8 episodes

Have you ever been scammed? 
In The Ringer’s first true crime podcast, host Justin Sayles tracks a mysterious figure who once wronged him. A man with a lot of aliases, a lot of failed businesses, and a trail of victims. Justin follows him through a sham media company, a series of ruined weddings, and beyond, trying to find answers. 
The police can’t offer any help—but maybe we can. 
From Spotify and The Ringer, this is ‘The Wedding Scammer.’ A story in seven parts.

The Wedding Scammer The Ringer

    • True Crime
    • 4.4 • 41 Ratings

Have you ever been scammed? 
In The Ringer’s first true crime podcast, host Justin Sayles tracks a mysterious figure who once wronged him. A man with a lot of aliases, a lot of failed businesses, and a trail of victims. Justin follows him through a sham media company, a series of ruined weddings, and beyond, trying to find answers. 
The police can’t offer any help—but maybe we can. 
From Spotify and The Ringer, this is ‘The Wedding Scammer.’ A story in seven parts.

    7. Fool Me Twice

    7. Fool Me Twice

    In the final episode, we hear from the Wedding Scammer himself. A lot. 

    Host: Justin Sayles  
    Producers: Jade Whaley, Mike Wargon, Bobby Wagner, Amanda Dobbins, Justin Sayles, and Vikram Patel 
    Original Music: Justin Catoni of 13th Ward Social Club
    Sound Design: Bobby Wagner 
    Mixing and Mastering: Scott Somerville 
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    • 1 hr 20 min
    6. Undercover Cowboy

    6. Undercover Cowboy

    Justin confronts Carl Butcho, a.k.a. Lance Miller. And he records the whole thing. 

    Host: Justin Sayles  
    Producers: Jade Whaley, Mike Wargon, Bobby Wagner, Amanda Dobbins, Justin Sayles, and Vikram Patel 
    Original Music: Justin Catoni of 13th Ward Social Club
    Sound Design: Bobby Wagner 
    Mixing and Mastering: Scott Somerville
    Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

    • 1 hr 9 min
    5. All My Scammers Live In Texas

    5. All My Scammers Live In Texas

    The Wedding Scammer resurfaces. Carl Butcho is still in the wedding business, and he's got a new alias. But a few discerning Texans manage to connect the dots, and find their way to Justin. 

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    Host: Justin Sayles  
    Producers: Jade Whaley, Mike Wargon, Bobby Wagner, Amanda Dobbins, Justin Sayles, and Vikram Patel 
    Original Music: Justin Catoni of 13th Ward Social Club
    Sound Design: Bobby Wagner 
    Mixing and Mastering: Scott Somerville 
    Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

    • 50 min
    4. Coal Country

    4. Coal Country

    Michael, Mark, Lawrence: What is the Wedding Scammer's real name? Turns out it's none of the above. In this episode, Justin gets the answer, takes a trip, and tells you an origin story.

    Host: Justin Sayles  
    Producers: Jade Whaley, Mike Wargon, Bobby Wagner, Amanda Dobbins, Justin Sayles, and Vikram Patel 
    Original Music: Justin Catoni of 13th Ward Social Club
    Sound Design: Bobby Wagner 
    Mixing and Mastering: Scott Somerville
    Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

    • 56 min
    3. The Fake Name Game

    3. The Fake Name Game

    The Wedding Scammer hits the road, and lands in the Bay Area. However, there’s a catch: He’s no longer going by Michael Esposito. But while he’s got a new name, some things haven’t changed. And the cost of knowing him has gone up. 

    Host: Justin Sayles  
    Producers: Jade Whaley, Mike Wargon, Bobby Wagner, Amanda Dobbins, Justin Sayles, and Vikram Patel 
    Original Music: Justin Catoni of 13th Ward Social Club
    Sound Design: Bobby Wagner 
    Mixing and Mastering: Scott Somerville
    Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

    • 1 hr 2 min
    2. The Crooked Caterer

    2. The Crooked Caterer

    Michael Esposito has shut down Newsaratti and moved on to a new hustle: the wedding industry. Over the next few years, a handful of couples in Los Angeles will sue him, saying he did the unthinkable: ruined their weddings and kept the money. 

    Host: Justin Sayles  
    Producers: Jade Whaley, Mike Wargon, Bobby Wagner, Amanda Dobbins, Justin Sayles, and Vikram Patel 
    Original Music: Justin Catoni of 13th Ward Social Club
    Sound Design: Bobby Wagner 
    Mixing and Mastering: Scott Somerville 
    Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

    • 51 min

Customer Reviews

4.4 out of 5
41 Ratings

41 Ratings

coffeeandkilometres ,

Very well done

Enjoyed every minute of each episode. Carl is a scammer and liar but the host made it easy to listen to. Please do another season!

Regretful person ,

The host is the most annoying unbearable self congratulating loser dweeb who has ever lived

The host of this show fully ruined a simple story of a scammer. This loser Justin is so happy with his stupid story that he keeps literally congratulating himself and beating every single dead horse and repeating himself in such an unbearable way he’s fully ruined the story. At some point this loser talk you through shaving his goddamn chest to attach a mike to it. He describes his outfits. This mans is so sure he’s getting a Netflix show out of this he repeatedly says it. I’m on Carl’s side (the scammer) the host sucks.

Emme Ems ,

Needs an Edit

A common podcast story, good characters. But so much talking! Over and over the same stuff, the same reflections. Needs a good edit.

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