The Perfect Scam
ਚੈਨਲ ਵਿਸਥਾਰ
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 firsthand, as well as professional con artists and leading experts who pull back the curtain on how scammers opera...
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North Korean “Laptop Farm” Scams Target American Companies
Wall Street Journal reporter Robert McMillan and FBI agent Joe Hooper recount the story of Christina Chapman, a Minnesota woman who is drawn into the...
Job Seekers Targeted in Water Filtration Job Scam, Part 2
In part 2, victims of a nationwide fraud scheme join forces on a Facebook group and share their stories with investigative journalist Lou Raguse of KA...
Job Seekers Targeted in Water Filtration Job Scam, Part 1
Job seekers all over the country answer ads for sales positions at a water filtration company. The offer is promising, and the contracts look professi...
The Crypto Detectives: Tracking Down Stolen Funds
Online criminals love cryptocurrency for many reasons – it’s anonymous, can’t be traced, and payments are irreversible. So when Paul discovers he has...
All That Glitters is Not Gold: Gold Bar Scams
A tech support scam leads to criminals stealing one woman’s life savings in gold bars. Gold bar scams have exploded in popularity as gold prices hit a...
Archive Episode: Colorado Funeral Home Body Brokering Scheme, Part 2
In part 2, a call from Reuters journalist Brian Grow confirms Diana’s worst fears about what really happened to her stepfather’s remains. As Brian dig...
Archive Episode: Colorado Funeral Home Body Brokering Scheme, Part 1
Planning a loved one’s burial or cremation is a difficult experience under the best of circumstances. When Diana’s stepfather, Cactus, gets sick durin...
Archive Episode: International Crime Ring Sets Up in West Virginia College Town
In this 2023 episode, Huntington, West Virginia, is an idyllic college town on the Ohio River, but it’s also the epicenter of a massive international...
Bonus: Scam Survivors Use Experience to Help Others
In this bonus episode, Bob talks with two of the nearly 150 trained volunteers who answer calls on the AARP Fraud Watch Network Helpline. Dee and Mike...
Tech Support Scam Turns Romance Scam
When Joe can’t get his Apple Pay payment to go through, he does a quick search for their customer service number and reaches an operator named Daisy....
Tech Startup Defrauds Investors
A trusted friend introduces Taylor to a man named Sylvein William Maximilian D’Habsburg XVII, a tech whiz and the inventor of a fascinating new roboti...
Romance Scammer Poses as Keanu Reeves Using AI
Diane is still mourning the death of her boyfriend when a game of Words With Friends leads to a connection. The man claims to be actor Keanu Reeves. W...
VIN Cloning Scams: What Car Buyers Need to Know
John is in the market for a pickup truck when he comes across a Facebook Marketplace ad for a 2021 Dodge Ram. It needs a little TLC, but it’s a reason...
Title Pirates: How Scammers Use Quitclaim Deeds to Steal Homes
Dreama and Larry’s house is undergoing renovation after a tree fell on it. Since they cannot live there during the repairs, they set up security camer...
How AI is Making “Pump and Dump” Investment Scams Easy for Criminals
Karen is experienced in investing, but she hopes to boost her retirement savings by joining an investors group on WhatsApp. After a few months of rece...
Archive Episode: Knock Knock, Where’s My Puppy?
In this 2021 episode, Rochelle scores a great deal on a house in northern Virginia, only to have her dream home transformed a few months later into Pe...
Archive Episode: Courage of Steele, Part 2: How One Man Fought Back Against His Abusive Caregiver
In part 2, as 72-year-old Steve Steele is released from jail, not only can he hardly stand or walk, but he is worried about how he will recover the pr...
Archive Episode: Courage of Steele, Part 1: Housekeeper Turned Caregiver Steals Homes
In this 2021 episode, after 72-year-old Steve Steele’s life partner passes away, his housekeeper, Elizabeth, offers to work as his caregiver. Over tim...
Reverse Mortgage Scam Leaves Chicago Families Fighting to Save Homes
Longtime homeowners on Chicago’s West Side trust Mark Diamond to help them access funds and carry out necessary home repairs. However, they are often...
The NFT Scam Targeting Artists
Douglas is enjoying a second career as an artist, selling his paintings online and in gallery shows. People occasionally ask about non-fungible tokens...
Lost But Not Found: The Lost Pet Scam
When Chloe’s mom experiences a medical emergency, Chloe rushes to be by her side. Amid the stress and chaos of the following days, her mother’s cat, P...
Serial Scammer Targets Hockey League Parents, Part 2
In part two, law enforcement narrows in on Kota Youngblood and his scheme to steal millions of dollars from neighbors and fellow hockey league parents...
Serial Scammer Targets Hockey League Parents, Part 1
Kota Youngblood is known as a larger-than-life character in his small Texas town, spinning wild tales of military service and work as an undercover fe...
Bonus: 'Thelma' Director Shares Grandmother’s Experience with Scam
In this bonus episode, Bob sits down with Josh Margolin, writer and director of the action and comedy film, Thelma, to discuss Josh’s real-life inspir...
Sextortion Scam Targeting Michigan Teen Ends in Tragedy
Jordan is a star athlete and homecoming king who is packing for a beach vacation when he receives a message on Instagram. The account is of an attract...
Romance Scam Kingpin Brought to Justice, Part 2
In part 2, US Postal Inspector Cory McManus is hot on the trail of criminals running an elaborate romance scam network. After identifying dozens of vi...
Romance Scam Kingpin Brought to Justice, Part 1
When Debbie's mother passes away suddenly, she is not prepared for what she finds. While sorting through financial records and paperwork, she discover...
Archive Episode: Miami Property Scammers, Part 2
In this 2021 episode, when Shirley Gibson learns that her property in Miami’s historic West Grove neighborhood has been sold by someone using a forged...
Archive Episode: Miami Property Scammers, Part 1
In this 2021 episode, Miami’s historic West Grove neighborhood has recently become a hot real estate market. So hot, in fact, that it has attracted th...
Dream Kitchen Renovation Ruined by a Scam
Suzi and Gary retire to Tucson and find the perfect house with a less-than-perfect kitchen. They love to cook and entertain, so they put their energy...
PayPal Impostor Scam Steals Priest's Life Savings
Retired priest, Father Robert Banzin, has devoted his life to the service of others. Now in his 80s, he continues to preach every Sunday at his Chicag...
Family Fights to Disentangle Father from Romance Scam, Part 2
In part 2, Chris and his family try without success to stop their father, Alfred, from sending money to a series of criminals he met online – some cla...
Family Fights to Disentangle Father from Romance Scam, Part 1
When Alfred's sons notice unusual transactions on their dad's bank statements, they start asking questions. But Alfred's reaction tells them that ther...
Archive Episode: Woman’s Inheritance Wiped Out in Crypto-Dating Scam
After 25-year-old Niki Hutchinson loses her mother, she uses some of her inheritance to start fresh in California. Not knowing anyone, she does what m...
Job Seekers Targeted by a Work-From-Home Reshipping Scam
When Cathy's disabled husband loses his Medicaid coverage, she must look for a job to help pay the rent. The retired Army Reserve veteran has impressi...
Phony Home Contractors Steal Over $450,000
80-year-old David lives in a tight-knit community, frequently helping his neighbors with yard care and other tasks. So when he gets a knock on the doo...
Minnesota Man Caught in Blind Mule Drug Trafficking Scam
Rodney Baldus, a retired truck driver from Minnesota, believes he is the recipient of a large inheritance belonging to his late wife. The inheritance...
Whiskey Investment Scheme Goes Barrel-Up
Ray is retired but always looking for interesting opportunities. So, when he gets a cold call from a whiskey brokerage firm asking if he wants to inve...
Archive Episode: YouTube Star Kitboga Fights Fraud With Humor
In this 2023 episode, YouTube star Kitboga has turned scam baiting into performance art, delighting his 3.6 million followers with his many characters...
Archive Episode: Scams, Magic and the Art of Deception With Alexis Conran
In this 2022 episode, host Bob Sullivan welcomes special guest Alexis Conran. Conran’s insight into the mind of a con man comes from acting as one on...