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The Perfect Scam: Daily Summaries Delivered
by AARP
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 operate.
Latest Episodes
The most recent episodes — sign up to get AI-powered summaries of each one.
- Yesterday46 min
Couple Held in Virtual House Arrest by FBI Impostor Scam
Mike and Cathy are preparing for retirement and a move from New Jersey to Florida. During the stressful period of downsizing and transitioning their business, Mike is caught off guard by a call from someone claiming to be a U.S. Customs and Border Protection agent. He is initially skeptical but becomes convinced to join a video call with an "FBI agent." The agent informs Mike that he is being investigated for involvement in a money laundering scheme and could face extradition to Vietnam. Over weeks of fear, manipulation and constant surveillance of Mike's phone, the scammers persuade Mike and Cathy to send $250,000 in bail money.
- 1 weeks ago1h 2m
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 social media channels. But behind the polished image, clients say problems emerge soon after construction begins. From improperly installed plumbing and electrical to crooked walls, suspicion grows about the couple's true credentials. Weary homeowners seek second opinions and are left to pick up the pieces of their unfinished, unlivable homes when the Judges stop returning their calls.
- 2 weeks ago35 min
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 kidnapped her daughter from gymnastics class. Hearing her daughter's screams, Sheraton follows all the kidnapper's demands, and also texts her ex-husband, Brian, who goes into battle mode. Armed and ready to take on the kidnapper, he races across the city to get their daughter back, leading to a dramatic confrontation at a foreclosed house.
- 3 weeks ago46 min
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 community. Burt Marshall offers investment accounts that promise 8% interest, and he's been paying the interest for years. But when his house of cards suddenly comes crashing down, it exposes a Ponzi scheme so widespread that it ensnared not only individuals, but institutions ranging from the local fire department to the cemetery. All the while, Marshall carries on as if nothing has changed, still biking through town daily and living comfortably in his five-bedroom Victorian home in the town center. His crimes, however, soon attract the attention of the New York attorney general.
- 4 weeks ago29 min
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 sells insurance to many residents, sponsors local youth sports teams, and is frequently seen riding his bicycle on Main Street. When clients visit Burt's office, a sign on the wall offers an enticing deal: Invest with him and earn 8% return. Nearly 1,000 people take him up on the offer. But the neighbor that everyone knows and loves is hiding a dark secret.
- Oct 2, 202644 min
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 essentially his childhood backyard. When he returns to visit a sick friend, he is shocked to find that a developer has cleared the trees and is halfway through building a luxury home on his property. But how could something like this happen when the land was never up for sale? Daniel learns how a criminal with forged documents impersonated him and completed the sale without his knowledge.
- Sep 25, 202635 min
70th Birthday Ruined by a Jury Duty Scam
On Gale's 70th birthday, she is just finishing her shift at work and looking forward to a special dinner with her husband, when the celebration is suddenly cut short. Among the birthday messages she has received is a frightening voicemail from the "Maricopa County Sheriff's Office." When she returns the call, an "officer" informs her that she has failed to appear for a grand jury and must now pay a $9,260 bond. She spends hours trying to fulfill his demands, but a well-trained bank employee and new legislation that holds crypto firms accountable for fraud might just save the day.
- Sep 18, 202642 min
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 has stolen his identity and is setting up dozens of property showings. Meanwhile, hopeful renters are paying the impostor thousands of dollars in application fees and first-month deposits. Daniel is in a race against time to regain control of his identity and save others from becoming victims.
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About 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 operate.
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