Scams & Cons

A good scam creates a reality where the mark thinks it makes perfect sense to go along with the con. A great con is when everyone else is fooled and you are the only one to know the truth. The next few episodes are about the longest con of all -- vanishing. These are people who voluntarily disappear. It does not include those who are running for the law or legal obligations. It doesn't includ...

Regular listeners are accustomed to hearing about different variations of a con in each regular episode. In season six, we're doing something different. We'll be focusing on one con -- vanishing. Vanishing may be the longest con of all because, if you're successful, no one will hear from you again. We'll talk about why people want to voluntarily disappear. We won't be talk...

Are you being smed? It's a scam that involves both texts and social engineering. A dating app leads to a carjacking in Florida and a Swiss bus museum. A cashier stole more than $1 million between 2008 and 2019 by reselling museum tickets twice. These stories and MUCH more on Scams & Cons News. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Any con, any story of a con, begins in the head of the author. Lee Goldberg isn't a con artist -- unless you count how he leads readers toward wrong conclusions -- but he does write successful books and TV shows that involve cons. In this episode, Lee talks with us about how he does it, how he comes up with his ideas and what it's to deal with publishers and television story runners. It&...

What 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 h...

It’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 doe...

If 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...

We're taking a break for the holidays, but we'll be back early next year. In the meantime, please enjoy some replays that have been a hit among our fans. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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. Learn m...

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We've done stories about robo calls before, but this one is different -- we're telling you how the technology works, who makes the calls and how you can make money by simply listening to the sales pitch, getting answers to a few questions and mail a complaint.robocalls@scamsandcons.comKit for challenging robo callsSample challenge letterLearn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.f...

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

Our lasts episode asks how con artists reconcile the impact of their actions and how it harms their victims beyond the money they have stolen. This time we ask what is it about people that make them suckers for scammers. Certain behaviors signal scammers that we're good for some cash. Listen in and find out what they know about you and how they use it against you. Learn more about your ad cho...

Scammers are pulling gasoline dispensers from customers' hands to fill their own cars. Canadian women are more willing to report scams than men. And ProPublica says a scammer has succeed in getting people kicked off Instagram, then blackmailing them to release the account. He claims to have made $300k off the con. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Scammers might take people for a little or a lot of money. Sometimes their scams ruin people's lives and leave them feeling unsafe -- maybe for the rest of their lives. In this episode, scammers tell us how they became scammers and how they rationalize what they do. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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

Scammers become other people to convince you to turn over your money, but sometimes they want something else. Your pity, your admiration or your love. We take a look at imposters and why they do what they do. And check out the Pretend podcast. It's one of our favorites and when you hear Javier's story about a reported stalker, you'll be amazed! Learn more about your ad choices. Visi...

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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...

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Con artists are using wanting to get into your pants for a wallet, but there are those who are looking for something else. In this episode, we tell you how pick-up artists, wings and matchmakers work. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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

Season 5 launches September 7 and here's a full episode on how con artists use misdirection to sucker people in. We believe Season 5 is our best yet with stories about pick-up artists, time travel scammers, how con artists justify what they do, fake medical cures and much, much more. Plus we're going weekly with our new feature called Scams & Cons News that will bring you up-to-date...

Scams & Cons News begins officially this September, but we thought we'd give you and update on some of the things happening this summer. See you in September! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

I'm headed off on summer hiatus and to produce shows for Season Five. I'm really excited about Season Five because we're producing shows on Pick-Up Artists,  Time Travelers and Imposters -- plus a lot more. It will be fun! We'll also be adding a new feature called Scams & Cons News about recent scams from around the world. This episode provides a preview and I'd love t...