Influencer Couple Caught Running Home Construction Scam
Chris and Raquelle Judge market themselves as the next Chip and Joanna Gaines, showcasing custom homes and renovation projects across their...
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Society & Culture
The Perfect Scam
AARP’s weekly podcast The Perfect ScamSM tells the stories of people who find themselves the target of a scam. Host Bob Sullivan introduces listeners to those who have experienced scams firs...
Episodes
20 of 342 episodes
Archive Episode: The Virtual Kidnapping of a Gymnast
When Sheratan Johnson receives a call from an unknown number, she's startled to hear the man on the other end of the line claim he's kidnapp...
Bad Neighbor: The Man Who Defrauded a Small Town, Part 2
In part two, residents of the upstate New York hamlet of Hamilton learn of a financial scandal that touches nearly every corner of the commu...
Bad Neighbor: The Man Who Defrauded a Small Town, Part 1
In the charming small town of Hamilton, New York, home of Colgate University, Burt Marshall is a well-known figure. He prepares taxes and se...
Archive Episode: How Scammers Could Sell Your Land (Without You Knowing)
In this 2024 episode, Daniel no longer lives in his hometown of Fairfield, Connecticut, but he still owns a plot of land that was essentiall...
70th Birthday Ruined by a Jury Duty Scam
On Gale's 70 th birthday, she is just finishing her shift at work and looking forward to a special dinner with her husband, when the celebra...
Realtor's Identity Stolen to Defraud Renters
Daniel is a New Orleans firefighter starting a second career as a realtor. Before he even gets his first listing, he discovers that someone...
$1.3 Million Fake Investigation Scam
Larry and Barbara have issues with their Amazon account, so they welcome a call from "Amazon" customer service. They learn that their person...
Archive Episode: A Reality TV Star's Telemarketing Scheme
In this 2023 episode, Penny takes an online training course in social media marketing, hoping to build her hobby into a business. After this...
Frequent Flier Lands in a $12,000 Scam
David is a seasoned traveler who has visited over 30 countries. He and his wife are looking forward to a trip to Budapest when he receives a...
Phony Publisher Promises Bestsellers
Writing is Barbara's retirement hobby and her passion. She has several self-published books, but she dreams of her stories reaching a wider...
How One Family Stopped a Crypto Romance Scam
A late-night call from their son Brian has Barry and Joan concerned. Brian sounds panicked and says he urgently needs $280,000. They do not...
Archive Episode: FBI and Grandmother Bring Down Crime Ring, Part 2
In Part 2 of this 2023 episode, criminals are running the grandparent scam all over the San Diego area. Often crimes like this go unsolved,...
Archive Episode: FBI and Grandmother Bring Down Crime Ring, Part 1
In this 2023 episode, when Susan gets a frantic call from her "grandson" saying he's been in a terrible accident, she doesn't waste any time...
Friend Group Falls Victim to Large Job Scam
Eunice, a busy mom of four, discovers what appears to be the perfect work-from-home job opportunity with flexible hours and the chance to ma...
A Hawaii News Icon and a Sweepstakes Scam
Linda Coble is retired from a storied career as Hawaii's first female news anchor, but she stays active in her community through charity wor...
Scam Targets AT&T Customers to Steal Cellphones
After a long day as a school bus driver, Nate checks his voicemail and finds a message from "AT&T" offering a discounted rate and a new phon...
A Pilot's Stolen Identity Leaves a Trail of Broken Hearts, Part 2
In part 2, nearly a decade after Pat received the first phone call from a woman believing to be in a relationship with him, he continues to...
A Pilot's Stolen Identity Leaves a Trail of Broken Hearts, Part 1
When Pam decides it's time to find love again, she signs up for a dating site and soon meets "Pat." He's charming and very kind; they hit it...
Archive Episode: Million Dollar Movie Ponzi Scheme, Part 2
Beloved Vermont children's entertainer-turned-filmmaker Mac Parker has been raising funds for his film Birth of Innocence for nearly a decad...