Fraud Friday: The Shady Legal Squatter w/ Traci Thomas

Laci welcomes comedians, writers, and actor besties Jenny Slate, Max Silvestri, and Gabe Liedman (I Need You Guys' podcast) to catch up on her adventures in Ireland, learning about Berlin’s KitKatClub, and getting help at the airport at any cost. They also discuss Steve Farzam, the “fake firefighter” who was arrested without bail for impersonating a first responder in connection with the Palisades fire, and his problematic hero-complex addiction that keeps landing him behind bars. Stay schemin’! Listen to “I Need You Guys” every Tuesday on the SiriusXM app or wherever you get your podcasts. CON-gregation, catch Laci's TV Show Scam Goddess, now on Freeform and Hulu! Did you miss out on a custom-signed Scam Goddess book? Look no more, nab your copy on PODSWAG Keep the scams coming and snitch on your friends by emailing us at [email protected]. Follow on Instagram: Scam Goddess Pod: @scamgoddesspod Laci Mosley: @divalaci Jenny Slate: @jennyslate Max Silvestri: @maxsilvestri Gabe Liedman: @gabeliedman I Need You Guys Podcast: @ineedyouguysshow Research by Kathryn Doyle SOURCES https://magazine.atavist.com/2017/not-fuzz-police-impersonator-santa-monica-steve-farzam https://magazine.atavist.com/2020/the-con-continues-not-fuzz-update-steve-farzam https://smdp.com/news/crime/longtime-police-impersonator-steve-farzam-arrested-for-pretending-to-be-firefighter-during-palisades-fire/

Laci welcomes Alaska Thunderfuck (RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars Season 2) to discuss a Victorian era beauty influencer who peddled deadly beauty products and was a full-time criminal. Plus, a bride and groom planned a wedding at a venue they didn't own or rent because the Lord told them so. Stay Schemin’! (Originally Released 05/17/2021) CONgregation, catch Laci's TV Show, Scam Goddess, now on Freeform and Hulu! Did you miss out on a custom signed Scam Goddess: Lessons from a Life of Cons, Grifts and Schemes book? Look no more, nab your copy here on PODSWAG Follow on Instagram: Scam Goddess Pod: @scamgoddesspod Laci Mosley: @divalaci Alaska Thunderfuck: @theonlyalaska5000 Research by Sharilyn Vera SOURCES: https://apnews.com/article/bride-groom-crashers-illegal-wedding-130c7270d0d206f61e08f1b197779815 https://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/who-was-madame-rachel-scam https://www.express.co.uk/expressyourself/170084/Victorian-con-artist-Madame-Rachel-Fortune-from-fake-beauty-products

In the spookiest of scam stories yet, Laci welcomes actor Harvey Guillén (What We Do in the Shadows, Companion) to dig into David Sconce, a mortician who found new and gruesome ways to cut corners in the cremation business, turning his family’s funeral home into a money machine. Stay schemin’! CW: Mention of death‑care industry misconduct. CON-gregation, catch Laci's TV Show Scam Goddess, now on Freeform and Hulu! Did you miss out on a custom-signed Scam Goddess book? Look no more, nab your copy on PODSWAG Keep the scams coming and snitch on your friends by emailing us at [email protected]. Follow on Instagram: Scam Goddess Pod: @scamgoddesspod Laci Mosley: @divalaci Harvey Guillén: @harveyguillen Research by Kathryn Doyle SOURCES https://www.eonline.com/photos/37749/the-true-story-behind-hbos-the-mortician https://www.usatoday.com/story/entertainment/tv/2025/06/15/mortician-hbo-series-lamb-funeral-home/84121896007/ https://slate.com/culture/2025/06/the-mortician-hbo-david-sconce-documentary-tim-waters-lamb-funeral-home.html https://time.com/7290184/the-mortician-hbo-documentary-true-story/ https://www.missingatthemortuary.com/history https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1988-12-30-me-1105-story.html

Laci welcomes comedian, writer, and now dancer Andy Richter (Dancing with the Stars, The Three Questions Podcast ) to dig up the sauciest of cons by R&V Warren Farms. Between 1997 and 2003, as the most successful tomato farmers on the eastern seaboard, they swindled the government out of $9 million before investigators discovered that the B in their BLT stood for “bullshit.” Stay schemin’! You can vote for Andy & Emma on "Dancing with the Stars" by texting ANDY to 21523 during show time (Tuesday from 8 pm to 10 pm ET & 5 pm to 7 pm PT)! CON-gregation, catch Laci's TV Show Scam Goddess, now on Freeform and Hulu! Did you miss out on a custom-signed Scam Goddess book? Look no more, nab your copy on PODSWAG Keep the scams coming and snitch on your friends by emailing us at [email protected]. Follow on Instagram: Scam Goddess Pod: @scamgoddesspod Laci Mosley: @divalaci Andy Richter: @richtercommaandy Research by Kathryn Doyle SOURCES https://www.citizen-times.com/story/news/2013/12/21/candler-tomato-farmer-sentenced-to-prison-/4151515/ https://www.npr.org/2005/11/14/5009836/tomato-farmers-caught-out-in-insurance-scam https://www.starnewsonline.com/story/news/2003/10/11/feds-farmers-faked-crop-loses-for-insurance-money/30527516007/ https://www.agweb.com/news/crops/crop-production/american-gothic-farm-couple-nailed-massive-9m-crop-insurance-fraud

Laci welcomes Jabaris Davis (NBA Finals File) to discuss Heather Morgan, a rapping former-CEO who was a part of the largest asset seizure in history, involving over $4 billion in bitcoin. Plus, a Greek Orthodox priest and hedge fund manager participated in a “short and distort” scheme. Stay Schemin’! (Originally Released 03/21/2022) CONgregation, catch Laci's TV Show, Scam Goddess, now on Freeform and Hulu! Did you miss out on a custom signed Scam Goddess: Lessons from a Life of Cons, Grifts and Schemes book? Look no more, nab your copy here on PODSWAG Follow on Instagram: Scam Goddess Pod: @scamgoddesspod Laci Mosley: @divalaci Research by Kaelyn Brandt SOURCES: https://www.wsj.com/articles/hedge-fund-priest-thou-shalt-make-money-1445918531?mod=mktw https://www.reuters.com/legal/litigation/jury-sec-case-finds-priest-shorting-biotechs-stock-made-false-statements-2021-11-05/ https://nymag.com/intelligencer/2022/02/the-many-shifting-sides-of-cryptos-most-notorious-couple.html https://www.coindesk.com/markets/2016/08/03/the-bitfinex-bitcoin-hack-what-we-know-and-dont-know/ https://nymag.com/intelligencer/2022/02/doj-seizes-usd3-6-billion-in-stolen-bitcoin-arrests-couple.html https://medium.datadriveninvestor.com/bitcoin-billionaire-rapper-busted-after-fbi-seized-her-3-9-billion-fortune-183ad0e8cb0 https://www.nytimes.com/2022/02/13/nyregion/bitcoin-bitfinex-hack-heather-morgan-ilya-lichtenstein.html