FAKD: Scams, Frauds, Internet Cons

Joseph Rowan

FAKD takes a look into the complex business of counterfeit and fake items on the market. How to tell fake items from real items and how not to get scammed.

  1. 2d ago

    #238 - This Week In Scams: $10M Fake Daycares, The Hole-In-One Scam & A Viking Treasure

    This week on FAKD: This Week In Scams, we're breaking down five bizarre stories involving alleged fake daycares, a hole-in-one prize that never came, a multimillion-dollar stadium promise, Pokémon card scams, and a Viking treasure hiding underground for roughly 1,000 years. First, federal prosecutors have charged 12 people in alleged schemes that diverted more than $10 million in childcare subsidies, with some daycare providers accused of billing for children who weren't actually receiving the claimed care. Then, we look at one of the strangest insurance scams we've covered: a company sold coverage for golf tournaments offering huge hole-in-one prizes—but prosecutors say when someone actually hit the shot, getting the prize became another story. The man behind the company has now pleaded guilty to wire fraud. We also break down an alleged “free” college football stadium deal that prosecutors say contributed to millions in losses, plus a Pokémon card scheme where the collectibles themselves were apparently real—but buyers were allegedly tricked into paying twice. And for this week's odd-history story, a metal detectorist in Finland discovered nearly 10 pounds of Viking-era silver buried underground—and then realized there was a second stash nearby. Fake childcare, disappearing prizes, a multimillion-dollar stadium promise, Pokémon scams, and thousands of Viking-era silver coins. Stay informed, stay skeptical, and don't get FAKD.

  2. Sep 11

    #237 - 9/11: 25 Years Later — The Biggest Conspiracy Theories, Debunked

    Twenty-five years after 9/11, the conspiracy theories haven't disappeared. Jet fuel can't melt steel beams. The Twin Towers looked like controlled demolitions. Mysterious “explosions” were caught on camera. Building 7 fell without being hit by a plane. A plane never hit the Pentagon. And perhaps the biggest claim of all—the government knew it was going to happen. In this episode, we take six of the most persistent 9/11 conspiracy theories seriously enough to actually examine them. We break down where each claim came from, the evidence conspiracy theorists point to, and what engineering investigations, physical evidence, eyewitness accounts, aviation records and intelligence reports actually tell us. Some claims have surprisingly simple explanations. Others contain pieces of truth that have been stretched into something the evidence doesn't support. And some reveal legitimate failures surrounding 9/11 that are arguably more interesting than the conspiracy itself. No “just trust the government.” Just the claims, the evidence, and what we actually know.

  3. Sep 9

    #236 - The Truth About Data Centers: Real Risks vs. Fake Fears feat. Ty Mathews

    Are data centers really draining our water, overwhelming the power grid, raising electric bills and destroying communities — or has some of the panic gotten ahead of the facts? Ty Mathews joins FAKD to separate the legitimate concerns surrounding America's massive data-center boom from the myths, misconceptions and outright misinformation. We break down what data centers actually do, why AI is driving their explosive growth, how much electricity and water they really use, whether they can affect your utility bill, who pays for the infrastructure, what communities actually get from tax incentives and jobs, and what responsible data-center development should look like. Some of the concerns are very real. Others aren't quite what you've been told. This episode is about figuring out which is which.

  4. Sep 4

    #235 - The Multi-Million Dollar World of Fake Art ft. Richard Polsky

    How do you tell if a million-dollar masterpiece is real—or an incredibly convincing fake? Art authenticator Richard Polsky joins FAKD to take us inside the fascinating world of art fraud, forgery, and authentication. We explore the history of fake art, why forgers do it, some of the biggest art scams ever uncovered, and the red flags that can expose a counterfeit masterpiece. Richard also shares stories from his decades in the art world, how he developed an eye for authentication, and the surprisingly simple things you can look for when determining whether a piece of art is actually what it claims to be. Richard’s new book, I Sold Alice Cooper’s Andy Warhol, is available for pre-order now on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Sold-Alice-Coopers-Andy-Warhol/dp/1635425999

  5. Sep 2

    #234 - This Week In Scams: The $150K Walmart Trick, $11M Elder Scam & A 4-Minute Museum Heist

    This week on FAKD: This Week In Scams, we're breaking down five wild stories involving sleight of hand, stolen identities, millions in scam money, stolen government checks, and a 3,000-year-old treasure that disappeared in minutes. First, federal prosecutors say a man allegedly used a sleight-of-hand trick at Walmart stores across the country to walk away with merchandise after secretly removing cash the cashier had already counted. Authorities say the scheme generated more than $150,000. Then, we follow the money behind an alleged elder-fraud network involving 21 shell companies, 44 bank accounts and millions of dollars taken from victims of tech-support, government-imposter and bank-imposter scams. We also look at a researcher who pleaded guilty after spending more than 14 years avoiding U.S. prosecution over money stolen from CDC-funded research, plus an alleged scheme involving more than $8 million in stolen checks, including dozens of U.S. Treasury checks. And for this week's odd-history story, thieves reportedly broke into a museum in Spain and stole most of a 3,000-year-old Bronze Age gold treasure—in roughly four minutes. Fake payments, stolen checks, millions in scam money, a 14-year fugitive, and 3,000 years of history gone in 240 seconds. Stay informed, stay skeptical, and don't get FAKD.

  6. Aug 31

    #233 - The Fake NFL Player Who Built an Entire Fake Life

    A fake NFL career. Millions in fake investments. A “financial adviser.” Luxury cars, football gear, and an entire ecosystem designed to look legitimate. Federal investigators allege Daejon Love posed as a San Francisco 49ers player while building romantic relationships with women and convincing them to invest in his supposed financial success. Authorities say at least 26 victims have been identified and roughly $1.3 million was transferred during the alleged scheme — and the FBI believes there could be more. In this episode of FAKD, we break down how the alleged scam worked, the obvious red flags hiding in plain sight, the fake investment balances, the manufactured “green flags,” and how scammers can build an entire ecosystem of credibility around a lie. Because sometimes the scariest part of a scam isn't the lack of proof — it's when the scammer gives you too much of it.

  7. Aug 28

    #232 - This Week In Scams: The Fake NFL Player, Amazon’s $9.4M Fraud & A Locked Viking Grave

    This week on FAKD: This Week In Scams, we're breaking down five wild stories involving fake identities, millions of dollars, counterfeit luxury goods, fake investments, and one seriously creepy burial. First, federal prosecutors say a man allegedly pretended to be an NFL player while building relationships with more than two dozen women and convincing victims to hand over roughly $1.3 million. He even allegedly had an accomplice pose as his financial adviser during FaceTime calls. Then, we look at an insider fraud scheme that used more than 1,000 fake invoices to steal roughly $9.4 million from Amazon—and somehow gets even crazier from there. We also break down a shipment of 152 counterfeit luxury watches that authorities say would have been worth millions if genuine, plus an alleged forex investment scheme where investors were shown profits that prosecutors say never actually existed. And for this week's odd-history story: the strange burial of Zosia, a 17-year-old girl buried centuries ago in Poland with a sickle across her neck and a padlock attached to her toe—apparently intended to keep her from returning from the dead. Fake NFL players, fake invoices, fake luxury goods, fake investment profits, and a grave designed to keep someone inside. Stay informed, stay skeptical, and don't get FAKD.

  8. Aug 24

    #231 - How FAKE Are Reality Shows?

    Reality TV is supposed to be real… but how real is it actually? In this episode of FAKD, we go back to the earliest reality shows and uncover how the genre evolved into the billion-dollar entertainment machine we know today. From producer manipulation and carefully engineered drama to “Frankenbiting,” misleading reaction shots, villain edits, recreated scenes, and clever continuity tricks, we break down how reality TV can manufacture a story without technically scripting it. Plus, we explore the psychology behind why millions of us keep watching—even when we know we're being manipulated.

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FAKD takes a look into the complex business of counterfeit and fake items on the market. How to tell fake items from real items and how not to get scammed.

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