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.
Categories: Society & Culture
Listen to the last episode:
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.
Previous episodes
-
249 - Archive Episode: Beware the Boardwalk Psychic Fri, 18 Oct 2024 - 0h
-
248 - Archive Episode: GoFundMe Scam Targets Dart Community, Part 2 Fri, 11 Oct 2024 - 0h
-
247 - Archive Episode: GoFundMe Scam Targets Dart Community, Part 1 Fri, 04 Oct 2024 - 0h
-
246 - U.S. Army Financial Advisor Defrauds Soldier’s Grieving Family Fri, 27 Sep 2024 - 0h
-
245 - Dentist Runs Affinity Fraud Scheme in Austin Fri, 20 Sep 2024 - 0h
-
244 - You May Not Be a Winner: Sweepstakes Scam Empties Woman’s Savings Fri, 13 Sep 2024 - 0h
-
243 - Sisters Help Bring Down a Magazine Telemarketing Scam Fri, 06 Sep 2024 - 0h
-
242 - Archive Episode: Undercover Hacker Fri, 30 Aug 2024 - 0h
-
241 - Archive Episode: The Credit Card Con Queen Fri, 23 Aug 2024 - 0h
-
240 - Bonus: Toll Road Scams Are Trending Fri, 16 Aug 2024 - 0h
-
239 - Criminals Steal $200K From Volunteer Fire Department Fri, 09 Aug 2024 - 0h
-
238 - How Scammers Could Sell Your Land (Without You Knowing) Fri, 02 Aug 2024 - 0h
-
237 - Ohio Woman Comes Face-to-Face With Her Scammers Fri, 26 Jul 2024 - 0h
-
236 - Family Left Homeless After Rental Scam Fri, 19 Jul 2024 - 0h
-
235 - Puppy Scam Robs Couple of Their Life Savings Fri, 12 Jul 2024 - 0h
-
234 - Golfer Steals Thousands From Charitable Causes Fri, 28 Jun 2024 - 0h
-
233 - Archive Episode: Rookie FBI Agent Turns Tables on International Scammers, Part 2 Fri, 21 Jun 2024 - 0h
-
232 - Archive Episode: Rookie FBI Agent Turns Tables on International Scammers, Part 1 Fri, 14 Jun 2024 - 0h
-
231 - A Mexican Drug Cartel Runs Time-Share Scam, Part 2 Fri, 07 Jun 2024 - 0h
-
230 - A Mexican Drug Cartel Runs Time-Share Scam, Part 1 Fri, 31 May 2024 - 0h
-
229 - Criminals Cash In on Couple’s Credit Card Points Fri, 24 May 2024 - 0h
-
228 - Scammers Defraud Small-Biz Owner in Arrest Warrant Scam Fri, 17 May 2024 - 0h
-
227 - Utility Bill Scam Targets Grieving Family Fri, 10 May 2024 - 0h
-
226 - Bonus: Six Scams on the Rise Fri, 03 May 2024 - 0h
-
225 - Inside the Dark Web Fri, 26 Apr 2024 - 0h
-
224 - Romance Scammer Impersonates Korean Celebrity Fri, 19 Apr 2024 - 0h
-
223 - From Tech Support to Crypto ATM, Scammers Steal Thousands Fri, 12 Apr 2024 - 0h
-
222 - Job Hunting? Look Out for These Scams Fri, 05 Apr 2024 - 0h
-
221 - Archive Episode: Oil Tycoon Con Artist Steals More Than Hearts, Part 2 Fri, 29 Mar 2024 - 0h
-
220 - Archive Episode: Oil Tycoon Con Artist Steals More Than Hearts, Part 1 Fri, 22 Mar 2024 - 0h
-
219 - College Professor’s Retirement Stolen in Nightmare Scam Fri, 15 Mar 2024 - 0h
-
218 - Veterans Targeted in Military Benefits Scam, Part 2 Fri, 08 Mar 2024 - 0h
-
217 - Veterans Targeted in Military Benefits Scam, Part 1 Fri, 01 Mar 2024 - 0h
-
216 - Contractor Defrauds Wisconsin Homeowners Fri, 23 Feb 2024 - 0h
-
215 - International Fraud and Money Laundering Ring Exposed, Part 2 Fri, 16 Feb 2024 - 0h
-
214 - International Fraud and Money Laundering Ring Exposed, Part 1 Fri, 09 Feb 2024 - 0h
-
213 - Lawyer Fights to Regain Identity from Timeshare Resale Scam Fri, 02 Feb 2024 - 0h
-
212 - Archive Episode: I Borrowed Money for the Russian Mob, Part 3 Fri, 26 Jan 2024 - 0h
-
211 - Archive Episode: I Borrowed Money for the Russian Mob, Part 2 Fri, 19 Jan 2024 - 0h
-
210 - Archive Episode: I Borrowed Money for the Russian Mob, Part 1 Fri, 12 Jan 2024 - 0h
-
209 - Couple and Homeless Man Conspire on Viral $400K GoFundMe Scam Fri, 22 Dec 2023 - 0h
-
208 - Nat Geo Photographer Paul Nicklen Warns of Social Media Impostor Scams, Part 2 Fri, 15 Dec 2023 - 0h
-
207 - Nat Geo Photographer Paul Nicklen Warns of Social Media Impostor Scams, Part 1 Fri, 08 Dec 2023 - 0h
-
206 - YouTube Star Kitboga Fights Fraud With Humor Fri, 01 Dec 2023 - 0h
-
205 - SIM Swapping: A Multimillion Dollar Scam Fri, 24 Nov 2023 - 0h
-
204 - Holiday Scams: What to Look Out For This Season Fri, 17 Nov 2023 - 0h
-
203 - Phone Scams and the Human Trafficking Connection Fri, 10 Nov 2023 - 0h
-
202 - A Veteran Rebuilds His Life After a Scam Takes Everything Fri, 03 Nov 2023 - 0h
-
201 - Criminals Deceive Search Engines With Fake Results Fri, 27 Oct 2023 - 0h
-
200 - AI and Scams: What You Should Know Fri, 20 Oct 2023 - 0h