Fraud Friday: The Liar in Literature (w/ Atsuko Okatsuka)

If you got unemployed roommates, put your headphones ON as today things get a lil' raunchy with Brandon Kyle Goodman, the host of the new "Tell Me Something Messy" podcast from iHeartMedia's Outspoken Podcast Network. Brandon helps us discuss Alan Todd May—a career criminal who started out committing check fraud and ended up hoodwinking investors out of millions by pretending he was an oil tycoon. Stay schemin'! This story was primarily reported by Charles Bethea in his 2024 New Yorker article “The Fake Oilman”: https://www.newyorker.com/news/letter-from-the-south/the-fake-oilman Signed copies of Laci's book are back in stock on Podswag: https://www.podswag.com/collections/scam-goddess/products/signed-scam-goddess-lessons-from-a-life-of-cons-grifts-and-schemes Follow on Instagram: Scam Goddess Pod: @scamgoddesspod Laci Mosley: @divalaci Brandon Kyle Goodman: @brandonkylegoodman Research by Kate Doyle. SOURCES: https://www.newyorker.com/news/letter-from-the-south/the-fake-oilman https://www.justice.gov/archive/usao/txn/PressRel12/may_sen_pr.html https://www.courthousenews.com/dallas-man-gets-20-years-for-7-million-scam/ https://archives.fbi.gov/archives/dallas/press-releases/2010/dl120610.htm https://www.cbsnews.com/colorado/news/colorado-fugitive-alan-todd-may-captured-florida-leading-posh-lifestyle-flaunting-wealth/ https://www.dallasobserver.com/news/alan-todd-may-once-a-fugitive-always-a-con-man-gets-20-years-for-ripping-off-investors-7131761

Comedy writer and self-proclaimed scammer Gilli Nissim (The Other Two) joins the Con-gregation to help Laci discuss Guru Jagat—aka white woman Katie Griggs—who's the kundalini yoga cult leader and conspiracy theorist subject of the new HBO docuseries "Breath of Fire." But first, Gilli teaches us how to scam your way to cash and prizes by running an old-fashioned scavenger hunt. DISCLAIMER: This episode will dishearten all fans of Yogi Tea and Kettle Chips. Stay schemin'! This story was primarily reported by Hayley Phelan in her 2021 Vanity Fair profile "The Second Coming of Guru Jagat" and the new HBO docuseries "Breath of Fire" based on her writing. Buy Laci's book “Scam Goddess: Lessons from a Life of Cons, Grifts and Schemes": https://www.hachettebookgroup.com/titles/laci-mosley/scam-goddess/9780762484652/?lens=running-press Follow on Instagram: Scam Goddess Pod: @scamgoddesspod Laci Mosley: @divalaci Gilli Nissim: @time2getgill Research by Kate Doyle. SOURCES: https://www.vanityfair.com/style/2021/11/the-second-coming-of-guru-jagat https://www.max.com/shows/breath-of-fire/64f63cfe-94c5-4f33-835a-68915f1f4960 https://time.com/7096209/breath-of-fire-hbo-guru-jagat/ https://laist.com/podcasts/imperfectparadise/queen-of-conspiracy-theories https://www.npr.org/2023/01/02/1146318331/yoga-guru-qanon-conspiracy-theories https://www.marieclaire.com/culture/tv-shows/who-is-guru-jagat-breath-of-fire/ https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/russell-brand-magic-amulet-wifi-airestech-tiktok-b2629426.html https://www.3ho.org/ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CjMnhthTV-0&t=3157s https://www.instagram.com/robotic_disaster/

Danielle Pinnock (Ghosts, Young Sheldon) joins the Con-gregation to discuss Nakesia Washington, a scamming travel agent who specialized in planning trips for the Essence Festival, only to leave clients high and dry. Plus, romance fraud is on the rise and one man sends nearly $500,000 to a love interest he never met. Stay schemin’! (Originally Released 04/11/2022) Laci’s book is out now! Order “Scam Goddess: Lessons from a Life of Cons, Grifts and Schemes" here: https://www.hachettebookgroup.com/titles/laci-mosley/scam-goddess/9780762484652/?lens=running-press   Follow on Instagram: Scam Goddess Pod: @scamgoddesspod  Laci Mosley: @divalaci Danielle Pinnock: @bodycourage   Research by Kaelyn Brandt. SOURCES: https://www.blackenterprise.com/travel-agent-arrested-essence-festival/ https://www.nola.com/news/courts/article_1966499c-9d9e-11e9-874b-9b8a792ac22f.html https://www.wdsu.com/article/she-hurt-a-lot-of-people-bbb-says-about-obl-travel-owner-after-getting-45-complaints/22692013 https://www.lipstickalley.com/threads/essence-fest-scam-obl-travel-many-claimed-they-have-lost-thousands.1688299/ https://alwaysalist.com/?p=15543

Andy Richter (The Three Questions, Conan) joins the Con-gregation to break down the story of the An0m encrypted cell phone—a phone branded as "by criminals for criminals"—and international gangster Maximilian "Microsoft" Rivkin who became a criminal influencer for the company. Make sure you listen 'til the end 'cause there's a twist! Stay schemin'! This story was primarily reported by Joseph Cox in his book Dark Wire: https://www.hachettebookgroup.com/titles/joseph-cox/dark-wire/9781541702691/ Listen to the Andy Richter Call-In Show: Wednesdays on SiriusXM's Conan O'Brien Radio (Channel 104) Buy Laci's book “Scam Goddess: Lessons from a Life of Cons, Grifts and Schemes": https://www.hachettebookgroup.com/titles/laci-mosley/scam-goddess/9780762484652/?lens=running-press  Follow on Instagram: Scam Goddess Pod: @scamgoddesspod  Laci Mosley: @divalaci Andy Richter: @richtercommaandy Research by Jack Pineda.   SOURCES: https://www.wired.com/story/inside-biggest-fbi-sting-operation-in-history/  https://books.google.com/books/about/Dark_Wire.html?id=L9faEAAAQBAJ  https://therecord.media/maximilian-rivkin-fbi-europol-reward-anom-encrypted-phones  https://www.theaustralian.com.au/nation/the-us-and-sweden-have-put-a-bounty-on-the-head-of-alleged-an0m-gangster-maximilian-rivkin/news-story/1a92d24061aa3cf4d1e55bf458bd1de9  https://www.vice.com/en/article/anom-phone-arcaneos-fbi-backdoor/  https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/whats-the-best-phone-to-do-crimes-on/id1614253637?i=1000665605260

Cody Ziglar (Futurama, Rick and Morty) joins the Con-gregation to talk about an ex-convict claiming to be the reincarnation of Scientology founder L. Ron Hubbard. Plus, a teen allegedly steals nearly $1 million from a Kroger grocery store. Stay schemin'! (Originally Released 05/03/2021) Laci’s book is out now! Order “Scam Goddess: Lessons from a Life of Cons, Grifts and Schemes" here: https://www.hachettebookgroup.com/titles/laci-mosley/scam-goddess/9780762484652/?lens=running-press   Follow on Instagram: Scam Goddess Pod: @scamgoddesspod  Laci Mosley: @divalaci Cody Ziglar: @yayforzig   Research by Sharilyn Vera SOURCES: https://www.vice.com/en/article/3kgkwv/this-guy-claims-to-be-the-reincarnation-of-l-ron-hubbard  https://www.businessinsider.com/craziest-scientology-facts-leah-remini-2017-1#there-are-at-least-two-mansions-in-california-that-are-maintained-staffed-and-stocked-with-food-in-the-event-of-hubbards-return-wright-says-18  https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/atlanta-area-teen-stole-nearly-1m-kroger-grocery-store-over-n1255199  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JR03drjMuIU