Fraudsters

This is part two of BiiitConneeeeeeect! The WORLD is a Ponzi Scheme, not BitConnect… at least according to their promoters. In this episode, we will meet Glenn Arcano, one of the top promoters, his techniques for capturing people, and the terrible fate that awaits him. There is also the not-so-smart promoter Trevon James who didn’t have the best timing for joining BitConnect. And finally, we will know what happened to Carlos Mato. What is he up to now?TIMESTAMPS(03:08) - Previously on the BitConnect fraud: Satish Kumbanhi and his three frauds. The lending program, the Ponzi scheme (Ponzi would be so proud!), and the multi-level marketing scam.(07:54) - Glenn Arcaro one of the top promoters for BitConnect: How he would capture people and the evasive answers he would give when asked about the owner of BitConnect. (24:17) - The Cryptocurrency Certification Course by Glenn Arcano, where he taught how to invest in the lending program. Twenty thousand people took the course. TWENTY THOUSAND!!!(28:45) - “We are living in a Ponzi scheme” - Arcano’s opinion on what is a Ponzi scheme and defending BitConnect with the “everything is a scam” argument. (36:26) - 20 years in prison, $250,000 in fines, and four levies against him, among other bitter things that Arcano has to face. (39:16) - Trevon Brown, the “Doper” that got into BitConnect by “taking action.” But he took action at BitConnect’s downfall. (42:46) . Why isn’t Brown facing the same charges as Arcano? Also, we see him use the “everything is a scheme” argument too.(51:42) - What happened to Carlos? What has he been up to? Some people just don’t learn. RESOURCESGlenn Arcano's video about who owns BitConnectBitConnect Annual CeremonyTrevon on TwitterConfessions of the #1 BitConnect promoter - Trevon JamesCarlos Launching an NFT Subscribe to SiriusXM Podcasts+ to listen to new episodes of Fraudsters ad-free. Start a free trial now on Apple Podcasts or by visiting siriusxm.com/podcastsplus. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

We are coming, and we are coming in waves with the BitConnect fraud! (We promise this will make sense later) Imagine thousands of dollars going into your account without doing anything. It’s just like how Don Corleone once said: “What have we done to deserve this generosity?” Well, nothing, because it always comes with a price. What is BitConnect? How does it work? Who is the man behind this fraud? We’ll also have the privilege to listen closely to why this scam is not new at all: it only has a huge, shiny tech wrap around.TIMESTAMPS(2:28) - We are covering the crypto scams! We listen to Carlos Matos’ video where he is drunk on the fiction money he is getting from cryptocurrency. (11:04) - Satish Kumbhani, the man behind BitConnect, a fraudulent cryptocurrency investment platform. (12:29) - BitConnect is nothing we haven’t seen before! This type of scam is called the Big Store Con and it began with Ben Marks and his little game Three-card Monte.(16:48) - Playing a man against the wall - The other approach to the Big Store Con and its resemblance to BitConnect. (19:14) - The first two major frauds: the security fraud with the lending program and the Ponzi Scheme run by the trading bot.(23:05) - The third major fraud: the multilevel marketing scheme to get more people in.This is the big part of the Big Store Con!(34:18) - Breaking down each of the major frauds that conformed BitConnect and spending Bitcoin to buy BitConnect, an explanation of its absurd mechanism.(31:49) - How did this crypto start? What is a high-frequency trader? A man just on his computer who blows his nose. (35:08) - Turning pollution into diamonds - The trading bot is “a safe way to earn high rate of return on your investment without having to undergo a significant amount of risk”. Red flaaags!(29:41) - An interview with Mr. Bad Liar: Satish Kumbhani. A YouTuber asks some basic questions to him but gets no real answers.(48:05) - From January 2017 to January 2018 BitConnect acquired 325,000 Bitcoins. What was Satish Kumbhani doing with all of this money?RESOURCESVideo of Carlos Matos from BitcoinCryptogirl interviews Satish Kumbhani Subscribe to SiriusXM Podcasts+ to listen to new episodes of Fraudsters ad-free. Start a free trial now on Apple Podcasts or by visiting siriusxm.com/podcastsplus. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

It’s part two and we are taking a hard look at the orgasm… again! Dr. Jordan is back and we go through all the wildly offensive details on Nicole Daedone and One Taste. We won’t lie, things get a little dark here: sexual assaults, coercion sexual control, trauma, financial debts, and other horrors sponsored by One Taste. How did One Taste work? Where did the money come from? Why would people engage in it? Tune in to listen to the perfect intersection between scams and orgasmic meditations. It is all about power! TIMESTAMPS(2:04) - Dr. Jordan is back with us to help us finish with the One Taste’s Case and talk about the PhD in Sensuality or Lifestyles offered by Moore University.(15:44) - Meeting Reese Jones, the tech millionaire that was funding One Taste and all about Orgasmic Meditation.(19:54) - $499 for a weekend course! $12,000 for a coaching course! A $60,000 exclusive membership! Spoiler alert: this is where it gets really gross.(23:17) - Pussy noses, t-shirt slogans, and asking how’s your orgasm? - The sickening and coercive sales tactics used by One Taste.(29:57) - At this point, Scientology feels a little PG compared to these people! The violence and adding centers where vulnerable people show up and feel like they have a shelter. (35:52) - The perpetrator's profile: Likely people who have a history of engagement in prior violence or prior perpetrated behaviors and have been praised for it. (41:47) - The victims: Feeling ashamed, having power issues, PTSD, physiological trauma, debts and so many things that victims have to go through thanks to One Taste’s slavery system. (46:57) - The Fall: Bloomberg’s article, Daedone stepping down as CEO, believing her own lies, the FBI opening an investigation and closing all of One Taste’s offices. (54:07) - Groom your bush and play with your wood - The Land, or what might be the 2.0 version of One Taste. Will they ever stop?(58:48) - Why Daedone’s work is not new - Dr. Jordan shares with us some final thoughts about One Taste and how it is a cult. RESOURCESOne Taste’s website Dr. Ruth on TwitterDr. Ruth on InstagramDr. Jordan Soper’s WebsiteDr. Jordan on FacebookDr. Jordan on Linkedin Dr. Jordan on InstagramThe Darkside of One Taste, the Orgasmic Meditation Company an article by BloombergOneTaste CEO Steps Down After Claims That Company Engaged in Predatory Behavior an article by Bloomberg Subscribe to SiriusXM Podcasts+ to listen to new episodes of Fraudsters ad-free. Start a free trial now on Apple Podcasts or by visiting siriusxm.com/podcastsplus. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

This episode is all about sex, orgasms, and pleasure! Did that get your attention? Well, this is the way One Taste would get the attention of their victims. It is our first wellness fraud and to help us navigate its turbulent waters we invited Dr. Jordan Soper a certified sex therapist to speak with us. What is One Taste? What is Orgasmic Meditation or OM? Witsho is Nicole Daedone and where did she get the inspiration for One Taste? In this episode, we see how the promise of pleasure can turn into a real nightmare where slavery, control, and harassment rule. Put your audio seat belt on because it’s about to get nasty!TIMESTAMPS(02:16) - It’s our first wellness fraud! The company: One Taste. The fraud: Orgasmic Meditation or OM. The core: a classical financial scheme. But first, what is OM?(07:24) - To help us navigate the turbulent waters of One Taste’s case, we invited Dr. Jordan Soper, a certified sex therapist.(09:26) - What is the pleasure gap? How the orgasm receives more attention rather than pleasure.(11:39) - Nicole Daedone, founder and CEO of One Taste, has a Ted Talk about the female orgasm. Let’s hear what she has to say about it and learn a little bit about her past.(24:46) - What makes an orgasm good? Thinking about orgasms from the clinical standpoint there are so many mechanisms involved. We need details guys, not generalizations!(27:50) - Learning from Victor Baranco - Founder of the Lafayette Morehouse, sex communes, and the model that Daedone later used for One Taste.(33:25) - Slavery, control, and hiding under “educational purposes” - The really creepy stuff that was going on at Lafayette Morehouse.(43:34) - Baranco’s target: young, naive, and new to the world. Also, other disgusting tales from the Lafayette Morehouse. RESOURCESDr. Jordan Soper’s WebsiteDr. Jordan on FacebookDr. Jordan on Linkedin Dr. Jordan on InstagramNicole Daedone’s Ted TalkLafayette Morehouse video Subscribe to SiriusXM Podcasts+ to listen to new episodes of Fraudsters ad-free. Start a free trial now on Apple Podcasts or by visiting siriusxm.com/podcastsplus. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

How far can a parent go for his/her kid? We’ve realized that we have a little bit of meat left on the old Rick Singer bone and that is why we decided to make a bonus episode! We cover the cases of actresses Felicity Huffman (Desperate Housewives), Lori Laughlin (Full House), and her husband Mossimo Giannulli (Yes, the 90s Mossimo jeans guy). It seemed like these celebrities made some generous “donations” to the Key Worldwide Foundation but in reality, they were paying to get their daughters into top universities. What led them to make those decisions? How did they all end up? Are they part of our beloved fraudsters? Tune in and discover with great details how far these celebs went for their kids!TIMESTAMPS(02:07) - We’re covering one of Hollywood’s scandals in hope that, maybe, we can figure out what led the people involved to make the decisions they did. Let’s start with Felicity Huffman!(08:40) - Art imitating life? Felicity’s career takes off with Desperate Housewives and her tendency to play the role of the well-intended mother. (13:37) - Freeze! Felicity is arrested in 2019 for giving $15K to the Key Worldwide Foundation to get her daughter the extra 400 points she needed for her SAT to audition for drama school. (23:52) - Doing the same scheme next year for her younger daughter, aborting the mission due to Huffman’s guilt which eventually helped her case (in addition to Eva Longoria’s support letter).(25:40) - Huffman’s lawyers argue that “she was being unfairly persecuted for being rich,” and the sentence she had to face. Also, what happened to Sofia?(29:46) - Introducing the fraudster couple: Actress Lori Laughlin and fashion designer Mossimo Giannulli. (38:33) - Let’s focus on Olivia Jade’s story because the scheme in her case is better and, well, more documented: The fake athletes and the sentences her parents had to face. (45:29) - “I’ve been to one class and I already want to die,” Olivia Jade on USC. Also, we talk with Melissa Korn and Jennifer Levitz about Olivia Jade on the Red Table Talk.RESOURCESDesperate Housewives, meet the housewivesOlivia Jade on the Red Table TalkUnacceptable: Privilege, Deceit & the Making of College Admissions Scandal by Melissa Korn, Jennifer Levitz Subscribe to SiriusXM Podcasts+ to listen to new episodes of Fraudsters ad-free. Start a free trial now on Apple Podcasts or by visiting siriusxm.com/podcastsplus. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

We can’t get enough of Anna! In this episode, we continue our exploration of Anna Sorokin’s case and the show “Inventing Anna”. We had the opportunity to interview actor, writer, and director Arian Moayed. Arian shares with us a little bit of his story, his amazing project Waterwell and his experience playing Anna Delvey’s lawyer, Todd Spodek, in this Shondaland hit. We’re really grateful for the opportunity to meet and talk with such a great guy like Arian (Of Stewy fame from Succession!). Why does he play such shitty people? How is it to be on a Shonda Rhimes set? What is his perception of Anna Delvey’s case? Tune in and find out!TIMESTAMPS(01:33) - You’ve seen him in “Succession”, “Spider-man: No Way Home” and “Inventing Anna.” Ladies and gentlemen Arian Moayed!(10:48) - Arian talks to us about his amazing company Waterwell, an art and education civic-minded company. (19:08) - Ok now let’s get to the good part! - Arian shares with us his experience playing the role of Anna’s lawyer, Todd Spodek.(23:16) - Meeting the real Todd on the most crucial day of filming for Arian, the Brooklyn accent, and being in a Shonda Rhimes set. (32:15) - What is it about these types of stories that make us so attracted to them? Thinking Anna is not a victim? Or is she? Arian shares his thoughts on this.(39:27) - Rachel, the Queen of Missteps - The way the media is portraying Anna’s defrauded best friend.(44:02) - Succession - Being such a lovely man, how does Arian play such shitty people? Also, has Arian been a victim of fraud?RESOURCESArian Moayed on InstagramArian Moayed on TwitterWaterwell websiteSuccession TrailerSpider-man: No Way Home TrailerInventing Anna, breakdown jail scene (1x8) Subscribe to SiriusXM Podcasts+ to listen to new episodes of Fraudsters ad-free. Start a free trial now on Apple Podcasts or by visiting siriusxm.com/podcastsplus. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

We are going back to season one a little bit and talking about one of our favorite fraudsters, Anna Delvey! Who is Anna now? Also, our favorite New York Times reporter and our favorite reporter for the Anna Delvey story is back! We take a closer look at Shonda Rhimes’ dramatization of events: Inventing Anna, and the different efforts of media outlets to answer who Anna is. Has she changed? What is next for her? What has she been up to? It seems we’re still very interested in her and have soo many questions! Join us and satisfy your Anna Delvey intrigue with us!TIMESTAMPS(02:00) - Let’s talk about one of our favorite fraudsters Ana Sorokin aka Anna Delvey and go through some of the key moments from last season's episodes we did about her case. (07:34) - Who is Anna? The 60 minutes sit-down interview with Anna, her Instagram, and Shonda Rhymes’ dramatization of events, “Inventing Anna.”(13:45) - Emily Palmer is back! The journalist who covered Anna’s trial joins us one more time to talk about what Anna Delvey is like now. (22:23) - Inventing Anna - The 9-hour-long dramatization of Anna’s case. How accurate was the show? Was it a fair portrayal of Anna?(36:46) - Is she remorseful? Reinventing Anna, the changes Emily has been able to see about this fraudster and Anna saying “I’m not a good person.”(42:14) - What is she getting out of all this fanfare? Also, we take a look at the things we missed! And, what do Anna’s case and mediatic spotlight say about society?(55:51) - What is next for Anna in the upcoming months? What is next for Emily? What was Emily’s favorite part of the show?RESOURCESInventing Anna, the official trailerAnna’s InstagramEmily Palmer on TwitterEmily Palmer on LinkedInEmily Palmer on InstagramEmily Palmer on The New York Times Subscribe to SiriusXM Podcasts+ to listen to new episodes of Fraudsters ad-free. Start a free trial now on Apple Podcasts or by visiting siriusxm.com/podcastsplus. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

It’s the Italian swindler of excellence! The Picasso of con artists! The king of kings of fraudsters Charles Ponzi! We’ve all heard about the Ponzi schemes but who was Ponzi? What did he do to have a scheme named after him? We invited Patrick O’Boyle to help us understand Charles Ponzi twisted and brilliant mind better. Also, Dr. Amir Mahan Ghaznavi (Yes, Seena’s brother) shares with us some useful information to prove that Ponzi’s redemption story was pure trash! In this episode, we learn who Charles Ponzi was before becoming the king of fraud, how he got to America, and his neverending scheme stories. Tune in and find out why he is the crème de la crème of fraudsters!TIMESTAMPS(02:10) - It’s the proto fraudster! The king of kings of frauds! The Italian immigrants' scam! The Lord and Savior Charles Ponzi! (07:54) - Patrick O’Boyle is here to help us illustrate and paint a more beautiful picture of what Ponzi actually is to the Italian people and who he was back then. (15:36) - Ponzi comes to America! Why Italians might have gravitated toward the banking center? Patrick O’Boyle shares his theory about it.(25:04) - Ponzi’s crime beginnings: Faking a check, his job as ‘Special Assistant to a prison warden at the Canadian Prison,’ becoming the Canadian Coyote, and more time in prison.(29:31) - Rebooting his image - Becoming a nurse at a mining camp and giving 50 inches of his skin to a fellow nurse. Is that even possible? Let’s see what Dr. Amir has to say…(37:36) - It's the beginning of his iconic fraud! The creation of The Securities Exchange Company which promised a 100% return on investment in his postal reply coupons in 90 days. (43:47) - Meet Charles Burelli and Andrea Luciana - Changing identities, faking deaths, and changing jobs. Scam and prison being the only constant things in Ponzi’s life.RESOURCESThe Italian American Podcast websitePatrick O’Boyle on FacebookPatrick O’Bolye on InstagramDr. Amir Mahan Ghaznavi Cleveland Clinic’s WebsiteDr. Amir Mahan Ghaznavi on LinkedInDr. Amir Mahan Ghaznavi on Twitter Subscribe to SiriusXM Podcasts+ to listen to new episodes of Fraudsters ad-free. Start a free trial now on Apple Podcasts or by visiting siriusxm.com/podcastsplus. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

It’s our final episode on the College Admission Scandal where Rick Singer is the Michael Jordan of snitching! In this episode, we are having a little fun introducing the Fraudsters Roulette! There are around 40 parents to choose from and we are telling you, we are airing all their dirty laundry! Who are they? What did they do? Are they facing any sentences? And finally, we talk with Melissa and Jennifer about who the real victims of this fraud are. Don’t go anywhere because this final episode it’s gonna get hot and scammy.TIMESTAMPS(02:02) - If Rick Singer falls everyone falls with him! He has to win right? How Morrie Tobin flipped on Rick Singer and everything went down. (13:48) - Introducing the Fraudster’s Roulette for the Varsity Blues Scandal! We’ve got around 40 parents to choose from! The first one is Robert Flaxman.(18:54) - Our next lucky fraudsters of the day are: Gordon Ernst, Peter Jan Sartorio, and Robert Zangrillo!(31:33) - Red 18 is no other than Michelle Janavs! She is the heiress of the Hot Pockets empire and we’ll tell you, she would do anything for her kids. (35:46) - The complete absurdity of this case, how people threw their money away just for status ($50 million or not, the kid isn’t going to class anyway), and how this is a Nuveau Rich thing. (41:14) - Continuing with our Fraudster’s Roulette we talk about Jane Buckingham, just take that name in and imagine her…well it’s worst, it’s the complete dark side of this case.(50:23) - The final fraudsters from the Fraudster’s Roulette are…the Abbotts anddd Doug Hodge!(1:07:09) - Who were the real victims of this whole fraud? The real-life athlete kids whose photos were stolen and the intended beneficiaries. RESOURCESHot Pockets commercialJane Buckingham on InstagramGreg Abbott’s bookI Wish I’d Never Met Rick Singer by Doug HodgeUnacceptable: Privilege, Deceit & the Making of College Admissions Scandal by Melissa Korn, Jennifer LevitzJennifer Levitz on TwitterJennifer Levitz on The Wall Street Journal Jennifer Levitz on LinkedInMelissa Korn on The Wall Street JournalMelissa Korn on Twitter Subscribe to SiriusXM Podcasts+ to listen to new episodes of Fraudsters ad-free. Start a free trial now on Apple Podcasts or by visiting siriusxm.com/podcastsplus. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Rick Singer finally starts selling that one thing that makes every parent vulnerable: their children's future. In this episode, we see how he reaches the peak. Finally, he is the winner of all hustlers and liars! Melissa and Jennifer are back to give us some insights on the techniques and the mechanism of Singer’s scam. How did it work? Also, we learn about his two companies and the key role they played for the scam to work, and finally, we get to see how it all blew up. Tune in and find out why Rick Singer is the greatest rat of all time!TIMESTAMPS(02:03) - Our grooming fraudster decided it was time to make his move helping kids into the school of their dreams and published a book called “Getting in.” So kind of him! (10:56) - Launching the college counselor - A tight group of wealthy white elite people hires him in the early 90s. Also, Melissa and Jennifer share with us how he did business.(16:07) - The art of resume embellishment - Bold-faced lies and business growing. (FOMO, a hell of a drug and Singer’s business fuel!)(22:36) - A change of luck! His time working for call centers, India, and coming back to tell more lies than ever before!(33:36) - The Master Coach and his two companies: Edge College and Career Network, LLC, and The Key Worldwide foundation. A complete shit show! (37:29) - We listen to an actual conversation from Rick Singer getting hired. Also, Melissa and Jennifer give us a little more insight into the scam itself. (44:34) - Bribes and Cambodia - The Key Worldwide Foundation as an exempt organization under 501C3. What does that mean? How did Singer make it work?(56:37) - Melissa and Jennifer tell us how it all blew up: Rick Singer is a rat and he is the greatest rat of all time!RESOURCESThe Key Worldwide OverviewUnacceptable: Privilege, Deceit & the Making of College Admissions Scandal by Melissa Korn, Jennifer LevitzJennifer Levitz on TwitterJennifer Levitz on The Wall Street Journal Jennifer Levitz on LinkedInMelissa Korn on The Wall Street JournalMelissa Korn on Twitter Subscribe to SiriusXM Podcasts+ to listen to new episodes of Fraudsters ad-free. Start a free trial now on Apple Podcasts or by visiting siriusxm.com/podcastsplus. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Welcome to season 2 of your favorite fraudsters podcast! We would do anything for our children, who wouldn’t? So, let’s go into the Rick Singer College Admission Scandal! In this episode, we meet Rick Singer, the man, the coach, the fraudster! Where did he come from? What is his backstory? What led him to be the protagonist of the College Admission Scandal? Jennifer Levitz and Melissa Korn, authors of the New York Times Bestseller “Unacceptable,” join us to learn more about Singer and his story. Get it on!TIMESTAMPS(02:38) - Let’s get into the Rick Singer College Admission Scandal! Aka parents paying a bunch of money (on top of that you also have to pay the tuition) to get their kids into private schools.(07:46) - Jennifer Levitz and Melissa Korn, authors of the New York Times Bestseller “Unacceptable” are here to provide some wonderful background and insight on this case. (13:20) - Who was Rick Singer? Where did he grow up? A little bit of background on this fraudster. (18:07) - “I’m gonna be rich someday,” Singer’s drive to prove to other people how wrong they were about him and his big charisma. (27:13) - Singer getting triggered by goals, being always the winner, and becoming the coach with unorthodox motivation methods. (33:25) - The great epiphany - Singer realizes the kids needed to be mentored and guided on how to prepare themselves and get into college. RESOURCESUnacceptable: Privilege, Deceit & the Making of College Admissions Scandal by Melissa Korn, Jennifer LevitzJennifer Levitz on TwitterJennifer Levitz on The Wall Street Journal Jennifer Levitz on LinkedInMelissa Korn on The Wall Street JournalMelissa Korn on TwitterTab Cola “Beautiful People” Commercial (1978) Subscribe to SiriusXM Podcasts+ to listen to new episodes of Fraudsters ad-free. Start a free trial now on Apple Podcasts or by visiting siriusxm.com/podcastsplus. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

It’s our last episode for this season and for our big finale we talk about the sinking of the Titanic of companies: Enron! The tech bubble burst and changed the game. Journalists began to ask questions and Enron went from ferocious beast to wounded prey. We have our first whistleblower in the show, Sherron Watkins! Who is she? How did she get into Enron? How did she end up as a whistleblower? And finally, we see how white-collar crime can be life-threatening and extremely detrimental to its victims. TIMESTAMPS(03:36) - From predator to prey - Bethany McLean starts asking questions. Journalists and other investors are seeing blood and they are hungry. (12:26) - Introducing Sherron Watkins, who shares with us her experience at Enron. But first, who was Sherron before Enron? How was it like to work for Arthur Andersen?(19:57) - “Enron felt more sophisticated, a little more polished,” getting into Enron, her experience as a female executive and meeting the “big guys.”(28:31) - The bright and ambitious “buzz saw” Sherron Watkins tells us about the projects she worked on at Enron and running accross the raptors.(41:12) - Pointing the iceberg to the captain with selective blindness - The confusion, the letter, learning more about the fraud, getting evidence together and getting ignored…(50:53) - Becoming the Whistleblower - Who failed? How did her letter get published? How did it feel to become a troublemaker for her own tribe?(59:57) - The dog and pony show - Testifying in front of Jeff Skilling. “Things go wrong when smart people stop asking questions,” and some final words from Sherron. (1:07:23) - The level of evil - The catastrophic end of Enron and the inhumane priceacross the victims had to pay.RESOURCESBethany McLean on TwitterBethany McLean on LinkedInThe Smartest Guys in the Room by Bethany McLeanHotel Kenneth Laya lyricsSherron Watkins website Subscribe to SiriusXM Podcasts+ to listen to new episodes of Fraudsters ad-free. Start a free trial now on Apple Podcasts or by visiting siriusxm.com/podcastsplus. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In today's episode we dig deeper into that California energy crisis and outline Enron's side hustle - broadband.Special thanks to Collin Whitehead, a former Real-Time Trader in Enron's Portland office, for speaking to us for this episode. Subscribe to SiriusXM Podcasts+ to listen to new episodes of Fraudsters ad-free. Start a free trial now on Apple Podcasts or by visiting siriusxm.com/podcastsplus. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In Part II of our final series of the season, we show how a few inordinately bad actors and weak regulation lead to state-wide rolling blackouts and surging energy costs. Special thanks to Harvey Rosenfield, founder of Consumer Watchdog, for walking us through this dark saga. Subscribe to SiriusXM Podcasts+ to listen to new episodes of Fraudsters ad-free. Start a free trial now on Apple Podcasts or by visiting siriusxm.com/podcastsplus. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

20 years ago one of the largest corporations in the U.S - an energy trading corp. that boasted 750% annual growth – went down in flames. In 24 days it went from the pride of Houston to a stain on the country - pulling millions out of the economy, devastating its employees, and largely contributing to an energy crisis in California. In Part I of our final series of season 1, we talk about the men behind Enron Corp. Subscribe to SiriusXM Podcasts+ to listen to new episodes of Fraudsters ad-free. Start a free trial now on Apple Podcasts or by visiting siriusxm.com/podcastsplus. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Once upon a time there was a Scottish guy who failed up so hard that he got knighted. Then he sold boat rides to an island civilization populated only by malaria-carrying mosquitos. And because it was a long time ago and no one had phones, he got away with it. Don't believe me? Just listen.Bullshit really is timeless. Subscribe to SiriusXM Podcasts+ to listen to new episodes of Fraudsters ad-free. Start a free trial now on Apple Podcasts or by visiting siriusxm.com/podcastsplus. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Today we're diving into Wirecard, a fictitious and spurious payment processing company out of Germany. We ask tough questions like "why do all fraudsters wear black turtlenecks?" and "is Kraftwerk just robots?"Huge thanks to NYT reporter Christopher Schuetze (@CFSchuetze on Twitter) for speaking to us for this episode. Subscribe to SiriusXM Podcasts+ to listen to new episodes of Fraudsters ad-free. Start a free trial now on Apple Podcasts or by visiting siriusxm.com/podcastsplus. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

For part II of our mini-series on Ruja Ignatova and OneCoin, we are joined by the amazing Jen McAdam, who founded a support group for victims of OneCoin after herself being defrauded of several thousands of dollars. Jen's story is so compelling that the rights to her forthcoming book 'Fake,' have already been purchased by MGM - Kate Winslet will play Jen in a movie directed by Scott Z. Burns and produced by Winslet and Jennifer Todd. First person accounts of the devastating effects of pyramid schemes and cults are hard to come by so be sure to follow Jen on Twitter @JenMcAdamUK for updates on the book and movie!Huge thanks to Jen for joining us for this episode. Subscribe to SiriusXM Podcasts+ to listen to new episodes of Fraudsters ad-free. Start a free trial now on Apple Podcasts or by visiting siriusxm.com/podcastsplus. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Subscribe to SiriusXM Podcasts+ to listen to new episodes of Fraudsters ad-free. Start a free trial now on Apple Podcasts or by visiting siriusxm.com/podcastsplus. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

This week Seena and Justin take a trip back-in-time to the late 1800s to find the origin of the phrase "if you believe that, then I have a bridge to sell you" and who was the person the media called, the Queen of Swindlers. Big thanks to author Tori Telfer and her book "Confident Women: Swindlers, Grifters, and Shapeshifters of the Feminine Persuasion". Subscribe to SiriusXM Podcasts+ to listen to new episodes of Fraudsters ad-free. Start a free trial now on Apple Podcasts or by visiting siriusxm.com/podcastsplus. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

You've heard of Jeffrey Epstein, Ghislaine Maxwell, Rudy Giuliani, Paul Manafort, Roger Stone, Rupert Murdoch, and Trump but have you heard of Steven Hoffenberg? This man was involved in so much insidious shit his defense of himself was insisting that he was just running a ponzi scheme! All that and more on today's episode. Subscribe to SiriusXM Podcasts+ to listen to new episodes of Fraudsters ad-free. Start a free trial now on Apple Podcasts or by visiting siriusxm.com/podcastsplus. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Happy Valentines Day! Today we're talking RoMaNcE fRaUd 😍 Subscribe to SiriusXM Podcasts+ to listen to new episodes of Fraudsters ad-free. Start a free trial now on Apple Podcasts or by visiting siriusxm.com/podcastsplus. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

This is our last installment of our Race Hustlers series. If you haven't heard of the Freedman's Bank, you need to listen to this episode.Special thanks to Mehrsa Baradaran for writing The Color of Money. Subscribe to SiriusXM Podcasts+ to listen to new episodes of Fraudsters ad-free. Start a free trial now on Apple Podcasts or by visiting siriusxm.com/podcastsplus. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

We all remember the day Rachel Dolezal broke the internet in 2015, but at this point is it even surprising when we hear about a white lady pretending to be Black or Puerto Rican or Spanish? What drives a person to lie about something as fundamental as their racial or cultural identity?Today we're dissecting the appropriations and the non-apologies from Dolezal to Hilary "I vacationed once in Spain so I am Spanish" Baldwin - all for your listening pleasure.Huge thanks to all the wonderful guests who joined us for this episode!! Elena Romero - fashion, hip hop, and Latinx journalist. Elisa Prosperetti - visiting professor of history at Mount Holyoke College. Lauren Michele Jackson - author of White Negroes. Follow Lauren on Twitter @proseb4bros for more thoughts on culture and cultural appropriation. Subscribe to SiriusXM Podcasts+ to listen to new episodes of Fraudsters ad-free. Start a free trial now on Apple Podcasts or by visiting siriusxm.com/podcastsplus. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Last week we looked at the claims and credentials of Dr. Umar Johnson–the Prince of Pan-Afrikanism, Frederick Douglass' great grand cousin, and blood relative of Ramses the II (according to a spiritual medium), etcetera, etcetera. Today we reflect on his influence and impact.Thanks to Mojak Lehoko for his thoughts for this episode.Huge thanks to Ebony Chappel–@ebonythewriter on social–for such a wonderful, thoughtful interview.Thanks to Lisa Kelly-Vance for helping us understand school psychology. Shout out to all the school psychologists for being awesome!Lastly, special thanks to YT's Make A Change, Lenon Honor, King Kong Crazy, Ms. Lauren, Anti Afro Svengalis, the "Dr. Umar is a Fraud" facebook group, and all the other folks on YT and social media who have been diligently documenting Dr. Umar's nonsense for years and years. You made this mini-series possible! Subscribe to SiriusXM Podcasts+ to listen to new episodes of Fraudsters ad-free. Start a free trial now on Apple Podcasts or by visiting siriusxm.com/podcastsplus. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Part II of Race Hustlers features a new huckster: Dr. Umar Johnson – the self proclaimed Prince of Pan-Afrikanism and "most influential Black scholar in the world." While not yet convicted by a court of law, citizen journalists and Black media outlets have been speculating on and interrogating this man for years about his beliefs, his credentials, and the school that Dr. Umar has been fundraising for for nearly a decade. Will the Frederick Douglass Marcus Garvey RBG Leadership Academy for Black Boys ever materialize or is it just another con-artist's ruse to pocket good faith donations? Special thanks to Lisa Kelly-Vance for consulting on this episode. Thanks to all those who shared their Dr. Umar stories online and made this episode possible. Subscribe to SiriusXM Podcasts+ to listen to new episodes of Fraudsters ad-free. Start a free trial now on Apple Podcasts or by visiting siriusxm.com/podcastsplus. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

You know David Duke the racist, but do you know David Duke the con artist? What's that? You don't want to know David Duke at all?This is Part I of our newest mini-series, Race Hustlers, on con artists who leverage race as a part of their scams.Special thanks to Marilyn Mayo of the Anti Defamation League for sharing her wisdom with us for this episode. Subscribe to SiriusXM Podcasts+ to listen to new episodes of Fraudsters ad-free. Start a free trial now on Apple Podcasts or by visiting siriusxm.com/podcastsplus. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Ever wondered what a real movie set is like? How about a movie set with mobsters, Star Wars, and a con-man at the helm? Tune in for the third installment of our mini-series on Barry Minkow and a behind the scenes look at possibly the worst movie ever made.Special thanks to Jonathan Meyer–script doctor and screenwriter–for his insider insights and hilarious anecdotes. Check out his awesome new radio serial on a serial killer: Midnight Tales From The Bluff City right after you listen to Fraudsters! Subscribe to SiriusXM Podcasts+ to listen to new episodes of Fraudsters ad-free. Start a free trial now on Apple Podcasts or by visiting siriusxm.com/podcastsplus. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Subscribe to SiriusXM Podcasts+ to listen to new episodes of Fraudsters ad-free. Start a free trial now on Apple Podcasts or by visiting siriusxm.com/podcastsplus. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Episode 17 kicks off our mini-series on possibly our worst fraudster yet - Barry Minkow.Part I is devoted to his youth and only his youth. Barry as a teen committed more fraud than most could in a lifetime–from securities fraud to check kiting to credit card fraud to carpet cleaning cons–all while in the company of nazis and mobsters. Subscribe to SiriusXM Podcasts+ to listen to new episodes of Fraudsters ad-free. Start a free trial now on Apple Podcasts or by visiting siriusxm.com/podcastsplus. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

On the final episode of our series on Kevin Trudeau, we delve into one of his most recent and most outrageous scam – a multi-level marketing company called the Global Information Network. It promised trade secrets of the illuminati, ferraris, and inner peace all for the low, low price of many thousands of dollars, recruiting your friends and family, and giving up things you love in order to become "coachable."Special thanks to Linnea, former GIN member, for sharing her experience.Special thanks to Professor Edward Balleisen, fraud expert and author of Fraud: An American History from Barnum to Madoff, for his historical contextualization of fraud and thoughtful insights.Special thanks to Cosmic Connie of Whirled Musings for sharing her wealth of knowledge on GIN with us. Subscribe to SiriusXM Podcasts+ to listen to new episodes of Fraudsters ad-free. Start a free trial now on Apple Podcasts or by visiting siriusxm.com/podcastsplus. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In Part II of our series on the notorious infomercial scammer Kevin Trudeau we cover how to lose 300 pounds in 30 minutes, go to prison sleep-away camp, and get a presidential pardon!Special thanks to Howard Beales, Former Director of the Bureau of Consumer Protection at the FTC, for a wonderful conversation. Subscribe to SiriusXM Podcasts+ to listen to new episodes of Fraudsters ad-free. Start a free trial now on Apple Podcasts or by visiting siriusxm.com/podcastsplus. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In Part I of our series on the notorious infomercial scammer Kevin Trudeau we cover how to give yourself mega-memory, break any addiction 100% of the time, and all the other things THEY don't want you to know about! Subscribe to SiriusXM Podcasts+ to listen to new episodes of Fraudsters ad-free. Start a free trial now on Apple Podcasts or by visiting siriusxm.com/podcastsplus. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In part I of Fraud Reich we brought you historical fiction—the story of the Hitler Diaries. Today we bring you a sci-fi thriller featuring Adolph Hitler, Hans Loads, David Bowie, and a fraudster named Trevor Ravenscroft.We’re talking the “Spear of Destiny”— the alleged source of Hitler’s power and rot.Special thanks to Marcus Parks, founding father of the Last Podcast Network, for a magical interview. Subscribe to SiriusXM Podcasts+ to listen to new episodes of Fraudsters ad-free. Start a free trial now on Apple Podcasts or by visiting siriusxm.com/podcastsplus. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Dear Diary,Many historically significant figures generate lore. Some say Shakespeare had a ghostwriter. Some say Nikola Tesla designed blueprints for a "death ray" before his passing. Some say Thomas Jefferson drank breast milk!Few theories, however, are as wild and as widely entertained as the Hitler Diaries were.On the 12th episode of Fraudsters Season 1, we talk where the myth began and how it snowballed into 62 forged Hitler diaries lauded as true by some of the foremost historians and news outlets in Europe.So excited to share this episode with all the Spotifites out there.Love,Seena, Justin, Hazel, and MariePS: I made up the breast milk myth Subscribe to SiriusXM Podcasts+ to listen to new episodes of Fraudsters ad-free. Start a free trial now on Apple Podcasts or by visiting siriusxm.com/podcastsplus. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Remember when we actually said "world wide web?" Remember netscape? Remember the dot-com bubble? Remember Y2K?Remember when a car dealership company said it had the cure for AIDS and sold stocks for $9 through early internet message boards until someone from the FTC commented "hey, this isn't real?"No?On this weeks episode of Fraudsters we bring you Alfred Flores and Uniprime – a con on a .com two decades ago.Special thanks to John Reed Stark, cyber-cop extraordinaire, for a wonderful and nostalgic interview.Special thanks to Kai Elwood-Dieu for his wizardry on the website for this episode (http://uniprimeinc.com/).Special thanks to Joshua Sutherland for composing music for this episode. Subscribe to SiriusXM Podcasts+ to listen to new episodes of Fraudsters ad-free. Start a free trial now on Apple Podcasts or by visiting siriusxm.com/podcastsplus. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The second installment of our two part mini-series on Anna Delvey (Sorokin). We get into Anna's apprehension, the circus of the trial, and Anna's own reflections from Rikers. Special thanks to Emily Palmer for being such a wonderful guide throughout this series. You can find Emily on all social at @emilyepalmer.Special thanks to Todd Spodek a delightful interview.Special thanks to Joshua Sutherland for music for this episode. Subscribe to SiriusXM Podcasts+ to listen to new episodes of Fraudsters ad-free. Start a free trial now on Apple Podcasts or by visiting siriusxm.com/podcastsplus. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The first installment of our two part mini-series on Anna Delvey (Sorokin). We get into Anna's adolescence and designing "Delvey," her escalating frauds in its name, and the inevitable unraveling. Special thanks to Emily Palmer for guiding us throughout this series. You can find Emily on all social at @emilyepalmer. Subscribe to SiriusXM Podcasts+ to listen to new episodes of Fraudsters ad-free. Start a free trial now on Apple Podcasts or by visiting siriusxm.com/podcastsplus. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Our final episode of the mini-series we walk you through justice finally being served in the case of Jim Bakker: How he went to prison for 25 years and came out as a reformed man who lived a quiet, secular life back in Michigan. Just kidding! He barely went to prison and wasn't humbled by it at all. On this final episode we spend more time talking about an incarcerated Jim Bakker than he spent in prison. We get into his prison hustles, his strange choice of friends, his post-release shenanigans and reflect on the series as a whole. Subscribe to SiriusXM Podcasts+ to listen to new episodes of Fraudsters ad-free. Start a free trial now on Apple Podcasts or by visiting siriusxm.com/podcastsplus. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Part 2 of our mini-series on Praise the Lord and Jim Bakker.Special thanks to Joshua Sutherland for always making amazing music for us. Subscribe to SiriusXM Podcasts+ to listen to new episodes of Fraudsters ad-free. Start a free trial now on Apple Podcasts or by visiting siriusxm.com/podcastsplus. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Part 1 of our mini-series on notorious televangelist Jim Bakker and his TV show Praise the Lord : a lesson in religion, television and of course–fraud. Subscribe to SiriusXM Podcasts+ to listen to new episodes of Fraudsters ad-free. Start a free trial now on Apple Podcasts or by visiting siriusxm.com/podcastsplus. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In part 2 of our mini-series on Jacob Wohl, we pivot to his political frauds–covering his ploys to defame Dr. Fauci, Elizabeth Warren, and even Mayor Pete. While just as ludicrous as his earlier financial crimes, his political schemes seem to lack conviction–both in the sense that he no longer seems invested in sustaining charades longer than it takes to create chaos and because he isn't held responsible for them.Special thanks to Nancy Rommelmann for a delightful interview. Subscribe to SiriusXM Podcasts+ to listen to new episodes of Fraudsters ad-free. Start a free trial now on Apple Podcasts or by visiting siriusxm.com/podcastsplus. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

This is an episode full of music and singing from our melodious voices, yay! Let’s give it a warm and cozy welcome to our latest professional Fraudster: Jacob Wohl. This is the first part of The Wohl Story, and we can’t help but wonder if this is fiction, crime or fraud: For the next episodes, you’ll be hearing about the tedious story of a young fraudster that, with less than 20 years old, already had a long fraud record history with hedge funds. We will remember Miss Cleo… but we’ll discover that fraudsters share some traits you would never imagine. So, let your imagination run wild, and discover the real reason why the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree.TIMESTAMPS(01:57) With an introductory musical special, we present Jacob Wohl: our young criminal who committed several financial misdeeds before his 20's.(09:50) What were you doing at 14?: Our young criminal was celebrated by the media. F**king Vice, man!(13:30) The apple doesn't fall far from the tree: Meet David Wohl and a dip into the business of a kid who couldn't even legally buy alcohol.(16:47) "Mr. Young Capitalism," "The Wohl of Wall Street": Jacob's road to hedge funds. 2015 was on fire!(30:06) What the f**k is a CTA? what the hell is a commodity?: we explain it to you in a nutshell.(37:28) “The dumb money is great money to have”: Take it easy! An expert breaks down Jacob's red flags and absurd numbers.(55:32) 2016 and Jacob’s story continues: The good people of Arizona are at risk but a suicide case and an undercover mission lead to Jacob's arrest. RESOURCESWant to get in touch with Seena Ghaznavi? Click here or here.Want to get in touch with Justin Williams? Click here.Justin Williams Fanpage (Facebook).Click here to invest and learn more. Special thanks to:Simon TaufiQue for composing the amazing new theme music for Fraudsters.Joshua Sutherland for composing awesome music for this episode.Kai Elwood-Dieu for developing a killer website for this episode. Subscribe to SiriusXM Podcasts+ to listen to new episodes of Fraudsters ad-free. Start a free trial now on Apple Podcasts or by visiting siriusxm.com/podcastsplus. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

This is the third and final part of the infamous Miss Cleo's case and to do that with a flourish, J. Michael Skiba, AKA. Dr. Fraud (trademark) tells us that 70% of the population is prone to being dishonest -but there are levels- and, spoiler alert, 30% of them are shitty persons; nice data, right? Find out with us if Miss Cleo is innocent and knows the real scammers out there. Also, Miami Vice, yes! the famous 80's series, is featured in this episode and it is clear to us that a fraudster will always be a fraudster. TIMESTAMPS(00:07) That the system is screwed up, justifies robbing a bank?: 70% of people believe that robbing or defrauding a bank is okay. (8:30) Dr. Fraud (trademark) tells us how big corporations normalize fraud: it is not attacked, is not prevented and is not punished.(12:13) Miss Cleo is innocent (?). Let's meet the three real fraudsters: Steve Feder, Peter Slotz and Lou Thomas.(15:22) Feder and the fraud of houses and pizza boxes: This is America! and justice is just a business.(27:33) Feder, Slotz and Thomas: The juicy business of the psychic hotlines.(32:19) Miami Vice and a psychic hotlines in the same sentence: Oh! Thank you Philip Michael Thomas!(40:30) Tutorial to make your fraud profitable: Bye, bye Miami Vice and welcome to New York City.(47:14) This is how the fraudster ends up: A fraudster will always be a fraudster. Hey! If you are looking for a sugar daddy we tell you where to find him.RESOURCESLearn more about Dr. Fraud (trademark) hereThe Philip Michael Thomas International Psychic Network 1994 commercialDo you have a story? Send us an emailSpecial thanks to Joshua Sutherland for composing music for this episode. Subscribe to SiriusXM Podcasts+ to listen to new episodes of Fraudsters ad-free. Start a free trial now on Apple Podcasts or by visiting siriusxm.com/podcastsplus. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In this second part of the Psychic Readers Network series we go deep into how the Federal Trade Commission addressed these phone frauds with an expert guest who joins the show to detail PRN’s false advertising and abusive marketing practices. We also invited a retired phone actor who wanted to be a phone psychic as a summer job in 2001. He actually wrote an article for the New York Times about it. He shares everything about the wonderful work environment and why it’s almost like being a cheap therapist. Why did people call in? What is behind the power of attraction behind charming characters like Miss Cleo? Listen and find out, we promise we won’t charge you a single penny (for the first three minutes).TIMESTAMPS(0:47) - Miss Cleo’s case recap: The right to work in the spirit-psychic world and lie to yourself ad-nauseam.(8:40) - The FTC’s verdict: PRN abusive marketing techniques and how the State manages expenses and penalties (16:03) - What was it like to be a psychic for the PRN? A retired phone psychic’s testimony of how easy it is to get in this world.(25:04) - A long time before the first call: How a day in the office for a new phone physic looks like. (32:44) - Fake voices, made-up personas, the moral consequences of making harm and how to actually make money out of this hoax.(42:17) - Why did people call in? What is behind the power of attraction behind charming characters like Miss Cleo?(49:00) - Episode conclusions: Ms. Santa’s Hotline, classic psychic tricks and final Miss Cleo clips on broke callers and legal implications.RESOURCESI Was a Hotline Psychic for Miss Cleo (read) Subscribe to SiriusXM Podcasts+ to listen to new episodes of Fraudsters ad-free. Start a free trial now on Apple Podcasts or by visiting siriusxm.com/podcastsplus. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

We're kicking off this podcast with a billion-dollar scam that only old-school kids will recall! Miss Cleo and the Psychic Readers Network’s case is so full of questions and hilarious highlights that we decided to cover it for our pilot episode. Are big-time fraudsters sociopaths or psychopaths? Did Miss Cleo take off her false identity veil at some point? We explain how her phone scams worked and why her Jamaican accent and identity were totally fake. We also take a look at Miss Cleo’s last interview on The Gabby Bendel Show and why she couldn’t use her classic alias anymore.TIMESTAMPS(0:47) - An epic introduction to the show: Is fraud essentially a human problem? Is this podcast going to help at all? (4:30) - Get to know our very first featured fraudster! Are you old enough to know who Miss Cleo is? If not, here’s her complete bio.(9:36) - ‘Keep these people on the line for as long as possible': This is how the Psychic Readers Network scam worked.(15:03) - Discussing what might be the most insidious thing about this billion dollar hoax and if real psychics really exist.(23:14) - Where did Miss Cleo's motivations arised? Life before phone scamming, nonprofits and acting.(30:50) - Psychic readers, assemble! How Miss Cleo joined the Psychic Readers Network in Florida.(35:54) - On Miss Cleo’s last interview on The Gabby Bendel Show and why she couldn’t use her classic alias anymore.(38:51) - Going over Miss Cleo’s book Keepin' It Real - A Practical Guide for Spiritual Living, her political comments and fake Jamaican roots. (47:50) - How Miss Cleo mastered the art of taking advantage of systematic vulnerabilities to sell stuff.(52:58) - Taking a look at Comedy Central’s branded content with Miss Cleo for a cosmetic company.(58:07) - The alternate reality idea that some people can create around them, Miss Cleo’s last attempt to profit and this episode’s conclusions.RESOURCESMiss Cleo’s last interview on The Gabby Bendel Show (video) Subscribe to SiriusXM Podcasts+ to listen to new episodes of Fraudsters ad-free. Start a free trial now on Apple Podcasts or by visiting siriusxm.com/podcastsplus. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.