The Perfect Scam

AARP
  • 4.5 (35)
  • TRUE CRIME
  • UPDATED FORTNIGHTLY
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.

  1. Scam Victims Taxed on Stolen Money

    5 DAYS AGO

    Scam Victims Taxed on Stolen Money

    Imagine you've just had everything stolen from you by a ruthless scammer. You are wondering how you will pay your bills, maybe even have enough money to buy food. And then a bill arrives from the IRS – you owe taxes on the stolen money. Unfortunately, scam victims across the country are getting hit with huge tax bills thanks to a change in the tax code a few years ago. In this episode, you'll meet Chester, a retiree from California who is living this very nightmare right now, as well as the lawmakers working on the bipartisan effort to change the tax code.

    38 min
  2. A Family’s Thanksgiving Dinner Ruined by a SNAP Scam

    22 NOV

    A Family’s Thanksgiving Dinner Ruined by a SNAP Scam

    Thanksgiving is a time for sharing food with family and feeling grateful. It means a lot to Georgete, a struggling mom who just wants to make the holiday special for her kids. She relies on SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) benefits to get by, and when her Thanksgiving dinner is essentially stolen from her, she is devastated. The theft is part of a highly organized crime and Georgete is one of hundreds of thousands of victims, resulting in $150 million of taxpayer money stolen by criminals. And the scam is still happening all over the country, hurting an already vulnerable population.

    43 min
  3. Trusted Caregiver Steals Oklahoma Woman's Savings

    15 NOV

    Trusted Caregiver Steals Oklahoma Woman's Savings

    Alice hires a local handyman, Joey, as a live-in caregiver after her shoulder surgery. She recovers, but soon COVID-19 hits, and Joey, who is down on his luck, stays on to help around the house. Alice has known Joey for years and trusts him completely. But one morning when she opens her monthly bank statement, everything about her relationship with Joey changes.

    40 min
  4. Love Online Leads to $60,000 Theft

    8 NOV

    Love Online Leads to $60,000 Theft

    Debbie, a Colorado native and mother of three adult children, leads a fulfilling life of travel, salsa dancing and volunteer work. While her life is full, she would like to have someone to share it with. So, Debbie looks for love online and meets a seemingly great guy named Russell who claims to be a successful businessman. After weeks of daily texts and phone calls, they plan to meet. That’s when things get complicated – Russell, who is dealing with a work crisis overseas, needs her help to make some bank transfers. As a seasoned international traveler, Debbie is familiar with the nuances of accessing money when out of the country and she knows he’ll be good for it if she lends him the money. However, Russell doesn’t turn out to be who he says he is. After Russell steals almost $60,000 from her, Debbie bravely decides to tell her story.

    59 min
  5. AI is Making Virtual Kidnappings More Real Than Ever

    1 NOV

    AI is Making Virtual Kidnappings More Real Than Ever

    It’s a typical busy day for Amanda as she sees her teenaged daughter off to work. But five minutes later, everything changes when she receives a call from a local number and hears her daughter’s voice crying. A man comes on the line with a chilling threat for Amanda if she doesn’t do exactly what he says. Technologies like AI are making virtual kidnappings and similar scams easier than ever for criminals. Bob talks with Vijay Balasubramaniyan about this ever-evolving technology and how listeners can protect themselves.

    48 min
  6. Suicide After a Scam: One Family’s Story

    25 OCT

    Suicide After a Scam: One Family’s Story

    Dennis, an 82-year-old proud father and grandfather, makes a connection with a woman he meets on Facebook named Jessie. Jessie claims to have made a lot of money through crypto investments and offers to teach Dennis how she did it. Having developed a trusting relationship with Jessie and hoping to build an inheritance for his family, Dennis decides to invest his savings. When it is revealed that the investments are a scam and Jessie is a fraud, a devastated Dennis takes his own life. Now his son and daughter share his story in hopes of reaching just one person who might be going through a similar situation.

    53 min
  7. Archive Episode: Beware the Boardwalk Psychic

    18 OCT · BONUS

    Archive Episode: Beware the Boardwalk Psychic

    In this 2019 episode, Marlene is enjoying the Atlantic City boardwalk with a friend when a young woman approaches her. The woman introduces herself as Savannah and offers to give Marlene a psychic reading. Figuring it will cost her just a few dollars, Marlene takes her up on the offer. Savannah takes Marlene back to her shop. During the reading she picks up on many of the troubles Marlene is facing in her personal life. Having gained Marlene’s trust, Savannah offers her various items for sale in the shop, promising that they will solve her problems. Marlene chooses a few things within her budget to purchase and starts to leave. But Savannah’s not done with her yet. She gives Marlene her phone number with an offer to continue to help her. It all seems innocent to Marlene, but this chance encounter with a boardwalk psychic will morph into a long, complex relationship that will leave her nearly broke.

    25 min
  8. Archive Episode: GoFundMe Scam Targets Dart Community, Part 2

    11 OCT · BONUS

    Archive Episode: GoFundMe Scam Targets Dart Community, Part 2

    In Part 2 of this 2022 episode, Darlene Asher, as the head of her local dart league, has been leading the charge to help Jeremiah Jon Smith, who they believe is dying from cancer. But when Jeremiah’s wife leaves him, she shares her doubts with Darlene about his illness. A police investigation reveals the devastating truth: Jeremiah has been faking his cancer and exploiting his friends' generosity in order to line his pockets.

    45 min
See All (250)

Trailers

Hosts & Guests

4.5
out of 5
35 Ratings

About

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.

Information

  • Creator
    AARP
  • Years Active
    2018 - 2024
  • Episodes
    250
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © AARP
  • Show Website
    The Perfect Scam

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