Fraudsters

A rehab business allegedly encouraged patients to use drugs so it could bill for detox. Apparently, recovery was bad for business.

Seena and Ariel unpack an LA healthcare fraud crackdown involving nearly $2 billion in allegedly fraudulent claims, then get into the father-son duo accused of running a $1.6 billion addiction-treatment scheme. Family bonding has taken a turn.

Then it’s Kelly Clarkson versus a Brooklyn shop over a $15,000 mechanical bird. Was this a Pretty Woman moment, a misunderstanding, or just customer service in Brooklyn? Plus, Justin gets pulled into an emergency consultation about G.I. Joe. Th...

On this week's Fraudwire: Sienna Rose, "the neo-soul singer" with 3 million monthly listeners who's actually an AI creation of two Norwegian dudes, PLUS the $111 billion Paramount-Warner Bros merger that just handed one spoiled rich kid control of Hollywood. Cool... super cool.

[00:01:50] Meet Sienna Rose
[00:03:20] The Digital Blackface
[00:11:50] We Need An AI Badge
[00:18:20] Skydance Eats Hollywood
[00:21:50] The Synergies Euphemism
[00:24:10] Who Gets Laid Off First
[00:29:10] One Guy Owns The News

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On this week's Fraudwire, a fake AI comedian is stealing real comics' jokes, Travis Kelce got got in a $31 million Ponzi scheme, and a rapper literally wrote a song teaching people how to commit check fraud. Also, is lip-syncing fraud? Seena and Ariel have thoughts.
 

00:06:10] AI Steals Comedians' Jokes
[00:08:00] Meet Big Titty AI
[00:16:00] Travis Kelce Got Ponzi'd
[00:21:10] The Rapper Called Fraud God
[00:27:10] Madonna's Dead Mouth
[00:32:00] Is Lip Sync Fraud

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Quiet down, sit still, and join the Fraudsters gang as they jump into the adorably insidious word of Cocomelon. Discover how the company transformed from one Korean father making videos for his kids, into a $3 billion entertainment empire. And don't look away or stop listening – we'll know...

[00:06:50] Meet The Commercial Director
[00:10:20] Goldman Sachs Buys In
[00:14:50] Inside The Distractatron
[00:17:20] The Baby Never Sleeps
[00:18:50] Writers Are A Spreadsheet
[00:26:50] The Dopamine Cycle Explained
[00:29:30] Here's The Actual Scam

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This week's Fraudwire Includes a 9-year-old draining his dad's company credit card for his Minecraft YouTube, a government fraud crackdown led by a woman who insider-traded her way out of the Senate, ghost daycares in San Diego, and so much more. Nobody's innocent, everybody's shady, and Seena and Ariel have theories.

[00:03:50] The $118,000 Kid
[00:06:00] Dad's Confession Video
[00:08:40] Is This Even Real?
[00:23:00] Vance's Fraud Crackdown
[00:25:50] The SBA Boss Who Scammed
[00:29:40] Ghost Daycares Exposed
[00:36:50] Mitch McConnell Is Dead

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This week's Fraudwire is a full buffet of people succeeding at lying on the internet. Join us as we discuss the Temptation Island star who faked her way through Duke University,  the man in a 49ers helmet (no pads, no roster spot, just vibes) who suckered $1.3 million out of dozens of women, and the AI-generated celebrity endorsement that tricked a UK-resident into giving away a quarter million pounds. Sure, nobody died, but a lot of people got got.

[00:07:20] The Temptation Island Fraud
[00:09:20] The Graduation Gave It Away
[00:13:00] Everyone's Faking A Persona
[00:17:30] Meet The Wide D...

In the finale of our Vince McMahon series, Seena, Ariel, and Justin explore the end of Vince's reign as the head of his wrestling empire. How, despite a host of sex trafficking allegations, institutional cover-ups, securities fraud claims, and federal investigations does he end up free and clear while his ex-wife becomes Secretary of Education? Only one way to find out.

[00:01:50] The Anonymous Email
[00:09:20] He Takes His Company Back
[00:14:20] The $21 Billion Merger
[00:17:40] The Trafficking Complaint
[00:26:30] The Grand Jury Shows Up
[00:29:20] $400,000. That's It.
[00:32:50] Linda's Full Arc

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In Part 3 of our Vince McMahon deep-dive, Seena, Ariel, and Justin detail Vince's feud with the World Wildlife Federation, his growing pattern of sexual abuse, and the birth of the Mr. McMahon persona.

[00:07:10] The Kiss My Ass Club
[00:08:00] Bark Like A Dog
[00:09:20] Drugged, Married, On Air
[00:12:00] Choked With A Pipe
[00:15:00] The Ring Boys Lawsuit
[00:20:40] Rita's Limo Confession
[00:39:50] $14 Million In Silence

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In this week's Fraudwire, we take a break from the Vince McMahon series for Seena and Ariel to discuss Selena Gomez and her mother's shady brand, a Chik-fil-A worker's clever Richard Pryor-esque refund scheme, and an insidious remote-work scam.

[00:03:10] Selena's Mom Problem

[00:06:10] Meet The Serial Fraud

[00:18:40] New Scam Just Dropped

[00:19:40] The Fake Lottery Win

[00:30:00] The Mac And Cheese Heist

[00:35:00] Chick-fil-A Deserves It

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In Part 2 of our Vince McMahon deep-dive, Seena, Ariel, and Justin discuss Vince's steroid trial, the infamous Montreal Screwjob incident, and the tragic death of Owen Hart during a pay-per-view event.

[00:04:10] Buying Out Dad

[00:10:00] The Territory Wars

[00:17:40] Wrestling Isn't a Sport, Actually

[00:21:10] Enter Rick Santorum

[00:32:00] The Steroid Pipeline

[00:41:20] The Montreal Screwjob

[00:47:10] Owen Hart Falls

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Jump into a steel cage death match with Seena, Ariel, and Justin as they explore how Vince McMahon built a wrestling empire at the expense of everything else. In this first episode of the series, we track his villain origin story from a trailer home to a steam-powered rocket ship.

[00:05:40] Trailer Park Beginnings

[00:11:20] The Pipe Wrench Years

[00:17:20] Falling for a Villain

[00:20:30] The Fake Court Martial

[00:23:40] Meeting Linda at 13

[00:27:20] The Snake River Bet

[00:36:10] Fired, Then Handed the Mic

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On this week's Fraudwire, Ariel sits down with with special guest host Roxxy Haze to discuss an extraordinarily promiscuous police officer, debate the ethics of AI-generated music, and make sweeping proclamations about smuggling drugs internationally in your butt.

[00:02:10] Meet the Freaky Frog Cop

[00:07:20] Caught By His Own Texts

[00:08:30] Fired, Fully Pensioned, Free

[00:21:20] The Song Called Rubbers

[00:22:40] Caught In 4K

[00:39:20] The $20K Offer

[00:43:20] Seven Years in a Tokyo Cell

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On our second Fraudwire of Season 6, Seena and Ariel discuss the scourge of clip-farming, question the ethics of gambling on war, and explore the worst possible outcome for pretending to be pregnant.

00:03:30 Betting on War Itself

00:08:20 The Sergeant Who Forgot to Delete

00:14:40 What Is a Clip Farm?

00:27:50 Bibi Netanyahu Ate Our Ad Slot

00:30:00 Maternal Instinct Begins

00:35:00 The Lie Nobody Stopped

00:39:50 Some People Gotta Go

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In Part 2 of our Eric Adams deep-dive – Seena, Ariel, and Justin continue exploring how the former mayor (and current Albanian citizen) left the city with a $12 billion budget shortfall, led his entire team to federal indictments, and temporarily ended all racism with his cryptocurrency. 

00:02:30 — The episode properly begins. Seena sets up Part 2 as covering the ramifications of the Turkish pivot, additional scam highlights, and the moment the feds come knocking.

 00:05:00 — Ariel takes the audience through Adams' relationship with the truth via a catalog of minor biographical lies: the fake gun story blamed on a nonexis...

In the first deep-dive of Season 6 – Seena, Ariel, and Justin discuss former New York City Mayor Eric Adams, and his tenuous relationship with the truth. In Part One, we track his rise from a skateboarding (?), rat-owning (?) youth through his time in the NYPD, NY State Senate, and eventually all the way to City Hall where he proudly served the citizens of NYC (and Turkey).

00:04:20 — Eric Adams' origin story begins. Brownsville, Brooklyn, 1960. The absent father, the alcoholic butcher, the bag of clothes carried to school in case of eviction. The nail-studded bat.

00:07:10 — The Mickey inciden...

On the first Fraudwire of Season 6, Seena and Ariel delve into World Cup shadiness, some creative basketball player fraud, and Ken Paxton's bold pro-mistress voting record.

00:01:20 — Seena announces the episode topics: FIFA, basketball, politics. Patreon plug. Season 6 is officially underway, Justin is missing in Detroit.

00:06:10 — FIFA segment begins in earnest. Trump gets a red card overturned by calling his buddy the FIFA president. Ted Cruz thanks him out loud. The hosts establish FIFA as an affinity fraud operation masquerading as international goodwill.

00:15:30 — Pivot to Kara Krista. Former D1 basketball player from Estonia. $2.2 million fraud...

Fraudsters is back with SEASON 6 - THE VILLAINS. We know, every season has villains, but this season will feel hit different: a crooked mayor, a deranged CEO, a children's show hellbent on hijacking YOUR kid's brain and a few more surprises. Seena, Justin, and Ariel are back! Expect deep dives mixed in with some Fraudwires so we can talk about the latest in what's frauding around the world.
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For our very last bonus episode of Season 5, we have an interview with Tommy and Paris Chong. And for the kids listening to the show, Tommy Chong is a Canadian-American comedian, actor, and activist, mostly known for his weed humor with comedian Cheech Marin and their classic stoner movies like Up in Smoke and Nice Dreams. In this interview, you’ll hear how Tommy got into comedy, what it was like for Paris to grow up as Tommy Chong’s son, and how they got into the business of selling bongs together, which of course led to Tommy’s arrest...

This week’s bonus episode is an interview with Marsha Levick, the co-founder and Chief Legal Officer of the Juvenile Law Center. We dive into the infamous Kids for Cash scandal—how it was exposed, the fight for justice, and the larger patterns of corruption that allow people to profit from locking up kids. We also explore the devastating impact of the War on Drugs on juvenile incarceration, the dehumanization of youth in the system, and how policing and policy have evolved from Reagan to today. Where have we made progress, and what work still needs to be done?

Blume Professor of Law and Director of the Juvenile Justice Clinic and Initiative at Georgetown Law, Kris Henning, sat down with us over Zoom in the summer of 2024 to talk about the War on Drugs. She spoke about what led to her writing her book, “The Rage of Innocence: How America Criminalizes Black Youth,” how drug policies have affected kids in juvenile court and detention centers, the importance of language, and the role dehumanization plays in the War on Drugs.

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In this week’s bonus interview, we sit down with Yasmin Cader, Deputy Director of the ACLU and Director of the Trone Center for Justice and Equality, to explore the lasting impact of the War on Drugs on the U.S. criminal justice system. Yasmin shares what led her to become a public defender and her experiences practicing in D.C., NYC, and L.A. at the height of mass incarceration. We dive into the role of punitive drug laws, racial disparities in enforcement, police militarization, and the myths surrounding mass incarceration. Finally, we discuss the critical work being do...

This week, we’re talking all things drug policy, harm reduction, and the lingering effects of the War on Drugs with our special guest, Dr. Sheila Vakharia. Dr. Vakharia is the Deputy Director of Research and Academic Engagement at the Drug Policy Alliance, which is a fantastic organization that addresses the harms of drug use and drug criminalization through policy solutions, organizing, and public education. Dr. Vakharia is also a harm reductionist, social worker, and author of “The Harm Reduction Gap”. Listen as Dr. Vakharia shares stories from her book and personal experiences, including working at a Syringe Service Progra...

Welcome to the land of bonus episodes, where we release long-form interviews with a variety of guests about the war on drugs that we recorded in the summer of 2024. Here is our interview with Montel Williams. Now the host of Let’s Be Blunt, the number one rated Cannabis podcast in 2023, Montel Williams was a Marine and Navy officer where he undertook rescue missions and earned multiple medals of distinction. He then transitioned into the world of television where he became a household name with The Montel Williams Show, winning an Emmy in 1996 for Outstanding Talk Show Host. As yo...

In the final episode of our series on the war on drugs, we take a look at the present and future of this crisis with some help from Montel Williams and Dr. Sheila Vakharia. Yasmin Cader (ACLU) and Kris Henning (Georgetown Law) return for a roundtable discussion to offer their insight on the current state of the war on drugs and offer a hopeful outlook. From policy failures to glimmers of reform, we wonder, where do we go from here?

Stay tuned for bonus content with full interviews!

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What, you thought we were done talking about The War on Drugs?! Well, think again! We’re back with a special epilogue and we're diving into Operation Pipe Dreams, the infamous federal investigation that led to the arrest of Tommy Chong. Join us as we explore how this operation led by John Ashcroft and Mary Beth Buchanon targeted businesses selling drug paraphernalia across the country. We sit down with journalist Brian Conway for an in-depth look at the operation's impact, and Tommy Chong himself alongside his son, Paris, who share their experience getting busted and reflect on the evolving wa...

It’s the season finale of Fraudsters, and we’re reluctantly exploring the grim origins of America’s opioid crisis. From the Sackler family’s OxyContin empire, built on shameless marketing, fake science, and philanthropy-as-image-laundering, to John Kapoor’s Insys Pharmaceuticals, a scrappy underdog peddling fentanyl sprays, we unravel the fraud that fueled this epidemic. With half a million deaths, shattered communities, and contrasting fates for these corporate villains, it’s a class war in a pill bottle. Who paid the price—and who walked free?

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Get ready for one of the most sinister and heartbreaking frauds this week – the Kids for Cash scandal. Judges Mark Ciavarella and Michael Conahan turned Pennsylvania’s juvenile justice system into their very own cash cow, sentencing kids to private detention centers they secretly profited from. How else are you gonna clear $330,000 of credit card debt…? From denying legal representation to forcing minors into facilities over petty offenses, their scheme destroyed lives for kickbacks. Join us as we unravel their twisted web of greed and power with guests Marsha Levick co-founder of the Juvenile Law Center and Corene Kendrick of the...

Picture this: it’s the mid-'90s. Coolio’s Gangsta’s Paradise dominates the airwaves, and America’s crime hysteria is peaking. It’s the perfect time for a new villain to emerge: the “superpredator.” Tune in as we unravel the fear-mongering myth born from flawed statistics, Ivy League arrogance, and moral panic—spearheaded by Princeton professor John DiIulio. We explore how this theory intersected with the 1994 Crime Bill, fueling mass incarceration and devastating policies, with guests Kris Henning (Director of the Juvenile Justice Clinic at Georgetown Law) and Yasmin Cader (Deputy Director at the ACLU). Through stories like Terrance Lewis’s...

In the summer of 1989, President George H.W. Bush’s War on Drugs needs a dramatic touch for his first national address: a bag of crack cocaine bought steps from the White House. The DEA zeroes in on Keith Jackson, an unsuspecting young dealer, luring him into a dangerous setup to secure the president’s controversial prop. As Bush’s speech electrifies the nation, Keith faces life-altering consequences, sparking questions about political theater, selective justice, and a deeply flawed system. Tune in now as we dive into the chilling tactics used in America’s zero-tolerance crusade with the help of our g...

This week we’re taking a step back to Miami, 1987. South Beach is buzzing, and the Bank of Credit and Commerce International (BCCI) looks like any other bank—until you take a closer look. BCCI was no ordinary financial institution. It was a global hub for money laundering, arms deals, and shady alliances with everyone from Columbian drug lords to CIA operatives. In this episode, we unravel the rise and fall of BCCI, led by Agha Hasan Abedi. From secretive offshore accounts to "rent-a-face" deals with Arab monarchs, this was a bank that did it all...until it all fell...

Get ready for a deep dive into America’s anti-drug propaganda! This week, we’re tackling everything from Nancy Reagan’s “Just Say No” crusade to McGruff the Crime Dog and the DARE program. We’re digging up the roots of these campaigns, exploring how they reshaped public perception and exposing the contradictions of Nancy’s White House role. From the scare tactics of Harry Anslinger to those unforgettable ‘80s and ‘90s PSA (“This is Your Brain on Drugs” and so much more) we break down how these campaigns blamed users while ignoring the real issues behind addiction.

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We're not done with Reagan just yet! This week, we’re honing in on the crack epidemic and its devastating impact on Black communities. We unpack the 1980s shift in American politics, where Reagan's policies expanded Nixon's "War on Drugs" and utilized racially coded language to criminalize Black Americans. We’ve got expert guests, Yasmin Cader, Dr. Sheila Vakharia, and Professor Anne Foster on the show to talk through the anti-drug legislation that introduced harsh mandatory minimums and sentencing disparities, targeting crack cocaine users disproportionately over powdered cocaine users. Hmmm… I wonder why…. All that and we touch on the medi...

This week, we’re finally taking on Reagan and his starring role in the War on Drugs—there’s so much to unpack, we had to make it a two-parter. Reagan tackled the drug problem with the subtlety of a sledgehammer, ramping up incarcerations for nonviolent offenses and turning the fight against drugs into a military operation. In part one, we dive into Iran-Contra, Regan’s "October Surprise," Oliver North’s CV, and Freeway Ricky Ross—talking about how it all helped fuel the crack epidemic of the '80s.

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In this episode, we’re diving deep into the art of linguistic manipulation with a profile on one of America’s most racist presidents: Richard Nixon. Last week, we covered how the war on drugs helped fuel a system of police corruption. This week, we’re looking at how Nixon used clever rhetoric and dog-whistle politics to push forward an agenda that has left a lasting impact in the US. We’re talking all things “Law and Order, ” “Southern Strategy,” and Black Capitalism. Tune in to hear how these phrases became instruments of control and deception– tools that are still in use today...

This week we’re diving deep into the sick and twisted and well, corrupt underbelly of the NYPD during the 1960s and 70s. It was a simpler time when cops and criminals were one and the same. And the best part? Everyone knew about it and almost no one cared! That is until Frank Serpico came around. He was an idealistic young officer who refused to play along and take part in petty bribes, payoffs, and organized protection rackets and narcotics schemes. His desire to do the right thing is what led to the Knapp Commission and almost cost hi...

In this week’s episode, we bring to life a 1970 panel discussion hosted by Playboy magazine, where key figures from law enforcement, academia, medicine, and counterculture clash over cannabis. The debate features Harry Anslinger (J-L Cauvin), William Burroughs (Jim Taylor), Baba Ram Dass (Grant Gordon), John Finlator (Holden McNeely), Joel Fort (Greg Carere), Alan Watts (Ryan Feyk), Joseph Oteri (Jack Stansbury), and our Playboy Moderator (Amber Nelson). They really get into it and address claims that cannabis causes psychosis, and talk through its religious significance, the spread of drug disinformation, and so much more. Alongside segments from the original Pl...

God Bless the Child that tunes into Fraudsters this week! In this episode, we’re diving deep into the story of Billie Holiday. Using three pivotal arrests from her life, we explore how systemic racism and unjust drug enforcement left Billie Holiday as a public target amidst Harry Anslinger and George Hunter White’s war on drugs. From her traumatic childhood to struggles with addiction, Billie’s fight for survival reflected larger issues of government surveillance, a general sense of apathy towards addiction, and the harsh realities of being a Black artist during this era.

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In this week’s episode, we dive deeper into the sick and twisted mind of George Hunter White. We’re talking Operation Midnight Climax and everything that led up to the CIA’s most disturbing experiments. And of course, this includes a primer on “Poisoner in Chief” Sidney Gottlieb, who also enjoyed conducting LSD experiments on unsuspecting patients. They sprayed harmful chemicals over San Francisco and dosed prisoners for months, permanently altering the lives of many, including the Unabomber. And that’s all before we even get to Operation Midnight Climax – a freaky experiment to study mind control and sex. Nothing p...

In this week’s episode, we’re talking all things George Hunter White – an agent at the Federal Bureau of Narcotics and a monster! Maybe the two are synonymous… He infiltrated drug syndicates, tested truth serums, and eventually found his passion venturing into mind control and interrogation techniques for the government. We’ll get into the twists and turns of George Hunter White’s life – from being a crime-chasing journalist to a narcotics agent to an OSS trainer, to coming to terms with the fact that he wasn’t a Chinese man, this guy’s lived a life and done some horrible...

We’re wrapping up the story on Harry Anslinger with the help of some incredible guests this week. We’ve got the voices of Harry Anslinger (J-L Cauvin), Dr. Woodward (Ryan Feyk), Representative McCormack (Marcus Parks), and Dr. Munch (Henry Zebrowski) to help us get across the absurdity that was the Marijuana Tax Act hearing. Let’s just say it involved a lot of talk about injecting weed into the brains of dogs. The Marijuana Tax Act furthered Harry’s anti-drug agenda which also involved him manipulating science and the media for decades and included a friendship with Joseph McCarthy...