Scam Goddess

All-star podcast producer Anna Hossnieh (Las Culturistas, The Daily Zeitgeist) joins the Con-gregation to talk about the arrest of Jen Shah, The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City cast member who is currently serving prison time after pleading guilty to a criminal conspiracy charge. Plus, we talk about the thieving travel agent who promises Hawaiian dream getaways that turn into vacation nightmares. Stay schemin'! (Originally Released 05/10/2021)

Laci’s book is out now! Order “Scam Goddess: Lessons from a Life of Cons, Grifts and Schemes" here:

https://www.hachettebookgroup.com/titles/laci-mosley/scam-goddess/9780762484652/?lens=running-press

Follow on Instagram:

Scam Goddess Pod: @scamgoddesspod

Laci Mosley: @divalaci

Research by Sharilyn Vera

SOURCES:

https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2021/04/after-jen-shahs-arrest-how-can-we-keep-enjoying-real-housewives

https://nypost.com/2021/03/31/jen-shahs-infamous-shah-ski-chalet-may-be-a-fraud-too/

https://www.travelpulse.com/news/impacting-travel/woman-scams-travelers-out-of-hundreds-of-thousands.html

https://www.womenshealthmag.com/life/a34620733/jen-shah-husband-sharrieff/

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.

Haven't snagged Laci's Scam Goddess book yet?? Enjoy this exclusive sneak peek of the audiobook's first chapter. A message from Laci: "I’m truly humbled and grateful for the years of support and love you all have shown me, and seeing that this show has also given you joy and security has lifted me up. We went from a little podcast to a book and soon a TV show. There are no words for my gratitude. Life is a scam, everything is made up, so make sure to CONjure up your dreams. Grab your copy and join me in laughing at the madness of my scams and scams around the world!”

Order the Scam Goddess book here: 

https://www.hachettebookgroup.com/titles/laci-mosley/scam-goddess/9780762484652/?lens=running-press

In Scam Goddess: Lessons from a Life of Cons, Grifts and Schemes, Laci recounts how her scammer instincts have guided her throughout her life—from a religious childhood in rural Texas, to a stint as a city bartender at what might have been a drug front, to swindling her way past the gatekeepers of Hollywood—recounting the greatest true-crime scam stories that inspired her along the way. Whether it’s by the beauty industry, capitalism, or the people we date, we’re all getting scammed. In this book, Laci identifies the secrets to flipping the script and coming out ahead.

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.

Legendary comedian Kathy Griffin (!!!) joins the Con-gregation! Kathy first helps us break down Donald Trump sharing fake AI-generated photos of Taylor Swift fans endorsing him for president. Then, we dive into the story of Patrick Giblin, the most prolific romance scammer in America who conned 155 women out of more than $500,000. Stay schemin'!

Tickets for Kathy's stand-up tour, My Life on the PTSD List, are on sale at: kathygriffin.com

Laci’s book is out now! Order “Scam Goddess: Lessons from a Life of Cons, Grifts and Schemes": https://www.hachettebookgroup.com/titles/laci-mosley/scam-goddess/9780762484652/?lens=running-press

Follow on Instagram:

Scam Goddess Pod: @scamgoddesspod

Laci Mosley: @divalaci

Kathy Griffin: @kathygriffin

Research by Kaelyn Brandt.

SOURCES:

https://www.nytimes.com/2022/12/12/us/patrick-giblin-swindle-love-money.html

https://www.thedailybeast.com/inside-the-heartbreaking-cons-of-americas-most-prolific-romance-scammer

https://variety.com/2024/music/news/donald-trump-falsely-claims-taylor-swift-endorsed-ai-images-1236110583/

https://variety.com/2024/digital/news/donald-trump-taylor-swift-sue-over-fake-ai-images-endorsement-1236115104/

https://www.theguardian.com/technology/article/2024/aug/24/trump-taylor-swift-deepfakes-ai

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.

We threw a couple extra fries in the bag for our supersized guest Paul Scheer (Twisters, How Did This Get Made?) as we revisit our episode on the man who scammed the McDonald’s Monopoly game for over a decade! Stay schemin’! (Originally Released 02/11/2020)

Pre-Order Laci’s book “Scam Goddess: Lessons from a Life of Cons, Grifts and Schemes": https://www.hachettebookgroup.com/titles/laci-mosley/scam-goddess/9780762484652/?lens=running-press

Follow on Instagram:

Scam Goddess Pod: @scamgoddesspod

Laci Mosley: @divalaci

Paul Scheer: @paulscheer

Research by Sharilyn Vera

SOURCES:

https://www.thedailybeast.com/how-an-ex-cop-rigged-mcdonalds-monopoly-game-and-stole-millions?ref=scroll

https://nypost.com/2020/02/01/mcmillions-how-ex-cop-orchestrated-24-million-mcdonalds-monopoly-scam/

https://www.politico.com/news/2019/12/23/trump-campaign-compete-against-groups-money-089454

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.

Best-selling author & cultural critic Roxane Gay (Bad Feminist, Hunger) joins the Con-gregation to help break down the fraud-filled downfall of MoviePass, the subscription service that offered users unlimited movies for the wildly unsustainable price of $10 a month. You might know how MoviePass eventually collapsed, but its problems actually first began when a rich white guy stole the company from its two black founders. Oh and in case you're wondering, we also learn that, yes, you can in fact throw ass to the Succession theme song. Stay schemin'!

Read Roxane's latest long-form piece, "Stand Your Ground: A Black Feminist Reckoning with America's Gun Problem": https://www.everand.com/book/755164376/Roxane-Gay-Everand-Originals-Stand-Your-Ground-A-Black-Feminist-Reckoning-with-America-s-Gun-Problem

Pre-Order Laci’s book “Scam Goddess: Lessons from a Life of Cons, Grifts and Schemes": https://www.hachettebookgroup.com/titles/laci-mosley/scam-goddess/9780762484652/?lens=running-press

Follow on Instagram:

Scam Goddess Pod: @scamgoddesspod

Laci Mosley: @divalaci

Roxane Gay: @roxanegay74

Research by Kaelyn Brandt.

Want a free 3-month trial of the SiriusXM app? Go to: siriusxm.com/scam

SOURCES:

MoviePass, MovieCrash dir. by Muta’Ali Muhammad

https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/story/moviepass-moviecrash-documentary

https://www.thestreet.com/entertainment/what-happened-to-moviepass-rise-fall-and-resurrection

https://www.businessinsider.com/moviepass-co-founder-stacy-spikes-interview-on-rise-troubles-firing-2019-4

https://variety.com/2024/biz/news/moviepass-executive-guilty-embezzling-coachella-1235895696/

https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/katienotopoulos/everyone-loves-moviepass-just-not-the-customer-service

https://www.cnet.com/tech/mobile/moviepass-confusion-isnt-new-here-are-all-the-times-it-altered-the-deal/

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.

Iconic singer/songwriter Dawn Richard of Danity Kane joins the Con-gregation to help spill the controversial tea surrounding who really invented the Flamin’ Hot Cheeto. Plus, a former FBI agent cons a Texas woman out of $800,000. Stay schemin’! (Originally Released 06/14/2021)

Pre-Order Laci’s book “Scam Goddess: Lessons from a Life of Cons, Grifts and Schemes": https://www.hachettebookgroup.com/titles/laci-mosley/scam-goddess/9780762484652/?lens=running-press

Follow on Instagram:

Scam Goddess Pod: @scamgoddesspod

Laci Mosley: @divalaci

Dawn Richard: @dawnrichard

Research by Kaelyn Brandt

Want a free 3-month trial of the SiriusXM app? Go to: siriusxm.com/scam

SOURCES:

https://www.latimes.com/business/story/2021-05-16/flamin-hot-cheetos-richard-montanez

https://www.newsweek.com/flamin-hot-cheeto-movie-true-story-creator-richard-montanez-1456377

https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2021/05/20/origin-flamin-hot-cheetos-might-be-hot-lie-millions-will-still-gobble-it-up-anyway/

https://jezebel.com/turns-out-lying-about-inventing-flamin-hot-cheetos-is-a-1846922951

https://www.nytimes.com/2021/05/31/us/fbi-drug-scheme-charge.html?searchResultPosition=1

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.

It's the Scam Goddess Olympic Games Grifting special! Kimia Behpoornia (Abbott Elementary) & Patrick McDonald (Radio Margaritaville) join the Con-gregation to discuss over a century of Olympics fraud—from cheating runners in the first modern marathon to Australian viral breakdancer RayGun at the 2024 Paris Games. Did RayGun cheat her way to the Olympics? Or was she actually a victim of a scam smear campaign? Tune in to find out! Oh yeah, and stay schemin' fam!

Pre-Order Laci’s book “Scam Goddess: Lessons from a Life of Cons, Grifts and Schemes": https://www.hachettebookgroup.com/titles/laci-mosley/scam-goddess/9780762484652/?lens=running-press

Follow on Instagram:

Scam Goddess Pod: @scamgoddesspod

Laci Mosley: @divalaci

Kimia Behpoornia: @childclown

Patrick McDonald: @patrickpatrickpatrickpatrick

Research by Kaelyn Brandt.

Want a free 3-month trial of the SiriusXM app? Go to: siriusxm.com/scam

SOURCES:

https://sports.yahoo.com/olympics-2021-scandals-spain-paralympics-2000-sydney-games-051520629.html

https://www.womenshistory.org/education-resources/biographies/margaret-ives-abbott

https://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/the-first-american-woman-to-win-an-olympic-championship-didnt-even-know-it

https://www.nytimes.com/2001/01/30/sports/plus-paralympics-paralympic-group-orders-suspensions.html

https://www.eonline.com/news/1406009/2024-olympics-australian-breakdancer-raygun-reacts-to-criticism-after-controversial-debut

The Greatest Paralympic Scandal of All Time: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y5F_ha7d-PI

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.

The hilarious Vinny Thomas (Platonic) joins the Con-gregation to discuss Gerry Cotten, the infamous Crypto King. Gerry created the QuadrigaCX crypto currency exchange which left users with no access to their funds after Gerry's mysterious and controversial death. Plus, we look at the rise of deep-fake technology. Stay schemin'! (Originally Released 04/25/2022)

Pre-Order Laci’s book “Scam Goddess: Lessons from a Life of Cons, Grifts and Schemes": https://www.hachettebookgroup.com/titles/laci-mosley/scam-goddess/9780762484652/?lens=running-press

On Sunday, Sept. 22nd Laci will be hosting the Scam Goddess Live: 5 Year Anniversary @ the Regent Theatre in Los Angeles. Buy tickets at https://regentdtla.com/tm-event/scam-goddess-live-five-year-anniversary/

Follow on Instagram:

Scam Goddess Pod: @scamgoddesspod

Laci Mosley: @divalaci

Vinny Thomas: @vinn_ayy

Research by Kaelyn Brandt

Want a free 3-month trial of the SiriusXM app? Go to: siriusxm.com/scam

SOURCES:

Netflix’s Crypto King

https://www.newsweek.com/gerald-cotten-wife-where-jennifer-robertson-now-crypto-king-quadriga-1693705

https://www.vanityfair.com/news/2019/11/the-strange-tale-of-quadriga-gerald-cotten

https://www.coindesk.com/video/the-story-behind-quadrigacx-and-netflixs-crypto-king/

https://cryptonews.com/news/impostors-make-deep-fake-videos-of-ordinary-more-believable-people-promote-crypto-scams.htm

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.

How does a Brazilian immigrant become an American Uber Mafia Queen? Buckle up, 'cause Niles Abston (FXX's Dave) stops by to help tell the story of Priscila Barbosa who finessed the gig economy to make more than $780,000 before it all came crashing down. And remember Con-gregation, if your Uber driver is lit you don't have to sit! Stay schemin'!

This story was primarily reported by Wired Magazine's Lauren Smiley in her article, "Priscila, Queen of the Rideshare Mafia"

Pre-Order Laci’s book “Scam Goddess: Lessons from a Life of Cons, Grifts and Schemes": https://www.hachettebookgroup.com/titles/laci-mosley/scam-goddess/9780762484652/?lens=running-press

On Sunday, Sept. 22nd Laci will be hosting the Scam Goddess 5 Year Anniversary Live Show @ the Regent Theatre in Los Angeles. Buy tickets at https://regentdtla.com/tm-event/scam-goddess-live-five-year-anniversary/

Follow on Instagram:

Scam Goddess Pod: @scamgoddesspod

Laci Mosley: @divalaci

Niles Abston: @thenilesabstonshow

Research by Kaelyn Brandt.

SOURCES:

https://www.wired.com/story/priscila-queen-of-the-rideshare-mafia/

https://www.justice.gov/usao-ma/victim-and-witness-assistance-program/us-v-wemerson-dutra-aguiar-and-us-v-priscila-barbosa-et-al

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.

Before Netflix's "Dirty Pop: The Boy Band Scam" Teresa Lee (Girls5eva) joined the Con-gregation to break down the scams and abuse of Lou Pearlman—the man who launched the careers of *NSYNC, The Backstreet Boys, and Britney Spears but conned the musicians out of their hard-earned money and ran one of the largest Ponzi schemes in U.S. history. Don't worry y'all, we drag his ass! (Originally Released 01/07/2020)

Pre-Order Laci’s book “Scam Goddess: Lessons from a Life of Cons, Grifts and Schemes": https://www.hachettebookgroup.com/titles/laci-mosley/scam-goddess/9780762484652/?lens=running-press

On Sunday, Sept. 22nd Laci will be hosting the Scam Goddess Live: 5 Year Anniversary @ the Regent Theatre in Los Angeles. Buy tickets at https://regentdtla.com/tm-event/scam-goddess-live-five-year-anniversary/

Follow on Instagram:

Scam Goddess Pod: @scamgoddesspod

Laci Mosley: @divalaci

Research by Sharilyn Vera

SOURCES:

https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/nsync-lou-pearlman-nightline-927166/

https://www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2019/03/13/lou-pearlman-was-disgraced-mogul-who-defrauded-s-boy-bands-then-came-million-ponzi-scheme/

https://schedule.sxsw.com/2019/films/2008836?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CcCRs0Ic3FI&vl=en

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lou_Pearlman

https://www.usatoday.com/story/life/music/2019/04/05/lou-pearlman-film-reveals-how-backstreet-boys-n-sync-lost-millions/3373395002/

https://abcnews.go.com/US/members-nsync-town-learning-truth-lou-pearlman-heart/story?id=67630216

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.