Fraudsters

Seena's out, so LPN's own Amber Nelson joins Ariel to discuss a SIM-swapping bank fraud ring, a New Jersey Ponzi scheme that lasted for over a decade, and a Glendale doctor who billed Medicare for millions in Botox procedures. It's a fraud bonanza! [00:04:50] The $373 Million Spreadsheet [00:08:30] Caught At JFK Airport [00:13:40] Welcome To KJM Financial [00:18:40] The Couple Lost Everything [00:...

On this week's Fraudwire, Seena and Ariel discuss the guy who defrauded the USPS out of $126 million, a Chicago man who exploited an immigration loophole by staging fake robberies, and the 93-year-old Japanese woman who outsmarted her scammer. Join us for an uncharacteristically feel-good episode! [00:02:00] The $2 Postage Empire [00:06:10] Meet LabelsBank.com [00:11:10] Fake Robberies For Visas [...

A rehab business allegedly encouraged patients to use drugs so it could bill for detox. Apparently, recovery was bad for business. Seena and Ariel unpack an LA healthcare fraud crackdown involving nearly $2 billion in allegedly fraudulent claims, then get into the father-son duo accused of running a $1.6 billion addiction-treatment scheme. Family bonding has taken a turn. Then it’s Kelly Clarkson...

On this week's Fraudwire: Sienna Rose, "the neo-soul singer" with 3 million monthly listeners who's actually an AI creation of two Norwegian dudes, PLUS the $111 billion Paramount-Warner Bros merger that just handed one spoiled rich kid control of Hollywood. Cool... super cool. [00:01:50] Meet Sienna Rose [00:03:20] The Digital Blackface [00:11:50] We Need An AI Badge [00:18:20] Skydance Eats Holl...

On this week's Fraudwire, a fake AI comedian is stealing real comics' jokes, Travis Kelce got got in a $31 million Ponzi scheme, and a rapper literally wrote a song teaching people how to commit check fraud. Also, is lip-syncing fraud? Seena and Ariel have thoughts.   00:06:10] AI Steals Comedians' Jokes [00:08:00] Meet Big Titty AI [00:16:00] Travis Kelce Got Ponzi'd [00:21:10] The Rapper Ca...

Quiet down, sit still, and join the Fraudsters gang as they jump into the adorably insidious word of Cocomelon. Discover how the company transformed from one Korean father making videos for his kids, into a $3 billion entertainment empire. And don't look away or stop listening – we'll know... [00:06:50] Meet The Commercial Director [00:10:20] Goldman Sachs Buys In [00:14:50] Inside The Distractatr...

This week's Fraudwire Includes a 9-year-old draining his dad's company credit card for his Minecraft YouTube, a government fraud crackdown led by a woman who insider-traded her way out of the Senate, ghost daycares in San Diego, and so much more. Nobody's innocent, everybody's shady, and Seena and Ariel have theories. [00:03:50] The $118,000 Kid [00:06:00] Dad's Confession Video [00:08:40] Is This...

This week's Fraudwire is a full buffet of people succeeding at lying on the internet. Join us as we discuss the Temptation Island star who faked her way through Duke University,  the man in a 49ers helmet (no pads, no roster spot, just vibes) who suckered $1.3 million out of dozens of women, and the AI-generated celebrity endorsement that tricked a UK-resident into giving away a quarter milli...

In the finale of our Vince McMahon series, Seena, Ariel, and Justin explore the end of Vince's reign as the head of his wrestling empire. How, despite a host of sex trafficking allegations, institutional cover-ups, securities fraud claims, and federal investigations does he end up free and clear while his ex-wife becomes Secretary of Education? Only one way to find out. [00:01:50] The Anonymous Em...

In Part 3 of our Vince McMahon deep-dive, Seena, Ariel, and Justin detail Vince's feud with the World Wildlife Federation, his growing pattern of sexual abuse, and the birth of the Mr. McMahon persona. [00:07:10] The Kiss My Ass Club [00:08:00] Bark Like A Dog [00:09:20] Drugged, Married, On Air [00:12:00] Choked With A Pipe [00:15:00] The Ring Boys Lawsuit [00:20:40] Rita's Limo Confession [00:39...

In this week's Fraudwire, we take a break from the Vince McMahon series for Seena and Ariel to discuss Selena Gomez and her mother's shady brand, a Chik-fil-A worker's clever Richard Pryor-esque refund scheme, and an insidious remote-work scam. [00:03:10] Selena's Mom Problem [00:06:10] Meet The Serial Fraud [00:18:40] New Scam Just Dropped [00:19:40] The Fake Lottery Win [00:30:00] The Mac And Ch...

In Part 2 of our Vince McMahon deep-dive, Seena, Ariel, and Justin discuss Vince's steroid trial, the infamous Montreal Screwjob incident, and the tragic death of Owen Hart during a pay-per-view event. [00:04:10] Buying Out Dad [00:10:00] The Territory Wars [00:17:40] Wrestling Isn't a Sport, Actually [00:21:10] Enter Rick Santorum [00:32:00] The Steroid Pipeline [00:41:20] The Montreal Screwjob [...

Jump into a steel cage death match with Seena, Ariel, and Justin as they explore how Vince McMahon built a wrestling empire at the expense of everything else. In this first episode of the series, we track his villain origin story from a trailer home to a steam-powered rocket ship. [00:05:40] Trailer Park Beginnings [00:11:20] The Pipe Wrench Years [00:17:20] Falling for a Villain [00:20:30] The Fa...

On this week's Fraudwire, Ariel sits down with with special guest host Roxxy Haze to discuss an extraordinarily promiscuous police officer, debate the ethics of AI-generated music, and make sweeping proclamations about smuggling drugs internationally in your butt. [00:02:10] Meet the Freaky Frog Cop [00:07:20] Caught By His Own Texts [00:08:30] Fired, Fully Pensioned, Free [00:21:20] The Song Call...

On our second Fraudwire of Season 6, Seena and Ariel discuss the scourge of clip-farming, question the ethics of gambling on war, and explore the worst possible outcome for pretending to be pregnant. 00:03:30 Betting on War Itself 00:08:20 The Sergeant Who Forgot to Delete 00:14:40 What Is a Clip Farm? 00:27:50 Bibi Netanyahu Ate Our Ad Slot 00:30:00 Maternal Instinct Begins 00:35:00 The Lie Nobod...

In Part 2 of our Eric Adams deep-dive – Seena, Ariel, and Justin continue exploring how the former mayor (and current Albanian citizen) left the city with a $12 billion budget shortfall, led his entire team to federal indictments, and temporarily ended all racism with his cryptocurrency.  00:02:30 — The episode properly begins. Seena sets up Part 2 as covering the ramifications of the Turkish pivo...

In the first deep-dive of Season 6 – Seena, Ariel, and Justin discuss former New York City Mayor Eric Adams, and his tenuous relationship with the truth. In Part One, we track his rise from a skateboarding (?), rat-owning (?) youth through his time in the NYPD, NY State Senate, and eventually all the way to City Hall where he proudly served the citizens of NYC (and Turkey). 00:04:20 — Eric Adams'...

On the first Fraudwire of Season 6, Seena and Ariel delve into World Cup shadiness, some creative basketball player fraud, and Ken Paxton's bold pro-mistress voting record. 00:01:20 — Seena announces the episode topics: FIFA, basketball, politics. Patreon plug. Season 6 is officially underway, Justin is missing in Detroit. 00:06:10 — FIFA segment begins in earnest. Trump gets a red card overturned...

Fraudsters is back with SEASON 6 - THE VILLAINS. We know, every season has villains, but this season will feel hit different: a crooked mayor, a deranged CEO, a children's show hellbent on hijacking YOUR kid's brain and a few more surprises. Seena, Justin, and Ariel are back! Expect deep dives mixed in with some Fraudwires so we can talk about the latest in what's frauding around the world. Instag...

For our very last bonus episode of Season 5, we have an interview with Tommy and Paris Chong. And for the kids listening to the show, Tommy Chong is a Canadian-American comedian, actor, and activist, mostly known for his weed humor with comedian Cheech Marin and their classic stoner movies like Up in Smoke and Nice Dreams. In this interview, you’ll hear how Tommy got into comedy, what it was like...

This week’s bonus episode is an interview with Marsha Levick, the co-founder and Chief Legal Officer of the Juvenile Law Center. We dive into the infamous Kids for Cash scandal—how it was exposed, the fight for justice, and the larger patterns of corruption that allow people to profit from locking up kids. We also explore the devastating impact of the War on Drugs on juvenile incarceration, the de...

Blume Professor of Law and Director of the Juvenile Justice Clinic and Initiative at Georgetown Law, Kris Henning, sat down with us over Zoom in the summer of 2024 to talk about the War on Drugs. She spoke about what led to her writing her book, “The Rage of Innocence: How America Criminalizes Black Youth,” how drug policies have affected kids in juvenile court and detention centers, the importanc...

In this week’s bonus interview, we sit down with Yasmin Cader, Deputy Director of the ACLU and Director of the Trone Center for Justice and Equality, to explore the lasting impact of the War on Drugs on the U.S. criminal justice system. Yasmin shares what led her to become a public defender and her experiences practicing in D.C., NYC, and L.A. at the height of mass incarceration. We dive into the...

This week, we’re talking all things drug policy, harm reduction, and the lingering effects of the War on Drugs with our special guest, Dr. Sheila Vakharia. Dr. Vakharia is the Deputy Director of Research and Academic Engagement at the Drug Policy Alliance, which is a fantastic organization that addresses the harms of drug use and drug criminalization through policy solutions, organizing, and publi...

Welcome to the land of bonus episodes, where we release long-form interviews with a variety of guests about the war on drugs that we recorded in the summer of 2024. Here is our interview with Montel Williams. Now the host of Let’s Be Blunt, the number one rated Cannabis podcast in 2023, Montel Williams was a Marine and Navy officer where he undertook rescue missions and earned multiple medals of d...