Best Decived Podcasts (2024)

1
News: A Nebraska woman is conned out of a gold bar a woman buys the wrong kind of gift card, frustrating a scammer, but still losing her money 14:45

24h ago14:45

14:45

News: A Nebraska woman is conned out of a gold bar and a woman buys the wrong kind of gift card, frustrating a scammer, but still losing her money Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesBy Jim Grinstead

1
Witness Protection Programs -- it's not an easy way to vanish 18:44

8d ago18:44

18:44

t would seem if federal and state governments wanted you to disappear for your safety, it would be an easy thing to do. They can create all the documents you need, give you some money to get started and grease the wheels needed to get a new job. If only that were the case. Being uprooted is just as difficult -- if not more so -- than taking a powde…

1
Woman recovers $147k from scammer and a man tries to own the New York Hotel 13:47

15d ago13:47

13:47

Woman recovers $147k from scammer and a man tries to own the New York Hotel Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesBy Jim Grinstead

1
Hear from Maureen, a woman whose husband disappeared and she doesn't know why 29:53

22d ago29:53

29:53

The theme of this series has been the long con of vanishing. Instead of a scammer targeting you, you are the one scamming everyone else. To be successful, you must do this the rest of your life, making it possibly the longest con of all. Maureen is the victim of this con. Her husband went missing and while she verified he was still alive, she doesn…

1
Scammers break into a physician's prescription system, creating orders for tens of thousands of addictive drugs and a lawsuit has been filed against CitiGroup for not doing enough to protect customers 11:35

29d ago11:35

11:35

Scams & Cons News for March 21, 2024 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesBy Jim Grinstead

1
Vanishing: Where to go and dealing with loneliness 15:35

1M ago15:35

15:35

Once you've decided to vanish, the question is: where do you go? In this episode we explore those possibilities and what you need to keep in mind when choosing a place. The odds are you'll end up somewhere that's not familiar and among people you don't know. That loneliness is one of the main reasons that a vanishing con fails. We'll tell you how p…

1
Woman uses soap opera scheme in attempt to kill husband; catfishing scam hits business for $4 million 11:32

1M ago11:32

11:32

Scams & Cons News for March 7, 2024 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesBy Jim Grinstead

1
Vanished: How to go missing and avoid those searching for you. 26:42

2M ago26:42

26:42

The longest con of all may be vanishing -- leaving the place you know, going somewhere unfamiliar and never having contact with anyone or anything from your past life. In this episode, we tell you how to go missing and avoid those who will be looking for you. Private Investigative Services Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoi…

1
Scams & Cons News: Scammers use a smartphone with Bluetooth to steal 800 gallons of gasoline and the DEA accidently gives $500,000 to scammers 10:21

2M ago10:21

10:21

Scams & Cons News for February 15, 2024 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesBy Jim Grinstead

1
The longest con of all -- vanishing. Why would anyone want to do it? 17:11

2M ago17:11

17:11

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 th…

1
Season 6 -- A user's guide 5:07

2M ago5:07

5:07

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 di…

1
Scams & Cons News: A dating app leads to a carjacking and are you being smished? 9:08

3M ago9:08

9:08

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/ad…

1
BONUS: Lee Goldberg tells how he writes scams into his books and TV shows 22:24

3M ago22:24

22:24

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 publ…

1
REPLAY: Luxury scams 20:42

3M ago20:42

20:42

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 sa…

1
REPLAY: Three Card Monte - Remastered 20:30

3M ago20:30

20:30

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 belie…

1
REPLAY: The Russian Bride Scam 19:48

4M ago19:48

19:48

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…

1
See ya next year 1:06

4M ago1:06

1:06

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/adchoicesBy Jim Grinstead

1
Miracle cures have arrived! Whatever the ailment, they will do the job 24:16

4M ago24:16

24:16

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 so…

1
Scams & Cons News: Funeral home scammer takes money from widow, bank disses woman who was scammed, asking if her husband did it, and more! 11:49

4M ago11:49

11:49

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesBy Jim Grinstead

1
Robo calls -- How they work, who makes them and how you can cash in by listening 16:08

5M ago16:08

16:08

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.com Kit for challenging robo calls Sample challenge letter Learn m…

1
Scams & Cons News for November 16, 2023 7:05

5M ago7:05

7:05

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesBy Jim Grinstead

1
You can be the victim of a con. Here's how. 20:24

5M ago20:24

20:24

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…

1
Scams & Cons News for November 2, 2023 11:21

6M ago11:21

11:21

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. …

1
Justification: Scammers explain why they do what they do 19:01

6M ago19:01

19:01

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…

1
Scams & Cons News for October 19, 2023 6:51

6M ago6:51

6:51

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesBy Jim Grinstead

1
Imposters: Which is real: Batman or Bruce Wayne? 16:13

6M ago16:13

16:13

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! Lea…

1
Scams & Cons News for October 5, 2023 7:34

7M ago7:34

7:34

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesBy Jim Grinstead

1
Time travelers are scamming thousands 16:30

7M ago16:30

16:30

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 u…

1
Scams & Cons News September 21, 2023 10:22

7M ago10:22

10:22

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesBy Jim Grinstead

1
How to train pick-up artists 18:16

7M ago18:16

18:16

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/adchoicesBy Jim Grinstead

1
Scams & Cons News for September 7, 2023 7:49

8M ago7:49

7:49

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesBy Jim Grinstead

1
This is no misdirection, Season 5 begins Sept. 7. To get things going, here's a full episode on Misdirection 18:03

8M ago18:03

18:03

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 …

1
Scams & Cons News for July 20, 2023 9:20

9M ago9:20

9:20

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/adchoicesBy Jim Grinstead

1
Introducing Scams & Cons News 9:43

11M ago9:43

9:43

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 pr…

1
Bits and Pieces 17:27

11M ago17:27

17:27

Every now and then we come across stories that are so unique or rare that they don't merit their own episode, but that doesn't mean they should be forgotten. In this final episode of Season 4, we bring you stories of jetpacks, sucker lists and counterfeit whiskey. They have nothing in common except that they're interesting and they fool thousands. …

1
Donation scams: Give until you bleed 23:20

12M ago23:20

23:20

Unfortunately, the world has endless examples of people in need. The ones that real deserve our consideration, but the ones that are false ... those are the ones that deprive others of help they may desperately need. Whether it's a person seeking help for a relative who has cancer, a homeless man who gave up his lasts $20 to help a stranger or thos…

1
Three tales that continue to fool the world 32:06

1y ago32:06

32:06

The "War of the Worlds" broadcast. The "Fountain of Youth." The "Cardiff Giant." Odds are you have heard of at least two of these three scams, but it's also likely you don't know the whole story. Even textbooks get it wrong. Don't worry, we're here to help. We'll set you straight, despite what's in your fourth-grader's history book. The Cardiff Gia…

1
Using the media to fool us 16:27

1y ago16:27

16:27

If you want to fool thousands, you have to be able to reach thousands and mass media is built just for that purpose. Companies and pranksters have longed used these tools to peddle their tales, but don't be deceived. They still want your money -- they just want to distract you while they talk you out of it. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit m…

1
Medical secrets: How politicians hid life-threatening conditions that could have halted their political careers 26:56

1y ago26:56

26:56

How would you feel if a person who had the power to destroy the world had a debilitating medical condition. Would you vote for them, unsure how they would perform in a crisis? Politicians don't want to find out, so they keep secret vital information the public needs to make informed choices. And what about a senator, who had legally been deemed inc…

1
Harry Truman and the Kansas City mob 22:41

1y ago22:41

22:41

Two brothers turned their bar into a political machine that ruled Kansas City. From 1925 to 1939, the Pendergast brothers lined many pockets -- mostly their own -- by controlling public projects and contracts. They ran the city, the county, the state and, eventually, helped Harry Truman into the White House. We'll tell you how it was done, how taxp…

1
Stadiums: Teams use a proven and legal plan to use your money to build new stadiums 22:43

1y ago22:43

22:43

New stadiums can cost several billion dollars to build and who wants to spend that kind of money when the public could foot most of the bill? True, there are some owners who have shouldered the entire cost, but those are rare. In this episode, we tell you how teams prepare years in advance to use fan money as no-interest loans, to avoid taxes on th…

1
Bribery: How American corporations, the State of Illinois, Walmart and Fat Leonard steered public money their way 22:49

1y ago22:49

22:49

Suppose you wanted to build a new building for your business. You'd check the zoning laws, apply for the proper permits and hire a licensed contractor to do the work. These laws are intended to protect you and others from shoddy work that can lower the value of your new facility. It works pretty much the same in Mexico, but Walmart understood that …

1
Alabama sheriffs use 1939 law to starve prisoners and pocket the savings 21:59

1y ago21:59

21:59

In 1939, Alabama gave local sheriffs control over prisoner food budgets. They could decide how the money was spent and what food was served. If they spent less than what was budgeted, the rest of the money would not go back to the county, it would go legally into the sheriffs' pockets. Hey, what could go wrong? It wasn't until 2019 when the Alabama…

1
Season Four begins in two weeks! 3:29

1+ y ago3:29

3:29

We're making a pivot in Season 4. Having run you though all of the scams run on individuals, we're taking a look at con jobs run on thousands or millions of people. Our teaser tells you what you need to know. The new season begins in just two weeks. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices…

1
Introducing Scamapalooza! 41:16

1+ y ago41:16

41:16

It's my second favorite scam podcast. Visit Scamapalooza's website for more episodes. Subscribe wherever you get your podcasts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesBy Jim Grinstead

1
A fan favorite and the end of season 3 14:33

1+ y ago14:33

14:33

The holidays are upon us and with them, the end of Season 3. We'll be back in January with Season 4. Expect some changes for Season 4. We'll be focusing on scams run against the public. Things like the bribery of public officials, the political machine of Tom Pendergast in Kansas City and an Alabama law that allowed sheriffs to steal funds intended…

1
Twins: They may look alike, but they don't work as a team 14:28

1+ y ago14:28

14:28

It's a mystery writing trope: Twins commit a crime, but can't be punished because they look alike. You should expect better than that from Scams & Cons and we're here to deliver. In this episode, we have stories of twins who ran their own scams, usually in different areas of the country and the fact that they were a twin had nothing to do with the …

1
Luxury scams: Luxury can't be stolen -- it's a state of mind 19:42

1+ y ago19:42

19:42

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 sa…

1
The Mustard: Pockets cleaned at no extra charge 14:23

1+ y ago14:23

14:23

Golly, I'm sorry I spilled that mustard on your jacket, please let me help you clean it off. Mistakes happen, but this was no mistake. You've just been distracted long enough for someone to lift your wallet or steal your briefcase or luggage. Unfortunately, by the time you realize that, that helpful lady has vanished. This really old scam is called…

1
We caught him because we could: Frank Abagnale Jr. still conning us 33:13

1+ y ago33:13

33:13

Remember the movie "Catch Me If You Can?" It was based on the life of Frank Abagnale Jr. Abagnale is still conning us -- and making good money doing it. Like any good con artist, the trick is in misdirection. He doesn't want us to see prison files that show he was in jail during much of the time he outlined his escapades. He doesn't talk about stea…

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