Scam Goddess

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

SOURCES

https://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-scammers

https://www.bizjournals.com/philadelphia/stories/2002/09/23/newscolumn2.html

https://www.upi.com/Archives/1989/09/29/Five-charged-in-corporate-sweepstakes-scam/5185623044800/

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See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 Brandt

SOURCES:

https://vietnam.postsen.com/trends/104163/What-does-the-boyfriend-in-the-case-Tina-Duong-accused-of-scamming-17-billion-VND-say.html

https://www.vice.com/en/article/88qj7z/anna-delvey-tina-duong-vietnam

https://vietbao.vn/anna-bac-giang-thua-nhan-lua-dao-hai-vu-dau-tien-388860.html

https://congthuong.vn/he-lo-ban-tuong-trinh-ve-dam-cuoi-trong-truyen-thuyet-cua-anna-bac-giang-222795.html

https://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.

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.

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-6487742

https://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

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.

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.html

https://www.rollingstone.com/culture/culture-news/book-author-exposed-fake-suicide-facebook-group-1234655830/?fbclid=IwAR0T1Z8YBSGjkOmKkE2bqww-XVhj2142WqdD97YlxSd0QWLr_eCm8LSaJKc

https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/susan-meachen-author-fake-death-b2265223.html?r=21062

https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/kelseyweekman/susan-meachen-author-alleged-death-hoax

Twitter user @Draggerofliars thread: https://twitter.com/Draggerofliars/status/1610491152091717632

https://abcnews.go.com/US/woman-allegedly-steals-28-million-holocaust-survivor-romance/story?id=96673243

https://www.news4jax.com/consumer/2019/04/30/how-to-avoid-falling-for-fake-online-product-reviews/

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.

What’s poppin’ con-gregation? This week, host of NPR’s It’s Been A Minute, Brittany Luse joins the show to discuss U.S. Rep. George Santos, who is making history as the most fraudulent politician to have been elected to Congress. Plus, a man who has been using Chance the Rapper’s name to scam two victims out of tens of thousands of dollars has been arrested. Stay Schemin’! 

Research done by Kaelyn Brandt 

SOURCES

https://www.cbsnews.com/chicago/news/accused-con-artist-arrested-after-cbs-2-investigation/

https://www.nytimes.com/2023/01/12/nyregion/george-santos-donors-fund-raising.html

https://www.nytimes.com/2022/12/19/nyregion/george-santos-ny-republicans.html

https://www.forbes.com/sites/saradorn/2023/01/13/george-santos-everything-the-embattled-congressman-has-lied-about/?sh=357d28854557

https://nypost.com/2022/12/26/rep-elect-george-santos-admits-fabricating-key-details-of-his-bio/

https://nymag.com/intelligencer/2023/01/george-santos-the-luckiest-liar-in-politics.html

https://www.nytimes.com/2023/01/13/nyregion/george-santos-republicans-lies.html

https://www.latimes.com/opinion/letters-to-the-editor/story/2023-01-14/george-santos-election-fraud

https://www.npr.org/2023/01/17/1149491284/martin-luther-king-mlk-statue-boston-consternation-laughs-reaction-coretta

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.

What’s poppin’ con-gregation? This week, Claire Fallon & Emma Gray join the show to discuss Edgar LaPlante, who impersonated a chief of the Cherokee Nation across countries during the turn of the 20th century. Plus, a young real estate agent’s reputation is on the line after his identity was stolen and used to stage a New Year’s Eve boat party that never happened. Stay Schemin’!

Research done by Kaelyn Brandt.

SOURCES:

https://www.museolombroso.unito.it/en/photographs-at-liberty-chief-white-elk-and-the-blackshirts-tuscany-1924/

https://www.nytimes.com/1929/09/20/archives/indian-chief-back-shorn-of-his-glory-says-false-claims-won-him.html

https://www.cbc.ca/radio/thecurrent/the-current-for-september-4-2018-1.4808812/king-con-man-successfully-impersonates-indigenous-leaders-his-whole-life-acquiring-riches-and-fame-1.4809858

https://www.express.co.uk/life-style/life/999371/edgar-laplante-conman-biography-chief-white-elk

https://thecrimewire.com/money/Edgar-LaPlante-Impostor

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-11591199/Adelaide-New-Years-Eve-scam-Fake-party-boat-event-Glenelg-frauds-150-people-money.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.

What’s poppin’ con-gregation? This week, Nava Kavelin and Sophie Ansari join the show to discuss William Mize, who created a family business of staging car accidents. Plus, a California Tiktoker is alleged to have broken the state’s cottage law for selling homemade pickled goods. Stay Schemin!

SOURCES:

https://nymag.com/intelligencer/article/staged-car-crashes-insurance-fraud.html

https://www.nbcnews.com/pop-culture/pop-culture-news/tiktok-creator-homemade-pickled-products-spark-online-conversation-rcna63406

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.

What’s Poppin’ Con-gregation? This week, Matt Apodaca joins the show to discuss how Marsha Farmer, a hospice worker, contributed to massive fraud practices in Mississippi. Plus, a former officer of the Johnson County Sheriff's office in Kansas was caught trying to scam a store out of nearly $400 worth of Pokémon cards. Stay Schemin’! 

CW: @28:37 Talk of end of life care  

          @45:23 Mention of murder

Research By Kaelyn Brandt 

Sources: 

https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2022/12/05/how-hospice-became-a-for-profit-hustle

https://www.kgns.tv/content/news/Former-Rio-Bravo-mayor-and-others-found-guilty-oin-150-million-scheme-564587861.html

https://kotaku.com/pokemon-cards-scam-police-cop-caught-kansas-card-box-1849778286

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.

What’s poppin’ con-gregation? This week, comedian Ian Lara joins the show to discuss how several imposters tried to target Bootsy Collins, one of the most impactful, long standing figures in the tapestry of American music, especially R&B, funk and pop. Plus, a Californian man is arrested for theft after stealing money from his Grindr hookups. Stay Schemin’!

Researched By Kaelyn Brandt

SOURCES

https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-features/bootsy-collins-impostor-fake-crime-1234629225/

https://nypost.com/2022/11/23/california-man-gets-prison-sentence-for-robbing-men-he-met-on-grindr/

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.

Happy New Year Con-gregation! This week we are revisiting an amazing episode with Nicole Byer and look at the many scams & lives of (fraudulent) “international” guy of grift-stery, Jeremy Wilson.

Research by Sharilyn Vera

Sources:

https://www.gq.com/story/the-petty-grifter

https://www.nytimes.com/2017/03/08/nyregion/jeremy-wilson-con-artist-convicted.html

https://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/manhattan/fake-army-vet-man-stiff-prison-sentence-nyc-judge-article-1.3148604

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.