The Perfect Scam

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.

  1. Double Scam: Author Caught in Recovery Scheme After Crypto Dating Fraud

    HACE 23 H

    Double Scam: Author Caught in Recovery Scheme After Crypto Dating Fraud

    Josh loves his job as a full-time novelist, but writing and working from home don't give him many opportunities to meet people. So he decides to try a dating site and connects with a woman named Hannah. After months of conversation and growing closer, Hannah tells Josh about her cryptocurrency investments and encourages him to invest as well. Over time, he puts in more than $100,000 and watches his money grow. When he tries to withdraw money from his account, it is frozen and Hannah disappears. Panicked, Josh searches for help online and finds a company that claims to trace and recover stolen crypto funds. The tragedy only deepens when he turns to family for help paying the company's fees.

    57 min
  2. A $7.5 Million Lie: PCH Sweepstakes Scam Targets Veteran

    6 FEB

    A $7.5 Million Lie: PCH Sweepstakes Scam Targets Veteran

    When Manny, an Air Force veteran living in Las Vegas, loses his wife of 62 years, he turns to playing Publishers Clearing House online games to help ease his loneliness. He is thrilled when, one day, he receives a call from Publishers Clearing House informing him that he has won a $7.5 million prize. Manny dreams of finally replacing his old water heater, fixing up his house, and leaving a substantial legacy for his children, but first he must pay fees to release the prize money. The scam continues for months, draining Manny's savings, until Manny's daughter receives a call from an FBI agent. The story has a hopeful ending as local media and businesses come to Manny's aid.

    48 min
  3. Don't Believe Your Eyes: An AI-Powered Romance Scam

    30 ENE

    Don't Believe Your Eyes: An AI-Powered Romance Scam

    David is a retiree who remains active in his Florida community, but he would like to have someone to share his life with. When an Indiana woman named Bonnie strikes up a friendship with David on Facebook, he is delighted but cautious. A video call is reassuring, and their relationship deepens over several months. They make plans to move in together after Bonnie completes a large interior design job in Australia. Bonnie will be paid millions for the job, so when she needs to borrow $25,000 to pay the upfront cost for workers, David is confident she will pay him back. But when the bank notifies him of another transfer from his home equity line of credit, David knows that Bonnie is a fraud and possibly an AI creation. Ricardo Amper, founder and CEO of Incode Technologies, explains the surprising ways AI may be used in scams and why the best tool to combat AI scams may just be … AI.

    49 min
  4. Archive Episode: Job Hunting? Look Out for These Scams

    23 ENE · CONTENIDO EXTRA

    Archive Episode: Job Hunting? Look Out for These Scams

    Employment scams are one of the fastest growing types of fraud. The recent surge can be traced to several post-pandemic factors that make these crimes even easier for criminals. In this episode, we will hear from a job seeker and an employer who've both been affected, as well as an expert who shares the red flags job seekers should be on the alert for.

    43 min
  5. Archive Episode: Phone Scams and the Human Trafficking Connection

    16 ENE · CONTENIDO EXTRA

    Archive Episode: Phone Scams and the Human Trafficking Connection

    Have you ever thought about who might be on the other end of those scam calls and messages we all receive? The answer could be far more sinister than you might imagine. The "scammer" may also be a victim of human trafficking. These people are lured by the promise of well-paid jobs to travel to countries in Southeast Asia and are then forced to work in prison-like scam compounds. A BBC journalist and brave volunteers work to expose this brutal practice.

    51 min
  6. Archive Episode: Recent MBA Wakes Up From Dream Work-From-Home Job

    9 ENE · CONTENIDO EXTRA

    Archive Episode: Recent MBA Wakes Up From Dream Work-From-Home Job

    Remote work, which was a necessity for many during the pandemic, is now commonplace. While it's hard to beat the commute, criminals are paying close attention to this trend too. In this episode, a recent MBA graduate lands what feels like her dream job at a start-up that advocates for women's empowerment. The company culture is great and the job is interesting. But when her paychecks never show up, she begins to suspect the work-from-home job is too good to be true.

    53 min
  7. Bonus: AARP's Guide to Avoiding Holiday Scams

    12/12/2025 · CONTENIDO EXTRA

    Bonus: AARP's Guide to Avoiding Holiday Scams

    Amy Nofziger, Sr. Director of Victim Support for the AARP Fraud Watch Network™, stops by The Perfect Scam to discuss some new variations on old scams and the tactics criminals are using to exploit our vulnerabilities during this busy time of year. Learn what you should never do if you receive a mysterious package and why you should always hang on to those little receipts that come with your gift card purchases. Amy also shares the latest AARP research on holiday scams.

    29 min
  8. Scam Interception: NYPD Detective Tackles NFL Ticket Fraud

    05/12/2025

    Scam Interception: NYPD Detective Tackles NFL Ticket Fraud

    Hilarie, a dedicated Philadelphia sports fan, plans a weekend doubleheader to attend both a Phillies and an Eagles game with a friend. After successfully purchasing Phillies tickets through a Facebook resale group, she uses the same method for Eagles tickets—only to discover the promised tickets never arrive. Meanwhile, the NFL notices a rise in ticket fraud and seeks assistance from the NYPD. Detective Mike McCaffrey identifies the culprit, Nikhil Mahtani, who has defrauded sports fans and stolen thousands of dollars in a massive, multi-state ticket scam spanning five years.

    53 min
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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.

Ficha técnica

  • Creado por
    AARP
  • Años en activo
    2018 - 2026
  • Episodios
    305
  • Clasificación
    Apto
  • Derechos de autor
    © AARP
  • Sitio web del podcast
    The Perfect Scam

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