Over several years the Savastano’s have poured nearly a million dollars into their close friend Monique Brady’s real estate endeavor and are shocked to learn the business is a scam. Monique is not flipping foreclosed houses as she claims to be, she’s actually running a Ponzi scheme. Concerned for their friend of two decades as well as getting their money back the Savastano’s reach out to Monique, but she stops taking their calls. As more details come forward about her scheme the Savastanos learn...
Sep 11, 2020•31 min•Ep. 77
Kim and Sal considered Monique Brady family. Their children were close friends, and the families even vacationed together. Despite her booming house-flipping business, everyone who knew Monique described her as generous and down-to-earth. Monique’s success and go-getting personality convinced Sal, who worked in mortgages, to invest in her projects. But when the IRS shows up at Sal’s office asking questions about Monique, everything the they think they know about their good friend begins to unrav...
Sep 04, 2020•35 min•Ep. 76
Kathy discovers that her therapist, Dr. Scott C. Redman, is not what he seems: Not only is he not a psychologist, he’s been practicing for years without any real credentials. Rather than accept that he’s been caught, Redman assumes a new identity and sets up shop at another clinic. This time he poses as a psychiatrist, prescribing medications to his new patients. However, the authorities are on to Redman and are determined to stop this serial con artist.
Aug 28, 2020•33 min•Ep. 75
When Kathy’s former therapist announces he’s leaving, she does her due diligence to find a replacement. She searches online and reads patient reviews before settling on Dr. Scott C. Redman. Over the next 2 1/2 years, Dr. Redman treats Kathy. Then, one day, Kathy finds out that her doctor isn’t who he claims to be. In fact, he’s a professional con man who’s impersonated psychologists for a decade.
Aug 21, 2020•29 min•Ep. 74
In this 2018 episode, Andrea’s husband secretly operates a Ponzi scheme for 15 years, stealing millions of dollars from investors, including their family, friends and neighbors. This is her story of how she found out about the scheme and what’s happened to her life since.
Aug 14, 2020•23 min
Marni is one of the 147 million Americans whose personal information was exposed in the Equifax data breach. She immediately takes action, freezing her credit and signing up for a credit monitoring service. Marni thinks the ordeal is behind her until she finds that despite her efforts new accounts have been opened in her name. Marni’s scammer has found a way to unfreeze her credit. Marni takes additional action to protect her credit, but the scammer is just getting started.
Aug 07, 2020•37 min•Ep. 73
William Neil Gallagher has made a name for himself as a financial wizard, publishing several financial self-help books and hosting a radio show. Known as the “Money Doctor,” Gallagher handles investments for members of his close-knit Christian community in Dallas. Many of his clients are seniors, lured in by Gallagher’s prestige and promises that he cares not just about their money, but about them, too. Little do his clients know that Gallagher not only does not have the license required to offe...
Jul 31, 2020•37 min•Ep. 72
Most people in Dallas, Texas, know William Neil “Doc” Gallagher as the “Money Doctor.” The radio host and author of financial self-help books holds himself up as a pillar of his close-knit Christian community. Doc uses his smooth radio voice to emcee for Dallas’ much loved Senior Follies singing group. He offers financial advice to anyone willing to lend and ear and lavishes friends and acquaintances with gifts. But all of Doc’s good deeds come with sinister strings attached. The “Money Doctor” ...
Jul 24, 2020•29 min•Ep. 71
This 2018 episode tells the story of the elusive French psychic Maria Duval. A letter arrives in the mail from Maria, she warns you of danger, but promises good fortune — if you send her money. This is the setup for one of the longest-running scams in U.S. history. These predatory letters were sent to millions of Americans and raked in over $200 million. Who is Maria Duval, and is she really the mastermind of this fraud scheme?
Jul 17, 2020•45 min
This 2018 episode tells the story of Jeff Caldwell. Jeff has lived for decades as a couch-surfing con man preying on the kindness of the outdoors community. He spins tales of hikes he’s never completed and exploits the sympathy of his marks with sad stories of his past to rip them off. But after meeting Melissa on an dating site, Jeff’s lies finally catch up with him.
Jul 10, 2020•49 min
After a rough divorce, Patricia’s friends encourage her to try online dating. There she meets Jeff, who passes himself off as a wealthy businessman. The two share similar interests and after an online courtship, Patricia falls for him. But every time the two plan to meet in person, Jeff cancels. Then, while on a business trip to Dubai, Jeff says he needs Patricia to send him money. Patricia begins to get suspicious. Certain her online boyfriend is a con artist, she decides to convince him to rev...
Jun 26, 2020•36 min•Ep. 70
After the death of her husband, friends encourage Debbie, a former intelligence officer, to try online dating. There she meets a handsome man who claims he’s a British doctor living in America but working overseas. Wanting to ease into a new relationship, Debbie is happy to have a long-distance confidant. The two grow closer, texting every day. Then, two years in to the relationship the unthinkable happens: Debbie’s online boyfriend reveals he’s a scammer.
Jun 19, 2020•37 min•Ep. 69
White-hat hacker Rachel Tobac takes on “The Perfect Scam,” scouring the internet and gathering intel about host Michelle Kosinski, that a hacker could use in a real-life scenario. Rachel, a three-time DEF CON conference capture-the-flag second place winner, is the CEO and cofounder of SocialProof Security, which helps people and companies keep their data safe. Rachel shares her knowledge of social engineering and walks Michelle through a "live" phishing scam.
Jun 12, 2020•32 min•Ep. 68
Celebrity photographer Joe Scarnici spent thousands of dollars trying to complete an assignment in Indonesia for someone posing as billionaire Christina Ong. Another photographer, Carley Rudd, had a similar experience with a person claiming to be Wendi Deng. Comparing notes, they realize they are caught up in a scam that has been weaving its way through Hollywood freelancers. Investigators pick up the case, trying to decipher who is behind the scam and why they’re doing it.
Jun 05, 2020•39 min•Ep. 67
Joe Scarnici works around the globe as a celebrity photographer, so when he gets a call from a man who proclaims himself the assistant of billionaire Christina Ong, he’s intrigued but not shocked. The assistant says Joe was recommended to Ong by one of his past clients, Martha Stewart. After speaking about the project, a photo shoot of Olympic athletes in Southeast Asia, Joe decides to sign on. A contract is signed and he flies to Indonesia, where he becomes entangled in a complex scheme that ha...
May 29, 2020•32 min•Ep. 66
Seventy-nine-year-old Jack receives a call from a young woman claiming to be his granddaughter, Grace. She tells Grandpa Jack that she’s in jail as a result of a car accident and begs him to call her attorney. The attorney claims that Grace was texting and driving and needs money for bail. Jack is instructed to send the money in cash through the mail. Before the ordeal is over, Jack sends $19,000 through the mail — but with the guidance of the police, he’s able to fight back against the scammer....
May 22, 2020•29 min•Ep. 65
When Kathy’s purse is stolen, she follows the standard protocol: informing the police and canceling all of her credit and debit cards. She thinks the theft is an isolated incident. But a month later while making a $21 purchase, her new debit card is declined. Later at home, she receives calls from multiple bank branches regarding checks she’s supposed to have deposited, but Kathy hasn’t deposited any checks. Kathy realizes she is a victim of fraud — but is shocked to learn the intricate scheme h...
May 15, 2020•35 min•Ep. 64
As the world grapples with the coronavirus pandemic, scammers are taking advantage of this unprecedented time of fear and uncertainty. In this special episode, we’ll hear from the Department of Justice about a new crop of coronavirus-related scams, including info on what to look out for and how to protect yourself. Then, Shannon, an essential worker and coronavirus survivor, shares her story of her encounter with a fake pop-up COVID-19 testing site in Kentucky.
May 08, 2020•33 min•Ep. 63
In Utah, Machal is busy caring for three of her grandchildren while her daughter recovers from surgery, when she gets a phone about her Social Security number. The man on the phone claims to be from the Social Security Administration and says that multiple bank accounts have been set up by a drug cartel using Machal’s number. He tells Machal that her family is in danger, she needs to act quickly. She is told that the drug cartel is watching her, so for their safety, she is to tell no one what’s ...
May 01, 2020•26 min•Ep. 62
Barbara Corcoran is known for her business acumen, and with nearly 50 years in real estate under her belt, the 70-year-old mogul is still going strong. Corcoran can be seen every week as an investor and judge on ABC’s hit show Shark Tank and remains an active player in real estate development. Armed with this knowledge, scammers employ an elaborate email phishing scheme in an attempt to steal Barbara’s money.
Apr 24, 2020•31 min•Ep. 61
Annie and her children think the worst of the romance scam is over, until she comes home to flowers on her doorstep. Annie assumes they’re from Mark, the man she has learned is a con artist, but the flowers are addressed to a woman named Sasha, and sent by a man Annie’s never heard of. As Annie looks into the mysterious delivery, she and her family discover this scam is bigger and more dangerous than they ever imagined.
Apr 17, 2020•37 min•Ep. 60
Annie makes the tough decision to put her husband of 35 years into a nursing home for his dementia. She finds her new life without him lonely and decides to join an online dating site to look for a platonic friend. After some time she meets Mark, a widower and architect living in California. Annie, who lives in the Midwest, finds the distance perfect as she wants only a friendship. Annie believes she's found the perfect friend, but in reality she is being lured into an elaborate romance scam....
Apr 10, 2020•30 min•Ep. 59
In part two of this special two-part episode on virtual kidnappings, we speak with the FBI to discuss how these scams started, why they’re so successful and what is being done to stop them. We talk to the FBI Special agent who cracked a virtual kidnapping ring, and — with virtual kidnappings on the rise in the U.S. — you’ll learn what to do if you receive a call. Then, for the first time ever, fraud expert and our host Frank Abagnale and his son, FBI Special Agent Scott Abagnale, sit down to do ...
Feb 14, 2020•44 min•Ep. 58
On an uncharacteristically rainy Southern California day, Kathie gets a call that will change her life. Her cellphone displays the caller as unknown. Even though she’s hesitant, Kathie decides to answer. On the line she hears screaming and a man claiming to have Kathie’s daughter. The man addresses both Kathie and her daughter by name, but something about the interaction feels off. Terrified, Kathie isn’t sure what to do next. Unbeknownst to Kathie, she has been drawn into a “virtual kidnapping,...
Feb 07, 2020•23 min•Ep. 57
On this special episode of the podcast, our host, fraud expert Frank Abagnale, answers your questions. We dive into viewer emails to get Frank’s take on a wide variety of subjects, including using public Wi-Fi, DNA testing and cash transfer apps. Tune in to hear the answers to your burning questions and get Frank’s tips on how to protect yourself against fraud.
Jan 31, 2020•9 min
During the housing market crash, homeowners across the United States found themselves drowning in mortgage payments that they could not afford to make. Scammers like Jonathan Herbert took advantage of this crisis to steal money from unsuspecting homeowners. Herbert created Federal Mortgage Marketplace, a company that claimed to be government affiliated and able to help homeowners reduce their mortgage payments. Herbert preyed on homeowners whose desperation to avoid foreclosure made them particu...
Jan 24, 2020•24 min•Ep. 56
Hackers are thought of as villains who use their advanced computer skills to gain unauthorized access to data and wreak havoc. But “ethical” or “white hat” hackers help companies protect themselves against attack. These information security experts use the techniques employed by malicious hackers to reveal real-world vulnerabilities that could result in a hack. Ethical hacker Jason Glassberg is a founder of a company that has been hired by Fortune 500 companies to hack into their systems and exp...
Jan 17, 2020•21 min•Ep. 55
A pop-up appears on your computer screen, freezing the browser. It warns that your computer has been infected with malware and urges you to call a toll-free number for assistance. The number connects you to Client Care Experts, and the person who answers claims to be an IT specialist. But the person on the other end of the line is no expert. He is one of more than a hundred employees who are sitting in a boiler room in Florida, answering calls day and night, making false claims and manipulating ...
Jan 10, 2020•21 min•Ep. 54
Marlene is enjoying the Atlantic City boardwalk with a friend when a young woman approaches her. The woman introduces herself as Savannah and offers to give Marlene a psychic reading. Figuring it will cost her just a few dollars, Marlene takes her up on the offer. Savannah takes Marlene back to her shop. During the reading she picks up on many of the troubles Marlene is facing in her personal life. Having gained Marlene’s trust, Savannah offers her various items for sale in the shop, promising t...
Dec 27, 2019•29 min•Ep. 53
Beloved Vermont children’s entertainer-turned-filmmaker Mac Parker has been raising funds for his film “Birth of Innocence” for nearly a decade. The film has yet to be completed, and what investors were promised — a three year, $1 million project — has ballooned in both time and cost. When the Vermont Department of Financial Regulation steps in to investigate irregularities in Mac’s fundraising practices, they discover he’s operating a $28 million Ponzi scheme. They dig deeper and find Mac has a...
Dec 20, 2019•24 min•Ep. 52
