Scams & Cons

Tell me what's on your mind.If you bought tickets to a pop-up taco museum restaurant in San Antonio, you got scammed. If someone wants to hook you up with a priest who does exorcisms, beware. But we begin with the story of a brand new scam called call merging. It involves merging your phone call with a scammer and a bank's two-factor authentication system, stealing your secret code.

Tell me what's on your mind.More than 60 hotels are conned by a man who dirtied rooms with roaches and condoms, and scammers are showing up at people's doors to collect money they say they are owed. And I want to tell you the tale of a gambit that I can't call a con, but it's a great way to lose your money.

Tell me what's on your mind.We're all vulnerable to scams, but we don't have to be willing victims. Today I'm doing something I should have done a long time ago -- tell you just what to do to thwart scammers.

Tell me what's on your mind.A new scam is moving across the country that can capture the information on your credit card's chips, plus Minnesota legislators are considering a law that would reimburse victims of scams.

Tell me what's on your mind.What some of you may remember as the Scopes Monkey Trial is a scam. If you don't know about the trial, you may know about the movie, “Inherit the Wind,” which – and I'm being charitable here – took poetic license with the truth. Today, as we near the 100th anniversary of the trial, I tell you why.Scopes 100 Celebration

Tell me what's on your mind.Alabama leads the nation in losses from online scams and a Massachusetts butcher shop owner says he was scammed out of $60,000 of meat. Plus, we'll update you on the Frye Festival scheduled for Mexico, but who knows where in that country it will be?

Tell me what's on your mind.There are con artists who have pulled off major cons. What they do is so ballsy, it's hard to believe anyone would fall for them. Yet, in the annals of history, they live on.Today on Scams And Cons, we'll tell you their stories.

Send us a textWe'll tell you the story of con artists who preyed on the elderly with home remodeling scams. One was  brazen enough to outright tell the homeowner what needed to be done and begin work.

Send us a textIs this written by me or an AI? Will you hear my voice or an AI voice in this podcast? (Spoiler, you'll hear both)AI voices and images are so easy to create these days that it's easy to throw someone into a money-gushing panic if they get a phone call from a friend claiming to be in trouble.The key is not to try and recognize the voice, but to recognize the scam. We'll tell you how and it's not that difficult to learn.

Send us a textIn this week's news, Thailand takes the unusual step of cutting off electricity to 500,000 people to stop scammers and con artists are staging car crashes to collect insurance money.Plus, Georgia exempts banks from protecting customers from scammers even though they say they want a law requiring them to do so.Listen at ScamsAndCons.com or wherever you get podcasts.

Send us a textIs this written by me or an AI? Will you hear my voice or an AI voice in this podcast? (Spoiler, you'll hear both)AI voices and images are so easy to create these days that it's easy to throw someone into a money-gushing panic if they get a phone call from a friend claiming to be in trouble.The key is not to try and recognize the voice, but to recognize the scam. We'll tell you how and it's not that difficult to learn.

Send us a textA man got taken by a scammer and called a local TV station for help. The scammers weren't caught, but they later called the man back, pretending to be the anchor and tried to shake him down again.It didn't go well for the scammers.Hear this story and more on Scams & Cons News

Send us a textGroups of con artists roam the country, sweeping into a community and taking it for all they can until the police get wise.They're called Travellers and we'll tell you how they work and why they are different from other scammers.

Send us a textThe pigeon drop -- and oldie, but a goodie -- is misdirecting people so their new expensive purchases can stolen and fake Amazon customer service agents targeted a woman and tried to clean out her bank accounts.Support the podcast

Send us a textIf you've been scammed, will you get your money back? Will you get justice? The answer, unfortunately, is no.While it may be your life savings, the amounts are generally too small and police have such limited resources that they can't help. Your best hope is that your scam was part of a much larger operation that police can get resources to chase.This week we tell you while justice is so elusive and that the best defense is a good offense. Protect yourself.

Send us a textYour child is safe at home, but scammers are calling to get info about them to put into a state "registry." It's a scam ... don't fall for it.Hear this story and more on Scams & Cons News.

Send us a textIt's easy to think of a scammer as a slick, sophisticated character, ready to outsmart your every move.Not so fast.Scammers do stupid stuff too, and we're here to tell you about them. Listen in for a good laugh and relief that they aren't as clever as we think they are.

Send us a textIn the early days of computing, we were afraid that if we pushed one wrong button, we'd lose all our work -- and that frequently happened.Nowadays, the risk isn't so high and total losses are rare, but scammers have figured out how to convince you to push just one button that allows them to steal your money and anything else personal on your computer.We'll tell you about that and about a former TV anchor who was arrested for taking money intended for the poor.Listen at ScamsAndCons.com or wherever you get your podcasts.Support the podcast

Send us a textWe're kicking off season 8 with a look at some really stupid scammers, then come back by asking if victims can ever really get justice.The news is back with some changes and we'll be taking several dives into how AI is being used by scammers and con artists.Plus, beginning this season, you'll be able to text me with your comments, questions or anything that's on your mind. I look forward to hearing from you!Thanks for listening!

Send us a textPeople are coming back from the future. Some want computers to help solve problems for which the need ancient software, while others need some cold, hard cash to survive in this primitive world of ours.People are handing money over to these con artists without asking a simple question: Why are future IT people too stupid to keep their technology up-to-date and they need to travel back in time so we can fix it for them? Support the podcast

Send us a textThink of all the music jingles you've heard over the years, promising that this pill or that one will help prevent cancer, ease your aching bones or guarantee you a longer, healthier life.It's snake oil and in this episode we tell you the difference between Western medicine, alternative medicine and outright frauds.Pay close attention, because some people will swallow anything.Support the podcast

We're talking about squatters again, primarily because they are improving their tactics and because they can rob you of your single largest investment. And it's a scam you don't see coming until it has already happened. Squatters are also organizing. They are forming unions of sorts to change or create laws that protect what they see are their rights. Scammers are always one step ahead of us. Listen in because we can't afford to be left behind. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

An AI Cat Lady confuses scammers and keeps them on the line while they keep making their pitches. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Adoption agencies can be difficult to work with. They have many requirements that must be met, and justifiably so. They want to make sure an adopted child finds a good and safe home. But some potential parents are patient. They want a faster process and are willing to pay to move to the top of the line. Desperation and fear is where scammers like to operate and today we'll tell you how they do it. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The old scam called the swoop and squat is back! It involves two cars with one swooping in front of a another, then coming to a halt. The scammers hope the rear driver will pay up without involving an insurance company. If no crash occurs, the scammers just put their car in reverse and slam into the car behind. Cars and trucks that have been flooded as part of recent storms, are being patched together and shipped to other states for sale. Don't be a sucker, check your prospective new car out before you buy. Support the podcast Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Fake websites are the hot thing this holiday season and they'll be popping up everywhere. You'll be amazed at how easy it is to set up a fake website. We'll tell you how it happens -- not how to do it. Listen to Scams and Cons wherever you get podcasts Support the podcast Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

When someone knocks on your door, you're not expecting them to ask for sex. That's what some scammers are doing. They are offering sexual partners online, then send the mark to an address to receive the service. The homeowners aren't expecting the dozens of people who show up at their house. And black marketers sell a name for $10 allowing the scammer to rob $4,500 from a mark's account. Hear these stories and more on Scams & Cons, wherever you get your podcasts. Support the podcast Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Our last episode told the story of Brittani Ard who had her heart stolen by a romance scammer. Well, technically not a romance scammer, he didn't ask for money, but he did want to be part of her life. He also wanted to be a part of the lives of many other women at the same time. In this episode, we ask Dr. Cortney Warren about whether this is a love con, a sex con or something else. She helps us understand why some people want to steal hearts, not money. Why would a guy described as good looking, go online and troll for women to whom he would profess and demonstrate love? Let's explore. Dr. Warren has also written a book, Letting Go Of Your Ex, that helps people leave relationships with people they care desperately about. Dr. Cortney Warren Brittani Ard Our previous episode with Britani Ard Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We''ll tell you about a pastor who said he may have misunderstood God by selling cryptocurrency and an 82-year-old woman you don't want to mess with. She set up a successful sting to catch a scammer. Then there is a Cricket Wireless store in Athens, Georgia that was hit by a scam, resulting in a loss of approximately $12,000. The incident involved a fraudster posing as a company vice-president and sent an employee out to buy the tools needed to break into a safe. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Scammers are getting personal by sending email to you, by name, and including pictures of your home. If you don't pay up, they promise to release your confidential information. Police arrest a scammer, release him on bail and the process repeats itself 13 times. Why? Hear these stories and more on Scams & Cons. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This is not an episode about romance scams. The techniques involved are the same, but it seems to me that it involves love, sex and attraction to many women at a time. Never does the scammer ask for money or favors, but the scammer does receive trust and love. This is the strangest story I've told so far. Listen in and tell me what your think. contact@scamsandcons.com You Probably Think This Story Is About You Support the podcast Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Is Brad Pitt a romance scammer? How did CoinStar get caught up in a scam? Did half the people in a survey acknowledge they had been caught up in a scam or con? We have the answers on Scams & Cons News. Support the podcast Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A scammer convinced a man to turn over $8,000 to collect winnings from a bogus Publishers' Clearing House prize. The man hoped to help his family and when he realized he'd been duped, he took his own life. And a record company comes the the aid of a dying girl who was scammed out of Taylor Swift tickets and sent her to the Eras tour, all expenses paid. Support the podcast Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Taxes are the price we pay for a civilized society. Scammers are anything but civilized. In this episode, we'll tell you about how scammers get into public money and how they drain millions away. Public officials should know better and train employees in how to avoid scammers' traps. It's a bugaboo of mine, so you'll hear more stories in our News segments. It's a big issue. This is a great place to understand how vulnerable your money is. Support us on Patreon! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Someone walking beside you can steal your credit card information without touching your wallet. We'll tell you how it's done and just because you died, doesn't mean landlords stop charging your rent, despite what the law says. Hear these stories and more on Scams & Cons, wherever you get your podcasts. Support the podcast Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A 13-year-old girl is used as a money mule for scammers trying to grab a man's life's savings. Fake monks seeking money from monastery clones, and a scammer didn't realize the mark's phone number had changed and now belonged to a federal agent. It did not go well for the scammer. Hear these stories and many more on Scams & Cons News, wherever you find podcasts. Support the show! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Magicians are masters of deception. So are con artists. I went to a magicians' convention to see how they compare. Listen as magicians talk about their techniques and whether they are similar to how con artists work. It's a fun episode with lots of laughs. Thank you very much! Support us on Patreon! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this week's news, con artists are preying on people released from jail, telling them that there are expenses that must be paid and scammers are scamming scam victims with promises of getting their money back. Then there are those in California trying to drive beachgoers away from the shoreline. Guess who the real scammers really are! Support us on Patreon! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Another government loses money to a scammer, but this time it tries to hide it from taxpayers. And truckers are targeted with scams to steal their money and their loads. Scary stuff. Listen to Scams & Cons News to learn more. Support us on Patreon Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

You'd think people who are at the top of their game -- the big money folks -- would be savvy enough to not get scammed. You'd be wrong. There are all kinds of people who have the intelligence and ability to spot a con, but are taken in anyway. Today we'll tell you their tales, what scams took them in and how it worked. Support us on Patreon! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this week's news, scammers are leasing private swimming pools for parties and the homeowners aren't pleased. Gold is gaining ground on gift cards as a way of paying off scammers and we tell the story of a scammer who topped off his victim's phone card to continue a pitch. Support us on Patreon! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In Arkansas, scammers are tricking pastors into urging parishioners to buy gift cards. Another city loses more than a million to scammers and city leaders believe it was a good thing. And in Las Vegas, skimmers are being used to copy credit card information before running up huge bills. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Season 7 begins Sept. 2 and there's a lot to talk about. Scams & Cons News moves to Monday and a new edition will come out each week. Regular episodes will continue on the second and fourth Thursdays of each month. We've got stories about child birth scams, easy money scams and interviews with magicians who compare their skills of misdirection against those of con artists. It's going to be fun! See you in September -- and don't let me lose you to a summer love! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this week's news, we'll tell you about a woman who lost a half million dollars in a Social Security scam, con artists who offer up free pianos, then trick the customer into paying high shipping fees. You'll also hear how your smart TV could be robbing you. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this week's news, a man disguises himself as a woman to scam the groom out of his estate and pet owners are being told their companions are in danger in order to con people out of medical expenses. Hear these stories and much more on this week's Scams & Cons News. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Woman told she is on "secret probation" loses hundreds of thousands of dollars, 60 Minutes Australia asks if Belle Gibson is a liar and Canadian police bust an international scam ring. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What's the difference between a hoax and a scam? Are they the same thing? In this episode, we take a crack at the answer -- unless this whole program is a hoax. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A woman falling down escalator marks return of pigeon scam, members of British Parliament get caught in a honey trap and a Pennsylvania man loses $165,000 to romance scammer. Hear these stories and much more at ScamsAndCons.com or wherever you get podcasts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

An Uber driver was killed while delivering a package for a scammer and a Canadian scammer in jail for a $175 million e-mail fraud in the U.S. while a man cons people into letting him use their phones, then drains their bank account. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A woman scammed by promise of free home make-over, a scammer tries to hoodwink Drew Barrymore's guests and an Alabama woman has admitted to faking her own disappearance after earlier claiming she had been kidnapped. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

When you write a check, you expect it to be secure, after all, you did write it in ink. That means bupkus unless you used a secure check and security pen. These days, scammers can use household chemicals to eliminate what you have written and fill in the blanks with whatever they want to whomever they want. They will even trace your signature so the banks won't notice. In this episode, we'll tell you about the rising crime of check washing and how you can protect yourself from it. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices