What’s poppin’ Con-gregation? Run the World actress Bresha Webb joins the show to discuss Jan Lewandowski, a polka star during the 80’s and 90’s who ran a Ponzi scheme robbing over 400 people of millions of dollars. Plus, one scammer made thousands of dollars off of Frank Ocean fans who bought fake songs generated by AI. Stay Schemin’ !   Scam Goddess Live @ the Elysian Theatre on Thursday, June 22, 2023 in Los Angeles. Get your tickets here: https://www.elysiantheater.com/shows/scamgoddess   Research by Kaelyn Brandt   SOURCES https://www.janl ..read more

What’s poppin’ Con-gregation? Brittani Nichols, producer and writer on Abbott Elementary joins us to discuss the fraud surrounding the WGA writers strike. Also, we discuss how a group of creators scammed their way into shooting a movie by staging a fake engagement. Plus, a man and woman in the U.K. defrauded 80 victims, mostly gay men, they met on dating apps over a 16-year period. Stay Schemin’!   Scam Goddess Live @ the Elysian Theater on Thursday, June 22, 2023 in Los Angeles. Get your tickets go to: https://www.elysiantheater.com/shows/scamgoddess   Research b ..read more

What’s poppin’ Con-gregation? Brittani Nichols, producer and writer on Abbott Elementary joins us to discuss the fraud surrounding the WGA writers strike. Also, we discuss how a group of creators scammed their way into shooting a movie by staging a fake engagement. Plus, a man and woman in the U.K. defrauded 80 victims, mostly gay men, they met on dating apps over a 16-year period. Stay Schemin’!   Scam Goddess Live @ the Elysian Theatre on Thursday, June 22, 2023 in Los Angeles. Get your tickets go to: https://www.elysiantheater.com/shows/scamgoddess   Research b ..read more

Con-gregation! In a special What’s Hot in Fraud, comedian Mano Agapion returns to discuss our favorite CON-gressman George Santos being indicted. Also, Laci and Mano discuss Garrison Kenneth Courtney, a former government official who pretended to be a spy and scammed nearly $4.5 million. Plus, conservative media figurehead Alex Jones found himself the victim of an AI prank call. Stay Schemin’!    Scam Goddess Live @ the Elysian Theatre on Thursday, June 22, 2023 in Los Angeles. Get your tickets HERE. Research by Kaelyn Brandt SOURCES https://gizmodo.com ..read more

What’s Poppin’ Con-gregation? This week, comedians Michelle Buteau and Jordan Carlos join us to discuss Victor Lustig, a con artist of the 1920s who's notorious for selling the Eiffel Tower, twice. Plus, a German photographer has rejected an award from the Sony World Photography Awards after winning with an AI-generated “photograph.” Stay Schemin’! Research by Kaelyn Brandt    SOURCES: https://www.cnn.com/style/article/ai-photo-win-sony-scli-intl/index.html https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/the-smoothest-con-man-that-ever-lived-29861908/ https://www.smithsonianmag.com/hist ..read more

What’s Poppin’ Con-gregation? This week, comedians Michelle Buteau and Jordan Carlos join us to discuss Victor Lustig, a con artist of the 1920’s whose notorious for selling the Eiffel Tower, twice. Plus, a German photographer has rejected an award from the Sony World Photography Awards after winning with an AI-generated “photograph.” Stay Schemin’! Research by Kaelyn Brandt    SOURCES: https://www.cnn.com/style/article/ai-photo-win-sony-scli-intl/index.html https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/the-smoothest-con-man-that-ever-lived-29861908/ https://www.smithsonianmag.com/his ..read more

We back at it, Con-gregation! This is Scam Goddess, the #1 pod dedicated to all things fraud! This week Laci welcomes comedy’s #1 sleepy boy Andrew Ti (Mix-ish, Yo, Is This Racist?) to cover one of Silicon Valley’s finest, Elizabeth Holmes, the CEO of the now defunct Theranos. Research Assistant: Sharilyn Vera Sources: https://www.businessinsider.com/theranos-founder-ceo-elizabeth-holmes-life-story-bio-2018-4#theranoss-business-model-was-based-around-the-idea-that-it-could-run-blood-tests-using-proprietary-technology-that-required-only-a-finger-pinprick-and-a-small-amount-of-blood-holmes-sai ..read more

What’s Poppin’ Con-gregration? This week, Naomi Ekperigin & Andy Beckerman join us to discuss the film Landscape of Lies. Filmmaker Paul Knight was approached to do to the project not knowing it was created for fraud. Plus, fashion influencers have been accused of embezzlement and failure to pay suppliers and employees. Stay Schemin’!    Research by Kaelyn Brandt  https://www.irishtimes.com/culture/film/the-irish-actor-the-iraqi-producer-and-the-gangster-film-scam-1.2506809 https://www.theguardian.com/film/2013/aug/24/landscape-lies-blockbuster-tax-scam https://www.to ..read more

What’s poppin’s con-gregation? This week, actor and comedian Carl Tart joins the show to discuss Artur Samarin, an immigrant college student who pretended to be a teenager and attended high school in hopes of achieving his NASA dreams. Plus, a 26-year-old has been sentenced to 14 years in prison after stealing $1.2 million from at least 50 people in an elaborate fraud scheme. Stay Schemin'! Research by Kaelyn Brandt  https://news.yahoo.com/texas-grifter-j-nicholas-bryant-041102482.html https://www.pennlive.com/news/2018/05/artur_samarin_asher_potts_harr.html https://www.gq.com/story/the ..read more

What’s poppin’ con-gregation? This week Vanessa Bayer and Jonah Bayer join the show to discuss Lady Bandit Pearl Hart, one of the wildest bandits in the Wild West. Plus, an investor attempted to purchase Manhattan’s iconic Flatiron Building for $190 million. Stay Schemin’!  Research by Kaelyn Brandt  https://therealdeal.com/new-york/2023/03/24/meet-the-mysterious-buyer-of-the-flatiron-building/ https://time.com/4575757/pearl-hart-stagecoach-robber/ https://nypost.com/2021/10/30/the-wild-life-and-death-of-old-west-feminist-bandit-pearl-hart/ https://lithub.com/the-true-story-of ..read more