The Perfect Scam

Latest Episodes:

Criminals Threaten Jail Time in Jury Duty Scam Nov 07, 2025

Show notes

Jana always tries to do the right thing, so when she receives a call from the sheriff's office stating that she missed jury duty, she panics. She thinks back to studying for her American citizenship exam and learning how important it is to respond to a jury summons. She doesn't remember receiving a notice, but the officer knows all her personal information and says she will have to pay a $9,000 bond or face arrest. Jana spends the next several hours driving from the bank to various crypto ATMs, trying desperately to meet the payment demands. When Jana discovers that it's a scam and calls 911, she learns that seven other people in her county were victimized the same day.

Thieves Drain Crypto Wallets in Sophisticated Phishing Scam Oct 31, 2025

Show notes

After several years of investing in crypto, Glen has built up a sizeable nest egg. The money means security and the ability to buy a home. One day, when trying to log in to Coinbase, he realizes that his account is locked. Seconds later, he receives a call from "Coinbase support." The customer service agent explains that due to a major data breach and the high volume of hacks, they are now being instructed to reach out and assist customers directly. He walks Glen through the account recovery process, which is reassuring, but within a day, Glen's account is drained of $180,000.

From Puppies to Heartbreak: How a Pet Scam Targets One Man's Home Oct 24, 2025

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When a couple pulls up to Gene's North Carolina home looking for their beagle puppy, he is not sure what to make of it. But soon, a steady stream of would-be pet owners arriving in the following days and weeks makes it clear that criminals are using his address to pull off their scams. Gene is patient and helpful with the disappointed families. Even after a fire destroys Gene's home, the scams continue

This Job Scam is Suddenly Everywhere Oct 17, 2025

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Dorothy is looking for a part-time job that will enable her to work from home and accommodate her medical disability. After applying for numerous jobs and posting her résumé online, she receives a message about an app testing job. It seems like a great fit, since she has done similar work in the past, but the complicated system has Dorothy adding her own money to an account in order to unlock elements. It's a scam that has exploded in recent months - task scams are now the single biggest scam facing job seekers.

North Korean "Laptop Farm" Scams Target American Companies Oct 10, 2025

Show notes

Wall Street Journal reporter Robert McMillan and FBI agent Joe Hooper recount the story of Christina Chapman, a Minnesota woman who is drawn into the world of laptop farming. She is struggling to make ends meet, living in a trailer without running water, and a job offer to be the US representative for an international company is a godsend. Laptop farms gained popularity in 2020 with the rise in remote work, allowing North Korean workers to evade sanctions, infiltrate American companies, and funnel money directly into North Korea's weapons programs. They hire people, like Christina, to run dozens of computers from their homes using software that allows remote access. The hiring companies, many of which are high-profile, are unknowingly giving North Korea money and access to sensitive data.

Job Seekers Targeted in Water Filtration Job Scam, Part 2 Oct 03, 2025

Show notes

In part 2, victims of a nationwide fraud scheme join forces on a Facebook group and share their stories with investigative journalist Lou Raguse of KARE in Minneapolis. Someone is selling water purification devices to entrepreneurs, who think they are getting in on the ground floor of a great opportunity, but then fails to deliver the promised gadgets. Lou discovers the criminal's identity is Charles Fields, a suburban Minneapolis father who uses a host of aliases to pull off the scheme. Lou and the victims' dedication, along with the discovery of key evidence in an unusual place, help law enforcement successfully bring Fields to justice.

Job Seekers Targeted in Water Filtration Job Scam, Part 1 Sep 26, 2025

Show notes

Job seekers all over the country answer ads for sales positions at a water filtration company. The offer is promising, and the contracts look professional. The only catch is the initial $5000 investment in a water purification unit. However, when the prepaid units never arrive, people begin to realize they are victims of a scam. They form a Facebook group, band together, and convince investigative journalist Lou Raguse to take up their cause. Will they get justice?

The Crypto Detectives: Tracking Down Stolen Funds Sep 19, 2025

Show notes

Online criminals love cryptocurrency for many reasons – it's anonymous, can't be traced, and payments are irreversible. So when Paul discovers he has been targeted by a crypto scam and the thieves have stolen $450,000, he is resigned to the fact that he may never see that money again. That is, until an online search leads him to Wisconsin police detective Scott Simons. Following the trail of the stolen money, Detective Simons traces it to a private crypto wallet and eventually recovers $80,000 of Paul's money. Detective Simons works with the non-profit Operation Shamrock to offer hope to scam victims and fight transnational organized crime.

All That Glitters is Not Gold: Gold Bar Scams Sep 12, 2025

Show notes

A tech support scam leads to criminals stealing one woman's life savings in gold bars. Gold bar scams have exploded in popularity as gold prices hit all-time highs. In this episode, Bob talks with a gold store dealer and a detective who are sounding the alarm about this trend. Hear how they are using gold bar sting operations to nab the criminals.

Archive Episode: Colorado Funeral Home Body Brokering Scheme, Part 2 Sep 05, 2025

Show notes

In part 2, a call from Reuters journalist Brian Grow confirms Diana's worst fears about what really happened to her stepfather's remains. As Brian digs deeper into the story, the truth he uncovers about Sunset Mesa Funeral Home and the body brokering scheme is worse than anyone could have imagined. The conviction of Megan Hess brings some needed closure to families devastated by her shocking betrayal of trust.

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