Scam Goddess – "Coo’dunnit? Pigeon Heists"

Host: Laci Mosley
Guest: "Deacon" Jacquis Neal
Release: January 27, 2026

Episode Overview

In this hilarious and eye-opening episode, host Laci Mosley welcomes the ever-charming "Deacon" Jacquis Neal to unwrap a wild, international crime caper: the world of high-stakes pigeon racing, theft, and the absurd lengths people will go for prized birds. Together they explore how pigeon racing, propelled into ultra-wealth status among Chinese billionaires, spawned a wave of elaborate pigeon heists across Europe. As always, Laci and Jacquis riff on the comedic and bizarre, weighing in on their own experiences with scams and offering vibrant social commentary.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

Warm Reunion and Scam Confessions

[02:00 – 12:40]

• Laci and Jacquis rejoice at catching up after their bustling careers.
• The "Scam Confessional": Jacquis admits to nearly falling for a bank phishing scam when scammers spoofed his credit union’s number.
  • Jacquis shares, “Now I got money and I’m like, brother... you may have fucked up your money four years ago.” [04:19]
  • He recounts giving away sensitive info before realizing the scam, and how he blamed the bank (and switched banks), despite knowing it wasn’t technically their fault.
  • Laci retorts: “Your bank is like a jealous girlfriend who went through your phone. They know everything already. They don’t need you to confirm things they know.” [09:15]

Historic Hoodwinks: The Rise of Pigeon Racing

[17:00 – 30:10]

• Laci introduces the background of global pigeon racing, its value surge due largely to Chinese billionaires, and the new status of pigeons as luxury property.
  • “Pigeons are the Black people of birds.” – Laci [17:10]
  • They playfully debate the respect pigeons deserve, their misunderstood beauty, and their long-running role in human history as couriers, workers, and even spies.
  • Laci shares, “The Reuters news agency started out using homing pigeons... to get the news to people.” [23:01]

Bird-Based Banter: Pigeon Prestige and Problems

[32:00 – 41:19]

• Discussion of “superstar” pigeons and sky-high auction prices: Armando the pigeon sells for $1.4 million, Nu Kim for $1.9 million – both to Chinese buyers.
  • Jacquis: “I’ve never felt so insignificant knowing there’s a bird worth 1.4 million more dollars than I am.” [32:16]
• Lavish pigeon facilities in China: castles, swimming pools, and even helicopter pads for birds.
• The problematic side: animal welfare groups decry inhumane conditions and dangers faced by racing pigeons.

The Great Pigeon Heists

[49:41 – 56:37]

• Legal crackdowns on conspicuous gambling force pigeon racing underground. Belgian pigeon lofts are raided, hundreds of elite birds stolen.
  • Laci details a cinematic heist: “Two masked men cut through Tom’s neighbor’s fence... climbed onto his pigeon loft... cut a hole in the roof and descended inside. This is like Ocean’s Eleven.” [50:03]
  • Only prized birds taken – thieves were selective, apparently identifying famous bloodlines by sight or record.
• Industry blog "Pigeon Boss" calls it a crisis: “The pigeon mafia seems relentless... these organized gangs don’t see our beloved sport as a passion, but as a business.” [55:45]

Black Market Birds & International Ring

[56:13 – 62:10]

• One arrest: a Romanian man in Belgium is discovered with a secret coop of stolen racing pigeons, some worth hundreds of thousands of euros.

• Birds are smuggled into other countries and sometimes recovered, but often the true owner cannot be found.

• Laci: “Hundreds of birds still missing... pretty soon the only way to reunite the stolen birds with their owners will be opening the cages and hoping they remember to fly home.” [63:18]

Social Commentary & Absurdities

[64:33 – 66:12]

• Both hosts reflect on the sheer absurdity of spending millions on pigeons, and the natural consequences of such extravagant wealth.

  • Laci: “If you pay $1.9 million for a goddamn bird, you deserve everything you get.” [66:08]

• Warm closer with Laci and Jacquis reiterating the joys and wildness of both comedy and scam worlds.

Notable & Memorable Quotes

• Jacquis: “They called me from my bank’s number... I gave them my credit card number, my CVV!” [08:25]
• Laci: “If your bank is calling you... they know everything already. They don’t need you to confirm things they know.” [09:15]
• Laci: “Pigeons are the Black people of birds... a pigeon is a dove, it’s just dark-skinned and was enslaved.” [17:10]
• Jacquis: “I’ve never felt so insignificant knowing there’s a bird worth 1.4 million more dollars than I am.” [32:16]
• Laci: “If you hate women, get a pigeon. Feels better than being an incel online.” [45:30]
• Jacquis: “This is the craziest thing I’ve ever heard. I had no idea... there are people doing any and everything.” [63:37]
• Laci: “If you pay $1.9 million for a goddamn bird, you deserve everything you get.” [66:08]

Important Timestamps

• [04:19] – Jacquis’s phishing scam story
• [09:15] – Laci’s "jealous girlfriend" bank advice
• [17:10] – The “Black people of birds” theory
• [23:01] – Historic role of pigeons in news media
• [32:16] – Outrageous value of racing pigeons
• [45:30] – Gender politics and pigeon-rearing as an incel redirection
• [50:03] – Belgian "Ocean’s Eleven" style pigeon heist
• [55:45] – “Pigeon mafia” crisis pronounced by Pigeon Boss
• [63:18] – The “open the cages and hope they come home” summary

Tone & Style

The episode carries Scam Goddess’s signature blend of irreverent comedy, sharp social commentary, and heartfelt rapport between host and guest. Laci’s witty asides and Jacquis’s classic deadpan reactions anchor the conversation in humor, even as they marvel at the strange realities of crime and wealth. They use contemporary, culturally aware language and riff off each other effortlessly, keeping listeners engaged regardless of their prior knowledge of the subject matter.

For Listeners:

This episode is perfect for anyone who loves true crime, comedy, or just wants to hear about a world where birds are millionaires, capers get cinematic, and the funniest people on the internet ask: “Should we be blaming the pigeons, too?”

Find more:

• Jacquis Neal: @jacquisneal | Dropout TV’s Crowd Control
• Laci Mosley: @divalaci | Scam Goddess (podcast & TV show)
• Show notes, visuals, and more at @ScamGoddessPod

As Laci says: Stay schemin’!