Listen Now: Something Was Wrong

Summary

Empire City: The Untold Origin Story of the NYPD
Episode: Something Was Wrong
Release Date: January 13, 2025
Host: Wondery | Crooked Media

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Introduction

In the episode titled "Something Was Wrong," hosted by Wondery and Crooked Media, listeners are taken on a gripping journey into the dark side of human deception and its profound impact on victims. This episode delves into the intricate web woven by Megan Stoner, a con artist whose fraudulent activities have left numerous lives shattered across the United States and Canada. Through personal accounts, recorded conversations, and expert insights, the episode uncovers the layers of manipulation and the relentless pursuit of justice by those wronged.

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Unveiling Megan Stoner's Deception

The episode opens with Tiffany Reese introducing the story of Megan Stoner, painting a picture of a young woman seemingly dedicated to mental health advocacy and political activism. Reese immediately hints at the facade Megan has maintained, setting the stage for a narrative filled with betrayal and cunning.

Tiffany Reese [00:00]: "What if I told you it was all an elaborate lie?"

As the story unfolds, listeners learn about Megan's extensive history of scams, including fake rentals and stolen identities. Reese emphasizes the depth of Megan's deception, revealing how her actions have disrupted countless lives.

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Confrontation and Truth

A pivotal moment in the episode features a recorded phone conversation between Lissa and Megan Stoner. This exchange serves as a raw and unfiltered glimpse into Megan's current state and the consequences of her actions.

Megan Stoner [01:37]: "Hey, I was just really curious. I heard about this podcast. I was just really curious how it's going."

Lissa responds with a mix of professionalism and personal resolve, clearly frustrated by Megan's attempts to elicit attention.

Lissa [02:29]: "I lost my dad to suicide. And then shortly after that, the guy that I was with had an affair and had a baby with another woman. So I've recently moved out with just my kids, my life."

This segment highlights the emotional toll Megan's actions have taken on those around her, particularly Lissa, who has suffered personal losses partly due to Megan's deceit.

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Legal and Personal Ramifications

The conversation intensifies as Lissa confronts Megan about her lack of accountability and the ongoing legal issues surrounding the Mason Motors case.

Megan Stoner [03:08]: "Oh, okay. Yeah. Hey, has anyone else anything about a court date for the Mason Motors case?"

Lissa's response is unequivocal, underscoring her determination to see Megan face the consequences.

Lissa [03:18]: "Megan, I am not willing to give you any information about anything. Like, you should definitely speak to your lawyer if you have one."

Lissa elaborates on her efforts to support Tiffany Reese's podcast, which aims to amplify the voices of Megan's victims and ensure their stories receive the attention they deserve.

Lissa [04:00]: "I put so much effort into making sure that your victims' voices were heard. And that's why I reached out and started this process with her..."

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Emotional Climax and Resolution

The conversation reaches an emotional crescendo as Lissa reveals her unyielding stance against Megan's attempts at manipulation and the measures she's taken to protect her and others from further harm.

Lissa [05:00]: "I have everything I could ever need to expose you to people. And that's exactly what I'm doing and what I've wanted to do all along."

Lissa's unwavering resolve serves as a powerful testament to the strength and resilience of those affected by Megan's actions. Her final words leave no room for doubt about her commitment to justice and the dismantling of Megan's fraudulent endeavors.

Lissa [06:00]: "This is the last time you will ever speak to me."

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Conclusion and Call to Action

The episode concludes with Tiffany Reese encouraging listeners to engage with the full season of "Something Was Wrong," highlighting the importance of awareness and community support in combating fraud and deception.

Tiffany Reese [06:19]: "Binge season 22 of Something Was Wrong ad free on Wondery plus. Join Wondery+ in the Wondery app or on Apple Podcasts."

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Key Takeaways

• Complexity of Deception: Megan Stoner represents a sophisticated level of fraud, utilizing multiple schemes to deceive and exploit individuals across North America.

• Impact on Victims: The episode underscores the profound personal and emotional toll that scams inflict on victims, as exemplified by Lissa's experiences.

• Pursuit of Justice: Through Lissa's relentless efforts and collaboration with Tiffany Reese, the narrative emphasizes the importance of giving victims a platform and ensuring their stories are heard.

• Awareness and Vigilance: The story serves as a cautionary tale about the necessity of vigilance in the digital age, where deception can easily thrive.

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Notable Quotes with Timestamps

• Tiffany Reese [00:00]: "What if I told you it was all an elaborate lie?"

• Megan Stoner [01:37]: "Hey, I was just really curious. I heard about this podcast. I was just really curious how it's going."

• Lissa [03:18]: "Megan, I am not willing to give you any information about anything. Like, you should definitely speak to your lawyer if you have one."

• Lissa [05:00]: "I have everything I could ever need to expose you to people. And that's exactly what I'm doing and what I've wanted to do all along."

• Lissa [06:00]: "This is the last time you will ever speak to me."

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Final Thoughts

"Something Was Wrong" is a compelling episode that sheds light on the dark underbelly of deceit within society. Through meticulous storytelling and emotional depth, the episode not only exposes Megan Stoner's fraudulent activities but also honors the resilience of her victims. It serves as a powerful reminder of the importance of trust, the dangers of deception, and the ongoing fight for justice in an increasingly complex world.

Listeners are encouraged to reflect on the narratives shared and remain vigilant in their personal and digital interactions, fostering a community that prioritizes authenticity and accountability.

Transcript

[Tiffany Reese]

Hey, everyone, it's Tiffany Reese from Something Was Wrong. I'm here to tell you about our latest season, and trust me, it's a story that will leave you speechless. Picture this. A young woman in her 20s, passionate about mental health and fighting for political causes. Sounds like someone you'd want to know, right? Well, what if I told you it was all an elaborate lie? In season 22, we're diving into the shocking world of Megan Stoner, a con artist who's been allegedly scamming people since she was a teenager. We're talking fake rentals, stolen identities, and lives turned upside down across the US And Canada. As I've been working on this season, I've been amazed at how deep the deception goes. Season 22 gives a voice to her victims and shows how a community can come together to fight against fraud. But after a brief period of incarceration, she's back and out on the streets. And even though she's free right now, we're actively working with law enforcement to get justice for the victims of her other alleged crimes. This isn't your typical true crime story. It's a wake up call about trust, deception, and the masks people wear in our digital age. It'll make you think twice about who you let into your life, online or off. I'm about to play a preview of Something was wrong season 22. Follow Something was Wrong on the Wondery app or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Lissa]

This call is from a correction facility and is subject to monitoring and recording. Thank you for using Global Tel Link. Can you hear me?

[Megan Stoner]

Yeah.

[Lissa]

What can I do for you?

[Megan Stoner]

Hey, I was just really curious. I heard about this podcast. I was just really curious how it's going.

[Lissa]

It's going fine. I think it's gonna really bring to light, like, the true person that you are. I think it'll be great. I did some recording with Tiffany last night. We're going to do some more here soon. There's a lot of people stepping forward that want to come out and speak, and she just has a really large platform. I think the goal has always been to just make sure that you're not going to re offend. And I'm hoping that this keeps you from reoffending in the future and not being able to commit future crimes because the audience will be so vast.

[Megan Stoner]

Yeah. How's things going with you, Lissa?

[Lissa]

You know what? My life got a lot less hectic when I stopped answering your calls.

[Megan Stoner]

Yeah, I understand. I know we've not talked in almost a year or so.

[Lissa]

Yep. I lost My dad to suicide. And then shortly after that, the guy that I was with had an affair and had a baby with another woman. So I've recently moved out with just my kids, my life.

[Megan Stoner]

Oh, wow.

[Lissa]

Yeah. But all is well. And now I feel like I have the bandwidth to really kind of sit down with Tiffany and, like, help do this podcast, which I think is great. It's been, like, really nice to have someone else maybe like, see the full picture of. You know what? Yeah, I talked to Tiffany.

[Megan Stoner]

I talked to Tiffany last Friday.

[Lissa]

I know.

[Megan Stoner]

Oh, okay. Yeah. Hey, has anyone else anything about a court date for the Mason Motors case?

[Lissa]

Megan, I am not willing to give you any information about anything. Like, you should definitely speak to your lawyer if you have one. If you don't have one, you should get one. I do know that, like, Tiffany is going to be working very hard to try to get some more of these crimes seen and heard by the correct people. I think a lot of this stuff wasn't brought to the correct people at the time. And I think that she's got a lot of connections. So whether more charges come or not, I don't know. But I think she's definitely willing to advocate for the victims that their voice wasn't heard. You weren't charged with those crimes. Yeah, I've heard your conversations with other people, and it doesn't really sound like anything has changed. And, you know, I know that when you went to work relief, you were still kind of like, fucking off and not doing what you were supposed to do. And that didn't surprise me at all. I kind of figured that's exactly what would happen and that they would see through your bullshit very quickly. And they did, Which, I mean, was really to be expected. If you're not doing what's expected of you there, then you're there, then you're gone. And so I almost find it comical that you're, like, calling me and trying to get ahold of me just to ask me about it. Like, Megan, this is going to ruin your reputation. You will have a really hard time finding a job or scamming someone ever again after this. And that's been my goal through all of this. Like, I put so much effort into making sure that your victims voices were heard. And that's why I reached out and started this process with her, because I really felt like people need to know just how truly malicious and terrible you have been. And I hope that when you get out, like, maybe you pick up and move away and live a different life, or maybe you get out and make amends to the people that you did wrong by paying them back. Like, that would be great, but I just don't think in the future you're going to be able to scam. There will be no asking people for their Social Security numbers or sending a thousand messages a night from Twitter asking people for $20 for underwear like that. That stuff's over now. And I also like to tell you that, like, I A lot of the phone calls that we've had, I did record. It's a one party consent state. So when you were saying that you had a child that died, I have all of those things. I have all the documentation of everything you've ever said. I shared all of those with her. So, as excited as you think you are about this podcast and you think you're going to be famous or something, like, I think you're in for a rude awakening. I was actually glad you called me just so I could make sure to tell you that. And I actually feel no remorse for what I'm saying to you now. I don't feel bad at all. You know why? Because the last time that I actually spoke to you, you threatened to call CPS on me and have my kids taken away because I told people that you were shitting in the shower at the jail. Those are the last. Have you noticed that? That was the last time I spoke to you. And you told me you're going to call CPS on my kids and have them taken away. How truly disgusting that is to say to someone. So I accepted this call. But don't call me again. Like I've told you in the past, I don't want to talk to you. I have everything I could ever need to expose you to people. And that's exactly what I'm doing and what I've wanted to do all along. So if there's anything else you'd like to say to me, you can say it now. But this is the last time you will ever speak to me.

[Tiffany Reese]

Binge season 22 of Something Was Wrong ad free on Wondery plus join Wondery plus in the Wondery app or on Apple Podcasts.