Scams & Cons

The 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

If 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...

Your 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.

It'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.

In 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...

We'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...

People 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...

Think 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...

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 ah...

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 d...

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 toge...

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 podcastsSupport the podcastLearn 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'...

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...

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 vic...

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.comYou Probably Think This S...

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 podcastLearn 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 podcastLearn more about...

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...

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 podcastLearn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adcho...

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...

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. Visi...

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 PatreonLearn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices