Happy New Year Con-gregation! My New Years Resolution is keep telling y'all about all the biggest scams honey! This week we're chilling with the hilarious and talented Teresa Lee (I Think She Likes You, Cracked) and diving into the boy band abuser, Lou Jay Pearlman!
This episode is brought to you by Dashlane.
Research by Sharilyn Vera
Sources:
https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/nsync-lou-pearlman-nightline-927166/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CcCRs0Ic3FI&vl=en
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lou_Pearlman
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.
Jamie Loftus (Sixteenth Minute of Fame) helps tell Laci's Version of the Taylor Swift New Orleans Holiday House fan meetup that went from daydream to nightmare when superfan Rebecca Fox couldn't deliver on her many promises for the event. Plus, a listener warns us of a poppin' new scam on the streets where unsolicited checks are being sent to people to trick them into signing up for predatory loans. Stay schemin' Con-gregation!
Buy 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
Jamie Loftus: @jamiechristsuperstar
Research by Kate Doyle.
SOURCES:
https://people.com/woman-books-191-hotel-rooms-taylor-swift-new-orleans-eras-tour-exclusive-8731935
https://www.whiskeyriff.com/2024/11/01/taylor-swift-holiday-house-new-orleans/
https://www.fox8live.com/2024/11/01/metairie-woman-who-booked-191-hotel-rooms-retains-lawyer-swifties-suggest-they-were-scammed/
https://betches.com/new-orleans-holiday-house-drama-rebecca-fox/
https://kpel965.com/new-orleans-taylor-swift-holiday-house-hotel-block-complaints-allegations/
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.
Tracy Clayton joins the Con-gregation to talk about Frank Tassone—the superintendent with a 4.0 average in fraud! Frank stole $11.2 million from a Long Island school district and was later portrayed by Hugh Jackman in the HBO movie Bad Education. Plus, we cover a good old-fashioned pyramid scheme from Tracy and Laci’s favorite white woman: Tyra Banks! Stay schemin'! (Originally Released 06/01/2020)
Laci’s book is out now! Order “Scam Goddess: Lessons from a Life of Cons, Grifts and Schemes" here:
https://www.hachettebookgroup.com/titles/laci-mosley/scam-goddess/9780762484652/?lens=running-press
Follow on Instagram:
Scam Goddess Pod: @scamgoddesspod
Laci Mosley: @divalaci
Tracy Clayton: @brokeymcpoverty
Research by Sharilyn Vera
SOURCES:
https://www.rollingstone.com/culture/culture-features/bad-education-hbo-true-story-scandal-fact-check-992263/
https://www.townandcountrymag.com/leisure/arts-and-culture/a32291684/bad-education-hbo-true-story-frank-tassone-pamela-gluckin/
https://www.esquire.com/entertainment/movies/a32268352/bad-education-hbo-true-story-frank-tassone-now/
https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2019/09/hugh-jackman-movie-bad-education-scandal
https://www.thecut.com/2016/06/tyra-banks-beautytainer.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.
Conan O'Brien, the man with "con" in his name, helps Laci discuss stock market manipulator Jordan Belfort who was famously portrayed by Leonardo DiCaprio in the Wolf of Wall Street. Along the way, Laci tries to teach Conan how to sound less like a cop (hint: it doesn’t work). Stay schemin' con-gregation! (Originally Released 10/26/2020)
Buy 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
Conan O'Brien: @teamcoco
Research by Sharilyn Vera.
SOURCES:
https://www.businessinsider.com/revisiting-jordan-belfort-the-wolf-of-wall-street-2010-3#who-is-jordan-belfort-1
https://www.investopedia.com/investing/who-is-jordan-belfort/
https://wealthlab.co/pump-and-dump-explained
https://www.investopedia.com/ask/answers/05/061205.asp
https://www.crimemuseum.org/crime-library/white-collar-crime/jordan-belfort/
https://www.historyvshollywood.com/reelfaces/the-wolf-of-wall-street.php
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.
Comedian Nicole Parker (Mad TV, The Neighborhood Listen) is here to discuss the inspiration behind the Kristen Bell movie Queenpins: a group of housewives who ran a multi-million dollar fraudulent coupon operation. Plus, somebody’s scamming Nickelback fans. Stay schemin' con-gregation! (Originally Released 08/30/2021)
Laci’s book is out now! Order “Scam Goddess: Lessons from a Life of Cons, Grifts and Schemes" here:
https://www.hachettebookgroup.com/titles/laci-mosley/scam-goddess/9780762484652/?lens=running-press
Follow on Instagram:
Scam Goddess Pod: @scamgoddesspod
Laci Mosley: @divalaci
Nicole Parker: @nfparkergirl
Research by Kaelyn Brandt
SOURCES:
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-9789433/Arizona-women-busted-25-MILLION-counterfeit-coupons-inspired-new-movie-Kristen-Bell.html
https://www.businessinsider.com/massive-counterfeit-coupon-ring-busted-in-arizona-2012-7
https://couponsinthenews.com/2013/03/12/counterfeit-coupon-ringleader-pleads-guilty/
https://jillcataldo.com/woman_bought_600_counterfeit_coupons/
CBS TV’s “Pink Collar Crimes”, 2018, Season 1 Episode 7, “The Queen of Coupons”
https://nypost.com/2021/05/07/nickelback-fans-are-now-getting-catfished/
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.
Comedian/writer Chelsea Devantez (Girls5Eva) returns to help break down the alleged fraud committed by Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas—from accepting a slew of undisclosed gifts & vacations from major conservative donors, to tax fraud related to an RV loan, to his wife Ginni's various unethical political involvements. Plus, Chelsea tells us how she recently got scammed by... Katherine Heigl?? Stay schemin' Con-gregation!
Buy 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
Buy Chelsea's book "I Shouldn't Be Telling You This (But I'm Going To Anyway)":
https://www.harpercollins.com/pages/chelseadevantez
Follow on Instagram:
Scam Goddess Pod: @scamgoddesspod
Laci Mosley: @divalaci
Chelsea Devantez: @chelseadevantez
Research by Kaelyn Brandt.
SOURCES:
https://www.washingtonpost.com/investigations/2023/11/09/clarence-thomas-ginni-harlan-crow-gifts/
https://www.washingtonpost.com/investigations/2023/04/16/clarence-thomas-ginger-financial-disclosure/
https://www.washingtonpost.com/style/2024/02/19/john-oliver-clarence-thomas-supreme-court-offer/
https://www.nytimes.com/2023/08/05/us/clarence-thomas-rv-anthony-welters.html
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2023/oct/25/clarence-thomas-anthony-welters-luxury-rv-loan-forgiven
https://www.newsweek.com/exclusive-republican-hits-clarence-thomas-lawsuit-over-his-taxes-1866488
https://www.vanityfair.com/news/2023/07/harlan-crow-yacht-taxes
https://newrepublic.com/post/182635/clarence-thomas-son-mark-martin-jail-relationship
https://www.forbes.com/sites/alisondurkee/2024/09/04/clarence-thomas-here-are-all-the-ethics-scandals-involving-the-supreme-court-justice-amid-new-ginni-thomas-report/
https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=1029312245144653
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.
Miles Gray (The Daily Zeitgeist) joins the Con-gregation to break down the greatest schemer in modern love, conman Simon Leviev who used Tinder to connect with women and manipulate them into supporting his lavish lifestyle. We swipe right! (Originally Released 06/15/2020)
Laci’s book is out now! Order “Scam Goddess: Lessons from a Life of Cons, Grifts and Schemes" here:
https://www.hachettebookgroup.com/titles/laci-mosley/scam-goddess/9780762484652/?lens=running-press
Follow on Instagram:
Scam Goddess Pod: @scamgoddesspod
Laci Mosley: @divalaci
Miles Gray: @milesofgray
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.
In the first part of our 5-year Scamaversary countdown we covered Shaun King, Anna Delvey, George Santos, Colton Harris Moore, & Caroline Calloway. In this thrilling conclusion, all-star guest Oscar Montoya helps us rank #5 through #1 on our list. Perhaps you'll see names like Elizabeth Holmes, Billy McFarland, Bernie Madoff, and Hilaria Baldwin... but you'll have to tune in to see who schemed their way to #1!
Buy 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
Oscar Montoya: @ozzymo
Research by Kaelyn Brandt.
SOURCES:
https://www.billboard.com/pro/fyre-fest-billy-mcfarland-lawsuit-prisoner-investor-jonathan-taylor/
https://www.nbcnews.com/tech/internet/fyre-festival-fraudster-launching-latest-thing-looks-party-island-rcna62564
https://www.vice.com/en/article/that-photo-of-the-fyre-festival-sandwich-is-fake/
https://www.vice.com/en/article/fyre-festivals-25-year-old-organizer-this-is-the-worst-day-of-my-life-2/
https://people.com/where-is-elizabeth-holmes-now-8641352
https://people.com/jen-shah-elizabeth-holmes-friends-prison-rep-says-7968359
https://abcnews.go.com/US/elizabeth-holmes-trial-jury-unable-unanimous-verdict-counts/story?id=82055043
https://www.cnn.com/2024/05/07/tech/elizabeth-holmes-prison-release-date/index.html
https://lamag.com/crimeinla/wine-forger-sour-grapes-rudy-kurniawan-strikes-back
https://www.thedrinksbusiness.com/2023/11/convicted-wine-fraudster-rudy-kurniawan-parties-2023/
https://www.nytimes.com/2021/04/14/business/bernie-madoff-dead.html
https://www.britannica.com/biography/Bernie-Madoff
https://nypost.com/2009/08/09/life-slimes-of-bernie-the-born-hustler/
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.
Jojo T. Gibbs (Past Lives, BET's Twenties) sits down with Laci to unpack the Varsity Blues college admissions scandal that involved actors Felicity Huffman and Lori Loughlin. These parents spent THAT much money on their dumb kids? Damn, Felicity Huffman really puts the "Desperate" in Desperate Housewives. Stay schemin’ Con-gregation! (Originally Released 05/11/2020)
Laci’s book is out now! Order “Scam Goddess: Lessons from a Life of Cons, Grifts and Schemes" here:
https://www.hachettebookgroup.com/titles/laci-mosley/scam-goddess/9780762484652/?lens=running-press
Follow on Instagram:
Scam Goddess Pod: @scamgoddesspod
Laci Mosley: @divalaci
Jojo Gibbs: @jojotgibbs
Research by Sharilyn Vera
SOURCES:
https://www.nba.com/warriors/news/fraud-alert-playoffs-20190814
https://www.cnn.com/2019/03/13/us/cooperating-witnesses-college-admissions-scheme/index.html
https://www.wsj.com/articles/the-tip-the-yale-coach-and-the-wire-how-the-college-admissions-scam-unraveled-11552524237
https://www.cnn.com/2019/09/13/us/felicity-huffman-sentencing/index.html
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2019-07-23/ex-pimco-chief-hints-at-college-scam-defense-gifts-not-bribes
https://www.vox.com/2019/3/12/18262003/bill-mcglashan-college-admissions-scandal-tpg-stanford-usc-yale
https://deadspin.com/brilliant-but-also-dumb-warriors-fan-says-he-had-a-tric-1836604329
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.
Happy 5-year Scamaversary Con-gregation! To celebrate this momentous occasion, all-star guest and resident Shaun King expert Ashley Ray returns to help us count down #10 through #6 on our list of the podcast's Top 10 Scammers of All Time. We'll be providing juicy updates to every scammer's story since we first covered them on the podcast while also recapping what makes them worthy of the Scam Goddess Hall of Fame. Who will scheme, con, and cheat their way to the #1 spot?? Tune in to find out!
Buy 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
Ashley Ray: @theashleyray
Research by Kaelyn Brandt.
SOURCES:
https://www.michigandaily.com/arts/b-side/a-comprehensive-history-of-caroline-calloway/
https://www.newyorker.com/books/under-review/the-scammer-and-the-scammed
https://www.booksquadgoals.com/blog/is-caroline-calloway-a-scammer
https://www.vice.com/en/article/caroline-calloway-snake-oil-scam-leaving-new-york/
https://twitter.com/bitch_rights/status/1138277895380525061?lang=en
https://www.reddit.com/r/SmolBeanSnark/comments/14ufe5r/the_true_story_of_the_creativity_workshops/
https://www.wmagazine.com/story/caroline-calloway-creativity-workshop
https://www.pajiba.com/celebrities_are_better_than_you/the-fathomless-mediocrity-of-caroline-calloway.php
https://www.curbed.com/2022/03/caroline-calloway-moves-out-of-her-apartment.html
https://www.nylon.com/entertainment/caroline-calloway-advice-book-profile
https://hhsclarionnews.com/feature-stories/2024/05/22/how-a-16-year-old-evaded-the-fbi-for-2-years/
https://www.nytimes.com/2011/12/17/us/colton-harris-moore-the-barefoot-bandit-is-sentenced-for-stealing-from-neighbors.html
https://www.historylink.org/File/22562
https://apnews.com/article/george-santos-plea-court-new-york-90741d068fd94090419fc0fd79be30cc
https://apnews.com/article/george-santos-credit-card-fraud-f723e69a777b02a2e6b87595f45c21ce
https://nymag.com/intelligencer/article/guide-george-santos-lies.html
https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/congress/former-rep-george-santos-pleads-guilty-fraud-charges-rcna129255
https://www.reuters.com/world/us/embattled-us-rep-santos-was-drag-queen-brazil-pageants-say-associates-2023-01-19/
https://www.nbcnews.com/nbc-out/out-politics-and-policy/george-santos-says-will-revive-drag-queen-persona-cameo-rcna149867
https://people.com/anna-delvey-walks-runway-new-york-fashion-week-exclusive-details-8711427
https://www.elle.com/culture/a62138721/anna-delvey-interview-nyfw-crime-of-fashion/
https://www.nytimes.com/2023/09/12/style/anna-delvey-nyfw-fashion-show.html
https://www.townandcountrymag.com/leisure/arts-and-culture/a38962970/where-is-anna-delvey-today/
https://pagesix.com/2023/01/27/anna-delveys-birthday-afterparty-required-signed-ndas-ssns/
https://www.threads.net/@feministajones/post/C4alEprut3W?hl=en
https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/why-everyone-talking-about-shaun-king
https://www.startribune.com/cair-mn-removes-shaun-king-as-event-keynote-speaker-following-backlash/600353186
https://www.newarab.com/news/did-shaun-king-convert-islam#
https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/activist-shaun-king-says-meta-banned-instagram-palestinian-stance-rcna131244
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.
Before the new Peacock docuseries "Anatomy of Lies", Priscilla Davies (Euphoria) joined the Con-gregation to discuss Elisabeth Finch, the former TV writer who lied about her health status and used other people’s trauma to write stories for Grey’s Anatomy. Plus, a retired Atlanta Police Sergeant says that a con man used his business to defraud a DeKalb County church out of tens of thousands of dollars. Stay Schemin’! (Originally Released 07/04/2022)
Laci’s book is out now! Order “Scam Goddess: Lessons from a Life of Cons, Grifts and Schemes" here:
https://www.hachettebookgroup.com/titles/laci-mosley/scam-goddess/9780762484652/?lens=running-press
Follow on Instagram:
Scam Goddess Pod: @scamgoddesspod
Laci Mosley: @divalaci
Priscilla Davies: @pristhegoddess
Research by Kaelyn Brandt
SOURCES:
https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2022/05/greys-anatomy-elisabeth-finch-truth-lies
https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2022/05/greys-anatomy-elisabeth-finch-jennifer-beyer
https://www.wsbtv.com/news/local/dekalb-county/retired-officer-fighting-clear-his-name-after-fraudster-took-out-loans-under-his-companys-name/5VRBZRQRU5CFRCKJMOBWPEHMVE/
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.
Laci Mosley is a Black American actor, comedian, and podcaster. She performs improv comedy at UCB Los Angeles and is a series regular in Season 2 of HBO's "A Black Lady Sketch Show," and in the ShowMax comedy series "Florida Girls." She is also a cast member in Paramount+'s "iCarly" reboot and a contributor on ABC's "The Con."
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