathryn Doyle 

SOURCES

https://apnews.com/article/graceland-elvis-presley-fraud-foreclosure-sale-c1a821d32c64c06afbeef277f0a793d7

https://apnews.com/article/graceland-elvis-presley-auction-lawsuit-riley-keough-4c5d2dda1c189997319d331794e8f8d0

https://www.nytimes.com/2024/05/28/arts/music/graceland-fraud-identity-thief-emails.html

https://www.fox13memphis.com/news/woman-accused-of-trying-to-steal-graceland-enters-plea-deal/article_4b2c8136-f37d-11ef-88cc-079a4093f353.html

https://people.com/missouri-woman-scheme-sell-elvis-presley-graceland-pleads-guilty-mail-fraud-11686801

https://www.fox13memphis.com/news/local-businesses-suffer-from-damage-amidst-recent-protests/article_a10cba7c-0718-50a1-af5a-facd0dcbd264.html

https://www.foxbusiness.com/video/6361972716112

https://www.commercialappeal.com/story/news/local/2024/05/23/graceland-foreclosure-how-did-it-happen/73802992007/

Subscribe to SiriusXM Podcasts+ to listen to new episodes of Scam Goddess ad-free and a whole week early. Start a free trial now on Apple Podcasts or by visiting siriusxm.com/podcastsplus.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this week’s Fraud Friday, Frankie Quiñones (The Fool, Creator of CholoFit) joins Laci us to discuss the disappearance of 18 barrels of bourbon from Buffalo Trace Distillery, the makers of the renowned Pappy Van Winkle Bourbon. Plus, scammers capitalize off fake high-end whiskey being sold in local liquor stores across the nation. Stay Schemin’! (Originally Released 03/07/2022) 

CON-gregation, catch Laci's new TV Show, Scam Goddess, now on Freeform and Hulu!

Follow on Instagram:

Scam Goddess Pod: @scamgoddesspod

Laci Mosley: @divalaci

Frankie Quiñones: @frankiequinones

Research By Kaelyn Brandt. 

SOURCES:

https://www.nytimes.com/2022/01/06/dining/drinks/fake-bourbon.html

https://craigcalcaterra.com/blog/the-pappy-van-winkle-heist-that-wasnt2710188/

https://www.thrillist.com/drink/nation/inside-the-great-pappy-van-winkle-heist

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/features/2018-06-29/the-pappy-van-winkle-bandit-speaks-and-says-he-didn-t-do-it

https://www.grunge.com/450262/the-truth-about-the-pappygate-bourbon-heist/

Subscribe to SiriusXM Podcasts+ to listen to new episodes of Scam Goddess ad-free and a whole week early. Start a free trial now on Apple Podcasts or by visiting siriusxm.com/podcastsplus.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On today’s episode, Laci is joined by pasta inventor and OG podcaster Dan Pashman (The Sporkful) to dive into a seafood scandal affecting shrimp lovers everywhere. That’s right—Laci and Dan don their lab coats and discover the investigative firm SeaD to uncover the widespread shrimp fraud impacting restaurants across the country and hurting small businesses. Plus, thieves pull off the ultimate heist, making off with 100,000 eggs. Stay schemin'!

CON-gregation, catch Laci's new TV Show Scam Goddess, now on Freeform and Hulu!

Make sure to sink your teeth into Dan's pasta tour of Italy tour with fans! Pashmans Pasta Pilgrimage

Follow on Instagram:

Scam Goddess Pod: @scamgoddesspod

Laci Mosley: @divalaci

Dan Pashman: @thesporkful

Research by Kathryn Doyle 

SOURCES

https://www.yahoo.com/news/shrimp-fraud-found-rampant-many-173137438.html

https://news.fsu.edu/news/science-technology/2023/03/23/prawn-broker-fsu-researchers-develop-shrimp-authenticity-test/

https://ldh.la.gov/assets/oph/Center-EH/sanitarian/retailfood/LDHACT372CrawfishandShrimpMenuLabeling.pdf

https://www.seadconsulting.com/genetic-testing-to-identify-seafood-species

https://www.cnn.com/2019/03/07/health/fish-mislabeling-investigation-oceana/index.html

https://www.cnn.com/2025/02/05/us/pennsylvania-egg-theft-hnk/index.html

https://www.nytimes.com/2025/02/05/us/eggs-stolen-pennsylvania-shortage.html

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2023/jul/28/subway-tuna-lawsuit-dismissed

Subscribe to SiriusXM Podcasts+ to listen to new episodes of Scam Goddess ad-free and a whole week early. Start a free trial now on Apple Podcasts or by visiting siriusxm.com/podcastsplus.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this week’s Fraud Friday, Jameela Jamil (The Good Place, She-Hulk: Attorney at Law) joins Laci in studio to discuss the basics on THE BASIC- Caroline Calloway. They dig into Jameela's earliest stint teaching English, and both become very afraid when they learn how fortune tellers scam their clients out of money. Stay Schemin’! (Originally Released 03/30/2020) 
 

CON-gregation, catch Laci's new TV Show, Scam Goddess, now on Freeform and Hulu!

Follow on Instagram:

Scam Goddess Pod: @scamgoddesspod

Laci Mosley: @divalaci

Jameela Jamil: @jameelajamil

Research By Sharilyn Vera. 

SOURCES:

The CUT – The story of Caroline Calloway and her ghost writer Natalie

VICE — Influencer Caroline Calloway Isn’t a Scammer, Just a Self-Obsessed Mess

Caroline’s instagram- (where she is currently spiraling)

https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/katienotopoulos/caroline-calloway-instagram-influencer-tour-canceled-scam

https://www.wmagazine.com/story/caroline-calloway-creativity-workshop

https://www.pajiba.com/web_culture/the-case-of-caroline-calloway-and-her-creativity-workshop-tour.php

https://www.vice.com/en_us/article/a3wwy4/cambridges-most-controversial-instagram-celebrity-gets-the-last-laugh

Subscribe to SiriusXM Podcasts+ to listen to new episodes of Scam Goddess ad-free and a whole week early. Start a free trial now on Apple Podcasts or by visiting siriusxm.com/podcastsplus.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On today’s episode, Laci is joined by stand-up writer, actor, and comedian Dewayne Perkins (The Blackening, One of Them Days) to dive into the con of the century, unraveling the web of lies and false promises spun by John Ackah Blay-Miezah. In a story so wild it could be straight out of a movie—one that Dewayne himself might have written—they also discover how Shirley Temple got caught up in the chaos. Plus, Laci shares a surprising encounter with a cop who asked her out while on duty. Stay schemin'!

CON-gregation, catch Laci's new TV Show Scam Goddess, now on Freeform and Hulu!

Make sure to catch Dewayne's new TV Show, THE STUDIO on Apple TV +

Follow on Instagram:

Scam Goddess Pod: @scamgoddesspod  

Laci Mosley: @divalaci

Dewayne Perkins: @dewayneperkins

Research by Kathryn Doyle 

SOURCES

https://www.nowherebookshop.com/book/9781635574739?srsltid=AfmBOooPXVErUx3va3mNR1juGoL13-DNqvNPZ4Hhlr70mZr7QcRrxUHT

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mbZ2TlRVqNA

https://foreignpolicy.com/2023/12/03/con-artist-global-scam-ghana-anansis-gold/

https://www.npr.org/2013/05/22/186048342/how-that-nigerian-email-scam-got-started

https://www.spectator.co.uk/article/the-conman-who-duped-thousands-with-a-patently-absurd-story/

https://www.theguardian.com/books/2023/aug/18/yepoka-yeebo-anansis-gold-ghanaian-conman

Subscribe to SiriusXM Podcasts+ to listen to new episodes of Scam Goddess ad-free and a whole week early. Start a free trial now on Apple Podcasts or by visiting siriusxm.com/podcastsplus.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this week’s Fraud Friday, Naomi Ekperigin (Mythic Quest, Family Switch) joins us to discuss how a sexy credit card con artist stole one million dollars out of the ex-wife of a former NBA star. Plus, an Italian hospital worker gets paid for doing nothing for 15 years. Stay Schemin’! (Originally Released 06/07/2021) 

CON-gregation, catch Laci's new TV Show, Scam Goddess, now on Freeform and Hulu!

Follow on Instagram:

Scam Goddess Pod: @scamgoddesspod

Laci Mosley: @divalaci

Naomi Ekperigin: @blacktresscomedy

Research By Kaelyn Brandt. 

SOURCES:

https://www.nytimes.com/2021/04/15/style/serial-con-artist-tracii-hutsona.html

https://www.justice.gov/usao-sdny/pr/serial-con-artist-charged-embezzlement-scheme

https://www.justice.gov/usao-sdny/press-release/file/1368996/download

https://www.docketbird.com/court-documents/USA-v-Vician/JUDGMENT-AND-COMMITMENT-by-Judge-Gary-A-Feess-as-to-Defendant-Tracii-Lynne-Show-Vician-1-Count-s-1-10s-13ss-1s-6s-1ss-6ss-7s-9s-7ss-12ss-On-the-Government-039-s-motion-all-remaining-count-of-the-underlying-indictment-information-are-ord-ered-dismisse/cacd-2:2008-cr-00058-405099-00097

https://media.local10.com/document_dev/2019/07/17/Bacon%20Bitch%20vs%20Breakfast%20Bitch_1563388524609_22109233_ver1.0.pdf

https://www.nytimes.com/2021/04/23/world/europe/italy-hospital-worker-15-years.html

https://www.cbs8.com/article/news/crime/san-diego-restaurant-owner-arrested-accused-of-stealing-more-than-1m-joumana-kidd-breakfast-bitch-jason-kidd/509-1c9e5ae8-c727-436b-9e73-f65b364b78c6

Subscribe to SiriusXM Podcasts+ to listen to new episodes of Scam Goddess ad-free and a whole week early. Start a free trial now on Apple Podcasts or by visiting siriusxm.com/podcastsplus.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On today’s episode, Laci is joined by stand-up comedian Abby Govindan to dive into the wildest and most ridiculous ways people have been caught smuggling drugs. A recent toupee smuggle struggle led them to the discovery of many more fails that led many folks to jail. You won’t believe how many everyday items can be made from cocaine! Laci and Abby rate their favorite smuggle fails, from dinnerware and high heels to Jesus. Stay schemin'!

CON-gregation, catch Laci's new TV Show Scam Goddess, now on Freeform and Hulu!

Follow on Instagram:

Scam Goddess Pod: @scamgoddesspod  

Laci Mosley: @divalaci

Abby Govindan: @abbygovindan

Research by Kathryn Doyle 

SOURCES

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/cocaine-toupee-narco-wig/

https://www.npr.org/2019/07/17/742768864/drug-in-a-rug-is-that-a-bag-of-cocaine-under-your-toupee

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/jul/16/man-held-in-spain-over-attempt-to-smuggle-cocaine-under-his-wig

https://english.elpais.com/elpais/2019/07/16/inenglish/1563277743_245169.html

https://www.thelocal.es/20140103/women-smuggled-drugs-under-wigs

https://www.huffpost.com/entry/cocaine-under-wigs-smuggling-brazil-spain_n_4536776

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/aug/15/woman-cocaine-breast-implants-arrested-madrid

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-20705742

https://www.immigroup.com/topics/top-11-most-creative-drug-smuggling-attempts/

https://www.sj-r.com/story/news/2008/06/05/religion-news-police-confiscate-jesus/48553415007/

https://www.chron.com/lifestyle/houston-belief/article/cocaine-jesus-statue-seized-by-agents-in-laredo-1777599.php

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-43005948

https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2015/aug/11/91-year-old-sydney-man-charged-over-importing-5kg-of-cocaine-in-soap-bars

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/spain/4948988/Cocaine-cast-man-arrested-at-Spanish-airport.html

https://www.nydailynews.com/news/world/woman-fly-chile-spain-suitcases-made-cocaine-article-1.372793

https://www.vogue.co.uk/article/manolo-blahnik-shoes-made-of-cocaine-northern-spain

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-35082219

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1163468/Spanish-police-seize-42-piece-dinner-set--entirely-cocaine.html

https://www.newscientist.com/article/dn8998-gangs-turn-cocaine-into-clear-plastic-products/

Subscribe to SiriusXM Podcasts+ to listen to new episodes of Scam Goddess ad-free and a whole week early. Start a free trial now on Apple Podcasts or by visiting siriusxm.com/podcastsplus.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this week’s Fraud Friday, Scottie Beam and Sylvia Obell hear from Laci about Richard Scott Smith—a man who promised love but instead conned a group of Midwestern women out of over $1 million. Plus, a Los Angeles family is shocked to learn that someone posted their home on Airbnb to rent it. Stay Schemin’! (Originally Released 01/17/2022) 

CON-gregation, catch Laci's new TV Show, Scam Goddess, now on Freeform and Hulu!

Follow on Instagram:

Scam Goddess Pod: @scamgoddesspod

Laci Mosley: @divalaci

Scottie Beam: @scottiebeam

Sylvia Obell: @sylviaobell

Research By Kaelyn Brandt. 

SOURCES:

https://www.nytimes.com/2020/11/11/style/taking-down-bad-men-is-her-job.html

https://www.townandcountrymag.com/leisure/arts-and-culture/a33821604/love-fraud-richard-scott-smith-true-story/

https://www.oprahdaily.com/entertainment/a33915040/richard-scott-smith-love-fraud-now/

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-8644523/Richard-Scott-Smith.html

https://www.oxygen.com/true-crime-buzz/what-happened-to-carla-the-bounty-hunter-from-love-fraud

https://losangeles.cbslocal.com/2021/11/30/exclusive-local-family-discovers-home-listed-on-airbnb-after-strangers-arrive-saying-they-rented-it/

Subscribe to SiriusXM Podcasts+ to listen to new episodes of Scam Goddess ad-free and a whole week early. Start a free trial now on Apple Podcasts or by visiting siriusxm.com/podcastsplus.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Misha Brown (from Wondery’s The Big Flop) joins Laci to dive into YOUR scams, CON-gregation! It's your moment to shine. Laci and Misha read letters about a Dayton hair salon doubling as a hotspot for selling boosted clothes, a puzzling college loan collection email, a survey scam promising a three-year Netflix subscription, and a Dr. Phil-worthy pregnancy hoax packed with drama and haters. Stay schemin'!

CON-gregation, catch Laci's new TV Show Scam Goddess, now on Freeform and Hulu!

Follow on Instagram:

Scam Goddess Pod: @scamgoddesspod  

Laci Mosley: @divalaci

Misha Brown: @yourbestiemisha

Letters by YOU

Subscribe to SiriusXM Podcasts+ to listen to new episodes of Scam Goddess ad-free and a whole week early. Start a free trial now on Apple Podcasts or by visiting siriusxm.com/podcastsplus.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.