Tell me what's on your mind.

The hills are alive with the sound of scammersSinging lies and deceits that are decades old.Their songs fill my heart with hopes of stardom,But they just steal my songs and leave me broke.Musicians that travel to Nashville, Los Angeles, New York, Austin and other music centers are looking for a break and scammers step right up to boost their egos and brag about the now-famous who became stars only after meeting them.It’s quite a temptation and hopefuls rarely do the due diligence to find out whether what they’re being told is true.Fans get duped, too, by musicians who seem to overflow with talent, but are only good at syncing the silent instrument they hold to a recording playing through a nearby speaker.We’ll tell you the tales of how the sound of music ends up being the sound of cash being taken from your pocket. It results in a tragic ending, set in a minor key.Col. Tom Parker profile from Smithsonian MagazineDavid Hooper: Music Business RadioDavid Hooper booksLearn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Tell me what's on your mind.

You open a letter that tells you that you've won a huge about of money in a sweepstakes you don't remember entering. Just send some money to cover taxes and fees and those riches will be  yours.You're a winner, but only if you toss that piece of mail in the trash. Sweepstakes scams come in many shapes and forms and we all want to believe that fortune has smiled upon us, but it likely hasn't. Particularly if that letter is postmarked standard presort -- a class used primarily for bulk delivery.But whether it's a letter, a phone call or an email, check things out carefully and don't give in to wishful thinking. It could cost you everything you own.Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Tell me what's on your mind.

If an FBI agent appeared at your door, flashed a badge and said she had a few questions for you, would you comply? Would you ask to see the badge again. Would you know what an actual badge should look like?Those badges, diplomas on the wall and other credentials can be easily faked. We'll tell you how and what you can do to protect  yourself. I'm qualified to do it. I have a PhD in Philosophy from Springfield University. It says so on the diploma that hangs on my wall.Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Tell me what's on your mind.

Those little slips of paper -- coupons -- are real money and someone has to pay for the discount you just received. It could be the store, the manufacturer or someone else. You may have paid for it before you left the house.The world of coupons is complicated and there are lots of ways scammers can creep in. The average person is the most common way. It happens when we buy coupons online or try to print our own.Then there is the coupon processing system that provides another entry point.We'll explain it all to you so that you're not standing at a cash register, getting the hairy eyeball from a manager who believes you're trying to use fake coupons.Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Tell me what's on your mind.

Three-card-monte can take all your money in fewer than eight minutes. Long cons can take days, weeks, months or years -- just ask Bernie Madoff.The con artists generally have to put up significant amounts of money to pull it off.  They usually enlist others and must gain use of offices and facilities.On top of that, they have to think on their feet because many things can happen over time. You've got to be good to run a long con and in one case we'll tell you about, the sucker took the bait, then came back so the same con could be run on him again.For the scammers, that's a great ROI!Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Tell me what's on your mind.

Don't you just hate it when the new $5,000 sex doll you ordered turns out to be a cheap knock-off? Or that super-fun-pack of condoms you bought is counterfeit?Men thinking with the wrong head are mostly the victims of these crimes, but their variety may surprise you. Like that help-wanted ad you saw for a sex toy tester. I don't want to spoil this one -- you just have to listen.Vice article about online adult gamesLearn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Tell me what's on your mind.

Art scams are like no other. They are like a theatrical play with scammers and art forgers producing, writing and directing the show. Even the suckers are part of the script, anxious to play their roles, even when they suspect there may be an unhappy ending for them.The majority of the rules that apply to most scams, don't apply here. Some people get involved for fame, some for ego and others for fortune. Those that are in it for fame or ego, usually don't get a cut of the fortune, and they are just fine with that. As the curtain goes up, listen closely. Things are going to get freaky.The Art Thief and other books by Noah CharneyLearn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Tell me what's on your mind.

Most cons are well planned. After all, the con artists don't want to go to jail.But sometimes, things come together in such a way that the scams have to be pulled off quickly while the con artists make things up on the spot.Today we'll tell you the story of three scams that were run only once. OK, there's a fourth one, but you'll know it when you hear it. Listen closely.The Kitchen Table HistorianLearn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Tell me what's on your mind.

Recently -- and I kid you not -- I found a $100 bill as I got into my car after buying groceries. It was on the ground beside my door, folded in thirds. I immediately thought someone was setting me up for a Pigeon Drop, but no one approached and no other people were around, so I put the bill in my pocket.It took weeks before I used that money. Finding $100 is just too rare a thing. I wondered if it was counterfeit. I eventually went to a bank, they looked the bill and marked it. It was real.This is the essence of the Pigeon Drop. Money is found, two strangers approach, suggest dividing it, then set up a series of moves designed to send you to the bank where you'll withdraw thousands of dollars and willingly hand it over to the scammers.Listen in as we tell you how scammers magically turn pigeons into suckers.Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Tell me what's on your mind.

The idea of unconditional love is unknown to scammers, unless you're talking about a sucker's money. There's never a trick they aren't willing to perform for a treat -- except being told to "stay."Doggone it, we should have seen it coming, but there's more involved than companionship. Our emotions get wrapped up and that makes us perfect suckers.Listen in and we'll tell you how to protect yourself.Colin Butcher - Pet DetectiveLearn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices