Once Upon A Con: Episode 7 - Jumping Through Hoops Like Circus Animals

Release Date: March 19, 2025

Introduction

In the seventh episode of Once Upon A Con, host Caroline D'Amore delves deeper into the intricate web of deceit spun by David Blum, a man once hailed as the "Wall Street Whiz Kid." This episode, titled "Jumping Through Hoops Like Circus Animals," uncovers how Blum manipulated and defrauded multiple individuals, including Caroline herself, leveraging his charm and fabricated connections to amass nearly a quarter of a million dollars.

David Blum's First Scam: Vincent San Marco's Betrayal

The episode kicks off with Caroline recounting her initial betrayal by David Blum through her acquaintance, Chef Vincent San Marco.

• [03:24] Caroline D'Amore: "I'm Caroline D'Amore, and this is Once Upon a Con. Episode seven jumping through hoops like Circus Animals."

• [04:32] Vincent San Marco: "He basically was giving me like, at least like 70% of my pre-investment has a return on investment and keeping the rest to invest in something else."

Vincent shares how Blum convinced him to invest $30,000 in supposedly lucrative IPOs. Blum utilized this money to secure a lavish residence at Villa Carlotta and introduced himself as a partner in an upcoming restaurant venture. However, when Vincent sought the promised returns, Blum’s scheme began to unravel.

• [04:23] Vincent San Marco: "If he doesn't give me back the money, he cannot continue. I got most of it back, you know, like, it's a Ponzi scheme. So basically, I'm sorry, but I got your money back."

Vincent initially believed he was receiving partial returns from his investment, unaware that these were actually part of the larger fraud targeting multiple victims.

Expanding the Scam: Harry's Encounter with Blum

Caroline introduces Harry, Blum's former employer at a credit repair company, who became another victim of Blum's manipulative tactics.

• [10:25] Harry: "He was doing great at work. He ramped himself up to a point where he was making about 15 grand a month. And he set record after record at my company."

Harry recounts Blum’s impressive performance as a salesman, which blindsided him to Blum’s ulterior motives. Feeling that Blum’s achievements were insatiable, Harry became susceptible to his pitches for investment opportunities.

Blum presented Harry with an elaborate plan involving early access to IPOs of companies like Coinbase and Instacart, promising significant returns.

• [12:03] Harry: "We work with lenders and realtors all across the country and help clients of theirs that have issues preventing them from qualifying..."

Despite initial successes, Blum's promises began to falter when the supposed investment plans became too convoluted and unsuccessful.

• [24:10] Harry: "The mirror thing lasted about six months, and then right around the point where the flea thing happened, it started to fall apart."

Harry eventually realized the scam when the promised deals failed to materialize, leading to significant financial losses and the dissolution of trust within his company.

Unveiling the Truth: Confrontations and Revelations

Determined to seek justice, Caroline and other victims banded together to confront Blum directly.

• [35:51] Caroline D'Amore: "Once Upon a Con is dedicated to the memory of my amazing mother, Bonnie Major, who would be super proud of me standing up for myself."

In a pivotal moment, a group of scammed neighbors approached Blum’s apartment at Villa Carlotta with evidence against him. The confrontation revealed the full extent of Blum’s deceit, including his manipulation of employees like Terry, who impersonated corporate executives to further the scam.

• [33:04] Harry: "He was in shock. So I don't think Terry knew the full extent of what he did."

• [34:17] Harry: "That was the hardest thing to do."

Harry's discovery that his long-time employee was complicit added another layer to Blum's betrayal, highlighting the depth of Blum's manipulation.

Blum's Tactics: Exploiting Trust and Current Events

Throughout the episode, Caroline illustrates how Blum adeptly used current events and fabricated stories to gain the trust of his victims. By staying informed and weaving believable narratives, Blum maintained his facade as a trustworthy and connected individual.

• [24:10] Harry: "David is really good at using current events to corroborate his scams. I mean, he reads the newspaper every day."

Blum's ability to reference real news stories, such as the flea infestation in Skid Row, made his schemes appear legitimate, thereby deceiving even the most skeptical individuals.

Impact on Victims: Financial and Emotional Toll

The cumulative effect of Blum's cons left victims like Vincent and Harry grappling with significant financial losses and emotional distress. The betrayal by someone they considered trustworthy not only resulted in monetary setbacks but also shattered their confidence in personal and professional relationships.

• [08:32] Vincent San Marco: "I feel like abandoned by the system, you know, that the good doesn't go at the end of the movie, in the sunset on his horse."

Caroline's Determination: Seeking Justice

Refusing to remain silent, Caroline takes proactive steps to expose Blum's fraudulent activities. She rallies other victims, gathers evidence, and confronts Blum directly, aiming to hold him accountable for his actions.

• [36:13] Caroline D'Amore: "This podcast is dedicated to the memory of my amazing mother, Bonnie Major, who would be super proud of me standing up for myself."

Her relentless pursuit of the truth underscores the importance of community and resilience in the face of deception.

Conclusion and Next Steps

Episode 7 concludes with the heightened confrontation between Caroline and Blum, leaving listeners on a cliffhanger about whether Blum will manage to evade justice or finally face the repercussions of his actions.

• [36:22] Harry: "This podcast is dedicated to the memory of my amazing mother, Bonnie Major, who would be super proud of me standing up for myself."

The episode sets the stage for the next installment, promising further revelations and the ultimate showdown between Caroline and Blum.

Notable Quotes

• Caroline D'Amore:

  • "[09:01] 'Nothing.' "
  • "[36:13] 'This podcast is dedicated to the memory of my amazing mother, Bonnie Major, who would be super proud of me standing up for myself.'"

• Vincent San Marco:

  • "[04:32] 'He basically was giving me like, at least like 70% of my pre-investment has a return on investment and keeping the rest to invest in something else.'

• Harry:

  • "[10:25] 'He was doing great at work. He ramped himself up to a point where he was making about 15 grand a month. And he set record after record at my company.'"
  • "[24:10] 'David is really good at using current events to corroborate his scams. I mean, he reads the newspaper every day.'"

Final Thoughts

"Jumping Through Hoops Like Circus Animals" vividly portrays the lengths to which David Blum went to deceive and defraud those around him. Through detailed personal accounts and emotional testimonies, Caroline D'Amore not only sheds light on Blum's manipulative tactics but also emphasizes the resilience and unity of victims determined to seek justice. This episode serves as a compelling narrative of betrayal, investigation, and the quest for accountability.

Listen to Once Upon A Con: Episode 7 - Jumping Through Hoops Like Circus Animals on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.