Scams & Cons
93 episodes - English - Latest episode: 3 days ago - ★★★★ - 45 ratingsScammers don't steal your money, they create a world where it makes perfect sense to hand your cash over to them. Three-card-monte, the longest running show on Broadway, seems easy. You're watching the tosser and you always see the queen. What you don't see is a group of shills working you into the gate where you'll lose everything you have.
Sometimes a large sum of money is accidentally sent to you and the sender asks for the additional cash to be sent back. In the meantime, they empty your bank account.
We'll tell you all about the scams, how they work and why people fall for them. Don't become a sucker. Listen in.
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Episodes
Season Four begins in two weeks!
January 12, 2023 07:00 - 3 minutesWe're making a pivot in Season 4. Having run you though all of the scams run on individuals, we're taking a look at con jobs run on thousands or millions of people.Our teaser tells you what you need to know. The new season begins in just two weeks. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Introducing Scamapalooza!
January 05, 2023 07:00 - 41 minutesIt's my second favorite scam podcast. Visit Scamapalooza's website for more episodes.Subscribe wherever you get your podcasts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
A fan favorite and the end of season 3
December 01, 2022 07:00 - 14 minutesThe holidays are upon us and with them, the end of Season 3. We'll be back in January with Season 4.Expect some changes for Season 4. We'll be focusing on scams run against the public. Things like the bribery of public officials, the political machine of Tom Pendergast in Kansas City and an Alabama law that allowed sheriffs to steal funds intended for feeding inmates to fund vacation homes and more. In one case, two sheriffs split the $1,000 cost for a trailer of corn dogs and fed them to pri...
Twins: They may look alike, but they don't work as a team
November 17, 2022 07:00 - 14 minutesIt's a mystery writing trope: Twins commit a crime, but can't be punished because they look alike. You should expect better than that from Scams & Cons and we're here to deliver.In this episode, we have stories of twins who ran their own scams, usually in different areas of the country and the fact that they were a twin had nothing to do with the scams they ran. In most cases, they ended up running different scams entirely.Is it nature or nurture? We'll tell the stories, you figure that one o...
Luxury scams: Luxury can't be stolen -- it's a state of mind
November 03, 2022 06:00 - 19 minutesWhat time is it? 4:23? Thanks.You could have gotten the answer from your phone, a sign in front of a bank or dozens of other sources. So, why spend $150,000 for a Rolex to give you the same information.Luxuries are perceptions and scammers use those perceptions to make you think you're getting a very good deal on something that can perform the same function for far fewer dollars. Scammers have exploited those dreams for centuries, but now marketers have refined those techniques to scam us in ...
The Mustard: Pockets cleaned at no extra charge
October 20, 2022 06:00 - 14 minutesGolly, I'm sorry I spilled that mustard on your jacket, please let me help you clean it off. Mistakes happen, but this was no mistake. You've just been distracted long enough for someone to lift your wallet or steal your briefcase or luggage. Unfortunately, by the time you realize that, that helpful lady has vanished.This really old scam is called The Mustard this form of it is fading into history. The Mustard is now played differently in a form that safer for the scammers and far more danger...
We caught him because we could: Frank Abagnale Jr. still conning us
October 06, 2022 06:00 - 33 minutesRemember the movie "Catch Me If You Can?" It was based on the life of Frank Abagnale Jr. Abagnale is still conning us -- and making good money doing it. Like any good con artist, the trick is in misdirection. He doesn't want us to see prison files that show he was in jail during much of the time he outlined his escapades. He doesn't talk about stealing expensive camera equipment from a summer camp. He doesn't talk about pretending to be a doctor at Arizona State University performing examinat...
Cults: I know what's best for you. Give me your money and abandon your family. You'll be glad you did.
September 22, 2022 06:00 - 18 minutesIn Greek mythology, The Sirens were beautiful women with the upper bodies of humans and the lower bodies of birds whose bewitching songs lured sailors to their doom. Their singing lured sailors would try bringing their ships close to shore where they would either crash their ships or sailors would jump overboard and drown.Today's sirens are cult leaders, their methods draw you in, convince you they can ease your pain and making you part of their family, all along siphoning off your money and ...
Blackmail: I know a guy who knows a guy. Know what I mean?
September 08, 2022 06:00 - 21 minutesScammers and con artists generally trick suckers into handing their money over willingly. Blackmail is intended to have you believe you have no choice but to pay up, even though you know they'll be back for more.Experts nearly universally believe that blackmailers should not be paid and they rarely come through on their threats. But at the time, you're scared and afraid to turn to anyone for help because you must confess what it is that the blackmailer is threatening you with.In this episode,...
A quick look at voter registration fraud
August 25, 2022 06:00 - 10 minutesScams & Cons will be back in two weeks, but before we return, it seemed timely to talk about voter registration fraud.Registration fraud is different from voter fraud in that it seeks to change documentation. Voter fraud is when someone who is ineligible attempts to cast a ballot.We're apolitical here, but we do want to make sure that everyone who is eligible to vote, gets to vote. Listen in a find out how to protect your rights.Our regular Scams & Cons episodes return September 9 for our thi...
Awww... I've missed you guys
August 11, 2022 06:00 - 16 minutesThe new season of Scams & Cons begins Sept. 8 with an episode about Blackmail, but in the meantime, we thought we'd share one of our most popular episodes -- Parking Lot Scams.Parking Lot ScamsSome would say parking lots themselves are scams: $20 for two hours. Really?!!! They are also places where, for at least a short time, you’re trapped. When backing out of your parking space, someone could rap on your window, and ask for money to buy food or for a bus ticket to get home. There is no esca...
Summer break! We'll be back in the fall!
July 14, 2022 06:00 - 1 minuteSummer is for kicking back on the porch with some cheap wine and hot wings -- that is unless you live here in the Southeast where temps of 90+ have been common for about three weeks now.Instead, we'll be kickin' back here at the ranch reflecting on the ending of Scams & Cons' second season and the upcoming Season 3 coming this fall. We're already well at work with stories about blackmail, cults and the Mustard Con.We'll be in touch when we get ready start Season 3, so, choose a temperature-ap...
Music scams: Both musicians and listeners can be off-key
June 30, 2022 06:00 - 22 minutesThe hills are alive with the sound of scammers Singing lies and deceits that are decades old. Their songs fill my heart with hopes of stardom, But they just steal my songs and leave me broke. Musicians that travel to Nashville, Los Angeles, New York, Austin and other music centers are looking for a break and scammers step right up to boost their egos and brag about the now-famous who became stars only after meeting them. It’s quite a temptation and hopefuls rarely do the due diligence to find...
Sweepstakes scams: You may already be a loser!
June 16, 2022 06:00 - 18 minutesYou open a letter that tells you that you've won a huge about of money in a sweepstakes you don't remember entering. Just send some money to cover taxes and fees and those riches will be yours.You're a winner, but only if you toss that piece of mail in the trash. Sweepstakes scams come in many shapes and forms and we all want to believe that fortune has smiled upon us, but it likely hasn't. Particularly if that letter is postmarked standard presort -- a class used primarily for bulk delivery...
Credentials scams: Not worth the paper it's written on
June 02, 2022 11:00 - 18 minutesIf an FBI agent appeared at your door, flashed a badge and said she had a few questions for you, would you comply? Would you ask to see the badge again. Would you know what an actual badge should look like?Those badges, diplomas on the wall and other credentials can be easily faked. We'll tell you how and what you can do to protect yourself. I'm qualified to do it. I have a PhD in Philosophy from Springfield University. It says so on the diploma that hangs on my wall. Learn more about your a...
Coupon scams
May 19, 2022 06:00 - 16 minutesThose little slips of paper -- coupons -- are real money and someone has to pay for the discount you just received. It could be the store, the manufacturer or someone else. You may have paid for it before you left the house.The world of coupons is complicated and there are lots of ways scammers can creep in. The average person is the most common way. It happens when we buy coupons online or try to print our own.Then there is the coupon processing system that provides another entry point.We'll...
Long cons: Patience is the reward
May 05, 2022 06:00 - 18 minutesThree-card-monte can take all your money in fewer than eight minutes. Long cons can take days, weeks, months or years -- just ask Bernie Madoff.The con artists generally have to put up significant amounts of money to pull it off. They usually enlist others and must gain use of offices and facilities.On top of that, they have to think on their feet because many things can happen over time. You've got to be good to run a long con and in one case we'll tell you about, the sucker took the bait, ...
Sex scams
April 21, 2022 06:00 - 16 minutesDon't you just hate it when the new $5,000 sex doll you ordered turns out to be a cheap knock-off? Or that super-fun-pack of condoms you bought is counterfeit?Men thinking with the wrong head are mostly the victims of these crimes, but their variety may surprise you. Like that help-wanted ad you saw for a sex toy tester. I don't want to spoil this one -- you just have to listen.Vice article about online adult games Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Art scams -- the play's the thing!
April 07, 2022 06:00 - 21 minutesArt scams are like no other. They are like a theatrical play with scammers and art forgers producing, writing and directing the show. Even the suckers are part of the script, anxious to play their roles, even when they suspect there may be an unhappy ending for them.The majority of the rules that apply to most scams, don't apply here. Some people get involved for fame, some for ego and others for fortune. Those that are in it for fame or ego, usually don't get a cut of the fortune, and they a...
Unbelievable cons
March 24, 2022 06:00 - 14 minutesMost cons are well planned. After all, the con artists don't want to go to jail.But sometimes, things come together in such a way that the scams have to be pulled off quickly while the con artists make things up on the spot.Today we'll tell you the story of three scams that were run only once. OK, there's a fourth one, but you'll know it when you hear it. Listen closely.The Kitchen Table Historian Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
The Pigeon Drop: No dry cleaner required. Scammers will clean you for free.
March 10, 2022 07:00 - 14 minutesRecently -- and I kid you not -- I found a $100 bill as I got into my car after buying groceries. It was on the ground beside my door, folded in thirds. I immediately thought someone was setting me up for a Pigeon Drop, but no one approached and no other people were around, so I put the bill in my pocket.It took weeks before I used that money. Finding $100 is just too rare a thing. I wondered if it was counterfeit. I eventually went to a bank, they looked the bill and marked it. It was real.T...
Pet scams: Karma's a bitch
February 24, 2022 07:00 - 16 minutesThe idea of unconditional love is unknown to scammers, unless you're talking about a sucker's money. There's never a trick they aren't willing to perform for a treat -- except being told to "stay."Doggone it, we should have seen it coming, but there's more involved than companionship. Our emotions get wrapped up and that makes us perfect suckers.Listen in and we'll tell you how to protect yourself.Colin Butcher - Pet Detective Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Valentine's Scams: I love you, but I love your money more.
February 10, 2022 07:00 - 13 minutesFalling in love is a risk, but on Valentine's Day, we're all suckers. We're sharing our love by telling what to look out for.A scammer's poemWords of love from my keyboard make your heart take flight, So don’t mistake my plea for money as a reason for fright. My needs are genuine and my motives are clear, So please wire your money so I can disappear. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
We're back Feb. 10, but first, a warning about QR codes
January 27, 2022 07:00 - 9 minutesSeason Two of Scams & Cons begins Feb. 10 with an episode on Valentine's Scams. It will be good to see you again, but don't feel as if you need to send flowers.While we were putting that episode together, something caught our eye -- QR code scams. It requires no human interaction and there are only a few ways you can see it coming, so we decided to do this mini-episode telling you all about it.XOXO Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Scams & Cons is back in February, but first ...
January 06, 2022 07:00 - 8 minutesScams & Cons will be back with new episodes in February, but until then, we thought we’d share some information about the man pictured in the corner of our logo – Victor Lustig. Lustig conned Al Capone and sold the Eiffel Tower twice. That's how he earned his corner seat. Other con artists have sold public monuments, so to tide you over until the new season, we’re sharing their stories. Buy Me A Coffee Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
As Season 1 ends, it's beach time!!! Season 2 begins in February.
December 02, 2021 07:00 - 3 minutesI have sand between my toes, a perfectly positioned chaise lounge and plenty of suntan lotion. It's a welcome break to mark the end of Season 1.Fear not! I've already begun work on Season 2 with stories about ... well, listen in to this 3-minute episode where you can join me on the beach and I'll tell you all about it.Until next year, be happy, healthy and watch out for scammers and con artists.And stay safe.P.S. I need to ask a favor and it has nothing to do with your credit card. I don't ...
Tools of the con artist's trade
November 18, 2021 07:00 - 14 minutesCarpenters need hammers and saws. Cooks need pots and pans. Con artists need a good story to tell and a mark to believe it. In this episode, you’ll learn about the basic skills a con artist needs to succeed. Strap your tool holster on for this apprentice class on how to set up and execute a successful con. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
House stealing: No good deed is scam-proof
November 04, 2021 06:00 - 17 minutesDon’t you just hate it when you come home from vacation to find that some scammer now owns your home? Or when con artists move in, and the law allows them to stay while you go through a long court battle to have them evicted? House stealing is a real thing and it is frighteningly easy to do and once you learn how the scam is run, you’ll never want to leave home again. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Blinded by scam science
October 21, 2021 06:00 - 18 minutesScience explains life's mysteries using procedures intended to weed out false results and outright lies. That process doesn't always work. Don't worry, Scams & Cons is here to help. We'll tell you how fake science happens, the people who flush it out, why DNA evidence isn't that reliable and how Charlie Hatfield (maybe) made it rain. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
The grave undertakings of con artists
October 07, 2021 05:00 - 14 minutesWhen tragedy strikes, you’re vulnerable and that makes you a prime target for con artists. Death is a time when we’re most vulnerable. Scammers sweep in to sell family history books, offers to bring your loved one back to life through cryogenics, and unneeded and expensive caskets that are destined for incineration. Even before death, scammers may sell you a pre-need policy, then disappear with your money, leaving your insurance worthless. In this episode about death scams, you’ll learn abo...
Parking lot scams: Why you give money to strangers even when you know you're being conned
September 23, 2021 06:00 - 18 minutesSome would say parking lots themselves are scams: $20 for two hours. Really?!!! They are also places where, for at least a short time, you’re trapped. When backing out of your parking space, someone could rap on your window, and ask for money to buy food or for a bus ticket to get home. There is no escape and you must deal with the situation somehow. There are many more scams that depend upon confronting you in vulnerable moment. In this episode, you’ll learn what they are and how con artists...
Scams vs Hoaxes
September 09, 2021 06:00 - 17 minutesWhen the Trojans rolled the horse into their city, they thought they were claiming the spoils of war. Instead, it was a hoax that eventually allowed the Greeks to sneak in and destroy their city. So, is a hoax a scam, or is it the other way around? Fortunately, Ian Keable stops by to sort it for us as we talk about the differences. His new book, The Century of Deception: The Birth of the Hoax in Eighteenth Century England, includes tales about Ben Franklin and a woman who gave birth to rabbit...
Lottery scams
August 26, 2021 06:00 - 15 minutesAdmit it, you’ve played the game that asks “What would you do if you won a lottery?” The first step is to make sure you actually won a lottery. Lottery scams abound. Some trick people into sending cash to cover a few fees and taxes before the winnings can be sent to them. Others approach actual winners as experienced, trusted advisors only to pad service fees. Then there are those who try to cheat the lottery itself by rigging the game to offer up predetermined numbers. It’s said that it’s be...
The Badger Game
August 12, 2021 06:00 - 13 minutesWhat’s the first thing you do when you trip on the sidewalk – you look around to see if anyone noticed and, if so, did they laugh. But what if you were recorded comparing bits and pieces with someone on the internet? Maybe someone caught you with an illegal substance in your pocket or, as we describe in this episode, ride escalators in hopes that someone will take an upskirt photo of you. This is the badger game. You can call it extortion or blackmail, but this scam sets a trap and if you ar...
Impersonation scams
July 29, 2021 06:00 - 11 minutesImpersonators hide in plain sight. They tell you who they are and back up their claims. Trusting soul that you are, you think, “why would they lie?” They lie because they want your money and they use other people’s credibility to gain your trust. Some of these scams are relatively harmless. The con gets a free meal, maybe a hotel room or some other relatively low-value prize. Other impersonators go for big treasure. They pretend to be movie stars (you’ll hear Tyler Perry tell you about that)...
So, you want to be a star?
July 15, 2021 06:00 - 18 minutesFame comes at a price. Scammers want your money and don’t care if it also costs you your self confidence. Those trying to get noticed are vulnerable and the path to success is different for everyone. It often depends upon getting to the right person at the right time. To increase your odds, you’ve got to put yourself out there and hustle. You’ll fail a lot, but that’s how the game is played. This makes you a perfect mark -- you must depend upon the kindness of strangers and put yourself in un...
Carnival Cons
July 01, 2021 06:00 - 13 minutesEven at a distance, you’ll know the carnival is in town. You can see the lights of the Ferris Wheel. Maybe you can hear the screams of people on one of the rides to scare the hell out of you. When you arrive, you’ll smell fresh popcorn … the carnies smell a sucker. Except for the prices, the rides are straight. No con there. No short pours on the drinks because you can see how high the liquid is, although the cup may be smaller than those you are accustomed to or the bottom is inset a little ...
Advertising scams: But wait ... there's more!
June 17, 2021 06:00 - 18 minutesHave you tried this new air freshener? A herd of stallions could spend the night in your house and with one puff of this spray, you’d never know they were there! And this kitchen gadget is fantastic! It slices and dices, makes ice cream and turns rancid meat fresh again. It’s just amazing! No, it’s not. It’s false advertising and it’s a scam. There are laws that are supposed to protect us from that, but they are not difficult to skirt. You’ve heard of miracle supplements than can cure anyth...
Psychics
June 03, 2021 14:00 - 18 minutesYou may be psychic! In fact, there is a good chance you are – or could be. The Census Bureau says one of the fastest growing job descriptions in this decades will be psychics. As of this writing, PsychicPro Job Center has one client with 25 immediate job openings. If you don’t feel qualified, psychic training is readily available. Don’t expect us to answer the question of whether psychics are bona fide – OK, they are fradulent – but you will learn how the business works and the tools it empl...
The Russian Bride scam
May 13, 2021 06:15 - 17 minutesIf you are a six and a 10 shows interest in you, at the very least you’d feel flattered. You might even spend a little time with them just to feed your ego. And if that contact happens online, it seems even better. No dinners to buy. No gifts to exchange. And you can walk away at any time. But if the person on the other end of the line is a scammer, it might not be as easy as you think. You’ll be showered with attention, endless flattery and the person will seem to have a genuine interest in...
The Money Box
May 13, 2021 06:00 - 15 minutesUnless you work for the U.S. Mint, odds are you can’t print legal currency. But if you could print money, it’s unlikely you’d get much sleep for a while. Once you were rested, you would crank up the printer again and begin shopping for an elegant place to lay your head. Your personal chef will bring milk and warm cookies to your bedside so you can easily fall asleep. We all want easy money, but unless an unknown rich relative dies and leaves you a fortune, it’s not likely to happen. What’s mo...
Three Card Monte
May 13, 2021 05:30 - 18 minutesIt’s a simple game. It’s just a guy flipping three cards on top of a worn cardboard box. If you’re the sucker, the game is easy. It’s meant to be that way. A lot of effort by a lot of people has gone into creating that scene. No wonder Three Card Monte is called the longest running show on Broadway. The sucker sees it as a game of skill. They believe they can outwit the tosser. What the sucker doesn’t realize is that the game is not about the cards, it’s about getting the sucker to put all th...
TRAILER: Scams and Cons
April 22, 2021 19:57 - 1 minuteWhy would anyone give thousands of dollars to a Nigerian prince? Or play Three Card Monte – it’s a well-known scam? Or be lulled into a marriage with someone you’ve never met face-to-face. Scammers and con artists do it all the time and the Scams and Cons podcast pulls the curtain back and tells you how it is done. Trust us. You should subscribe now wherever you get your podcasts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices