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 

SOURCES

https://apnews.com/article/new-york-city-fraud-4832c57101d507d427ac4516d525e752

https://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.html

https://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 Tour

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7XG2ZmiBHQA&t=1148s

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’ 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-nithyananda

https://www.cbsnews.com/newyork/news/newark-sister-city-scam-kailasa/

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, 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-insane

https://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

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, 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 Brandt

Sources: 

https://nymag.com/intelligencer/article/danielle-miller-scammer.html

https://nymag.com/news/features/45592/

https://thecinemaholic.com/danielle-miller-where-is-the-con-artist-now/

https://www.bradenton.com/news/local/crime/article267793432.html

https://www.justice.gov/usao-ma/pr/miami-woman-indicted-wire-fraud-and-identity-theft-related-covid-19-pandemic

https://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/

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, 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 Brandt

Sources: 

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-11533341/James-Stunt-faces-retrial-266m-dirty-money-scam.html

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/home/books/article-11603927/As-Tony-Tetro-discovered-fortune-forging-art-caught.html

https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-leeds-64432146

https://archive.vanityfair.com/article/2020/4/the-prince-the-flash-and-the-forger

https://www.kcrw.com/news/shows/greater-la/holidays-art-radio-race/tony-tetro

https://bestlifeonline.com/news-woman-romance-con-artists/

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 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/

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, 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.