Scam Goddess – Details, episodes & analysis

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

Get access to all the podcasts you love, music channels and radio shows with the SiriusXM App! Get 3 months free using this show link: https://siriusxm.com/scam.

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/

Get access to all the podcasts you love, music channels and radio shows with the SiriusXM App! Get 3 months free using this show link: https://siriusxm.com/scam.

Con-gregation, it's Fraud Friday! And today comedian Fortune Feimster joins us to discuss Laura Albert, an author who published a book under the pseudonym JT LeRoy, only years later it was discovered that JT never really existed. Plus, a 63-year-old Mississippi man is accused of being involved in a footbath scheme resulting in over $10 million in fake claims. Stay Schemin’! CW: There is mention of sexual assault, abuse and suicide in this episode. (Originally Released 01/10/2022)

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

Fortune Feimster: @fortunefeimster

Research by Kaelyn Brandt

SOURCES:

https://www.vanityfair.com/style/2006/04/jtleroy200604

https://nymag.com/nymetro/news/people/features/14718/

https://www.refinery29.com/en-us/2019/04/230831/jt-le-roy-true-story-movie-literary-scam-hoax

https://archive.vanityfair.com/article/2001/7/strange-innocence

https://www.savannahknoop.net/

https://www.localmemphis.com/article/news/crime/north-mississippi-podiatrist-indicted-foot-bath-scheme-water-valley-medicare-fraud/522-d92da935-ce2f-47e8-9ffa-33a44a182eba\

Get access to all the podcasts you love, music channels and radio shows with the SiriusXM App! Get 3 months free using this show link: https://siriusxm.com/scam.

What’s poppin’ con-gregation? This week, actress, producer and creator Alesha Reneé joins the show to discuss Charlie Javice, a businesswoman who sold her fast-growing tech startup to JP Morgan for $175 million, only to have partners realize she made up most of her success. Plus, a Chicago rapper has agreed to plead guilty to wire fraud and lying to federal agents. Stay schemin’!

Follow on Instagram:

Alesha Reneé                                  @iamalesharenee

Laci Mosley                                      @divalaci

Scam Goddess Podcast      @scamgoddesspod

Check out "Unleash For Love" on Audible: https://www.audible.com/pd/Unleash-for-Love-Audiobook/B0CB9FYCV3?qid=1689358839&sr=1-1&ref=a_search_c3_lProduct_1_1&pf_rd_p=83218cca-c308-412f-bfcf-90198b687a2f&pf_rd_r=2KW0AGES9C467X5989WV&pageLoadId=Bp8khEy2uajOMeuU&creativeId=0d6f6720-f41c-457e-a42b-8c8dceb62f2c

Research by Kaelyn Brandt

SOURCES:

https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/criminal-justice/ct-g-herbo-chicago-rapper-pleads-guilty-federal-fraud-charges-20230719-o33a2tgmrvbr5cqwu7vg2m4r7q-story.html

https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/g-herbo-chicago-rapper-plead-guilty-fraud-scheme-1234792168/

https://apnews.com/article/frank-founder-charlie-javice-lawsuit-5e990e78598507a08863836648d29aad

https://www.forbes.com/sites/alexandralevine/2023/01/19/charlie-javice-jp-morgan-frank-lawsuit/?sh=abe21a51f647

https://www.forbes.com/sites/brianbushard/2023/05/22/frank-founder-charlie-javice-pleads-not-guilty-to-fraud-over-jpmorgan-sale/?sh=2e2608b2139e

https://www.reuters.com/legal/startup-founder-accused-defrauding-jpmorgan-is-indicted-2023-05-18/

https://www.esquire.com/entertainment/tv/a38955743/tinder-swindler-simon-leviev-true-story-where-is-he-now/

Get access to all the podcasts you love, music channels and radio shows with the SiriusXM App! Get 3 months free using this show link: https://siriusxm.com/scam.

What’s Poppin’ Con-gregation? This week, we welcome comedians Josh Brekhus, Kimia Behpoornia, James Mannion, and Mary Anthony. Along with Laci, they’re a part of the UCB improv group LEROY. They discuss David Saffron, a part-time BDSM club owner and crypto Ponzi schemer. Plus, we explore how one of Twitter’s most quickly-growing viral left-wing voices has turned out to perhaps be a total fake. Stay Schemin’!

 

This episode was recorded on July 26th, 2023.

Follow on Instagram:           

Josh Brekhus                                              @jbrekhus

Kimia Behpoornia                                    @childclown

James Mannion                                         @pizzamannion (ON TWITTER AKA X) 

Mary Anthony                                             @maryeanthony

Laci Mosley                                                   @divalaci 

Scam Goddess Podcast                  @scamgoddesspod 

Researched by Kaelyn Brandt

Sources:
https://www.thedailybeast.com/sandm-scammer-david-saffron-charged-with-bitcoin-ponzi-scheme

https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2023/07/04/twitter-erica-marsh-suspended/

https://www.neopets.com/jubjub/

Get access to all the podcasts you love, music channels and radio shows with the SiriusXM App! Get 3 months free using this show link: https://siriusxm.com/scam.

What’s Poppin’ Con-gregation? This week, comedian Jamie Loftus joins the show to discuss John Wojtowicz, a con man who made international headlines after robbing a bank and creating a hostage situation “for love.” His story inspired the Academy Award Winning film “Dog Day Afternoon” starring Al Pacino. Plus, a California Instagram “momfluencer” was sentenced to 90 days in prison after falsely reporting that a couple had attempted to kidnap her two children. Stay Schemin’!

This episode was recorded on July 25th, 2023.

Follow on Instagram:                  

Jamie Loftus                                      @jamiechristsuperstar
Laci Mosley                                         @divalaci 
Scam Goddess Podcast          @scamgoddesspod 

Research by Kaelyn Brandt

SOURCES

https://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/news/ex-sonoma-county-mom-influencer-katie-sorensen-sentenced-to-30-days-in-cu/

https://www.nytimes.com/2023/06/30/us/katie-sorensen-fake-kidnapping-california-jail.html

https://allthatsinteresting.com/john-wojtowicz

https://www.insideedition.com/how-the-bungled-brooklyn-bank-robbery-that-inspired-dog-day-afternoon-made-1-man-a-household-name

https://books.google.com/books?id=5VYEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA66#v=onepage&q&f=false

https://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-31457718

https://slate.com/business/2023/06/shein-influencer-fast-fashion-hauls.html

Get access to all the podcasts you love, music channels and radio shows with the SiriusXM App! Get 3 months free using this show link: https://siriusxm.com/scam.

What’s poppin’ Con-gregation? This week, comedian Sasheer Zamata joins the show to discuss Thomas Justice, a once-promising cyclist prodigy turned bank robber when his Olympic dreams were no longer viable. Plus, one woman from East Bay, California, was targeted by a phone scammer, and her bank let it happen. Stay Schemin’!

Check out Sasheer’s Comedy Special “First Woman” on 800 Pound Gorilla on August 15th and YouTube on August 29th. https://800poundgorillamedia.com/products/sasheer-zamata-the-first-woman

Follow on Instagram:

Sasheer Zamata                             @thesheertruth

Laci Mosley                                         @divalaci

Scam Goddess Podcast         @scamgoddesspod

Research by Kaelyn Brandt

Sources:

https://www.chicagomag.com/chicago-magazine/february-2019/bicycle-bank-robber-tom-justice/

https://www.bicycling.com/news/a26081001/cyclist-turned-bank-robber-tom-justice/

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-6655303/The-extraordinary-story-Olympic-track-cycling-hopeful-turned-serial-bank-robber.html

https://abc7news.com/bank-impostor-scam-wells-fargo-wire-transfer-fraud-scammer-pretends-to-be/13407340/

Get access to all the podcasts you love, music channels and radio shows with the SiriusXM App! Get 3 months free using this show link: https://siriusxm.com/scam.

What’s Poppin’ Con-gregation?This week, we release the Scam Goddess Live Show! Comedians Paul F. Tompkins, Sydnee Washington, Jacquis Neal, Oscar Montoya, and Jon Gabrus join the show to discuss Stockton Rush, the CEO of OceanGate and scammer behind the tragedy of the OceanGate Submarine implosion!  Plus, they regale some hilarious scammer in what’s hot in fraud. Stay Schemin’!  

CW: There is mention of animal abuse and bestiality.

Follow on Instagram:

Laci Mosley                              @divalaci 

Paul F. Tompkins                 @pftompkins

Sydnee Washington          @justsydbw

Jacquis Neal                             @jacquisneal

Oscar Montoya                        @ozzymo

Jon Gabrus                                  @gabrus

Scam Goddess Podcast   @scamgoddesspod 

Sources: 

What’s Hot in Fraud 

https://www.local10.com/news/local/2023/05/01/fraudster-wearing-smiley-face-shirt-takes-puppy-to-bank-fraud-heist-deputies-say/

https://media.nbcmiami.com/2023/06/060823-edmanuel-victoria.jpg?quality=85&strip=all&w=1200

https://www.foxnews.com/us/louisiana-bank-robber-video-trips-getaway

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4jCtZI3dJYM&t=2s

https://cbs12.com/news/local/week-in-review-hunt-for-okeechobee-coach-covid-19-fraud-travis-rudolph-sea-turtle-found-on-beach-shots-fired-at-walmart-florida-june-10-2023

Ocean Gate:

https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/oceangate-suspends-exploration-commercial-operations-titan-implosion-rcna92912

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/stockton-rush-titan-submersible-implosion-b2378494.html

https://twitter.com/vbspurs/status/1671335053140414464?s=42&t=It0tsDV2jx-FO52zBe5saQ

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-12215003/OceanGate-REFUSED-independent-inspection-missing-sub-fired-worker-raised-safety-concerns.html

https://twitter.com/901lulu/status/1671687619351117824?s=42&t=It0tsDV2jx-FO52zBe5saQ

https://twitter.com/mailonline/status/1671774677109440514?s=42&t=It0tsDV2jx-FO52zBe5saQ

Get access to all the podcasts you love, music channels and radio shows with the SiriusXM App! Get 3 months free using this show link: https://siriusxm.com/scam.

Hallelujah Con-gregation! We’re celebrating the 200th episode of Scam Goddess with Amber Ruffin and Lacy Lamar. They discuss how one of the most expensive and rare pink diamonds was stolen from one of the wealthiest and most powerful men in the Middle East. Plus, a 68-year-old Los Angeles native has been indicted on five counts of wire fraud related to a fake hemp scheme as he was finishing up a 135-month house arrest for fraud. Stay Schemin’! 

This was recorded June 12, 2023. 

Research by Kaelyn Brandt

Sources:

https://www.vice.com/en/article/93kk3y/psychic-diamond-heist-john-lee-hamad-bin-jassim-bin-jaber-al-thani

https://www.forbes.com/sites/anthonydemarco/2022/12/08/1315-carat-pink-diamond-pulled-from-christies-auction-was-allegedly-stolen/?sh=147b08464182

https://www.courthousenews.com/serial-beverly-hills-fraudster-accused-of-starting-9-million-hemp-scam-during-house-arrest/

Check out The Amber & Lacey, Lacey & Amber Show on iHeartMedia and Will Ferrell's Big Money Players Network.  https://www.iheart.com/podcast/1119-the-amber-lacey-lacey-amb-112881431/

Follow on Instagram: 

Amber Ruffin                  @amberruffin

Lacey Lamar                   @laceylamar1

Laci Mosley                     @divalaci

Scam Goddess Podcast @scamgoddesspod

Get access to all the podcasts you love, music channels and radio shows with the SiriusXM App! Get 3 months free using this show link: https://siriusxm.com/scam.

What’s Poppin’ Con-gregation? This week, comedian Punkie Johnson joins the show to discuss Daniel Spence, a charming scam artist conning people close to him out of hundreds of thousands of dollars including men he met on Grindr. Plus, a Florida man is arrested after being accused of running scams that involved persuading victims that he was a family member and needed money or gift cards to be sent through the mail. Stay Schemin’!

“Love Thang with Punkie Johnson" airs on Kevin Hart’s Laugh Out Loud Network on SiriusXM and can be streamed on all podcast platforms. Check it out here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/love-thang/id1690695573

Note: This was recorded on 06/27/23.

Sources: 

https://observer.com/2019/06/northside-media-scam-artist-daniel-spence-grindr-grifter/

https://apnews.com/article/anna-delvey-sorokin-podcast-interview-2a694e71f19f30c0b7e8a37816db8e2b

https://www.clickorlando.com/news/local/2023/04/14/81-year-old-florida-man-accused-in-nationwide-fraud-scheme-falls-for-romance-scam-police-say/

Follow on Instagram: 

Punkie Johnson                  @punkiejohnson 

Laci Mosley                                @divalaci

Scam Goddess Podcast @scamgoddesspod

Get access to all the podcasts you love, music channels and radio shows with the SiriusXM App! Get 3 months free using this show link: https://siriusxm.com/scam.