Podcast Summary: Scam Goddess – Fraud Friday: The Bamboozling Beau with Tracie Morrissey

Release Date: November 7, 2025
Host: Laci Mosley
Guest: Tracie Morrissey

Episode Overview

This lively episode of Scam Goddess sees host Laci Mosley ("Scam Goddess" herself) joined by writer, producer, and "Pot Psychology" podcast host Tracie Morrissey. Together, they dive into historic and modern cons—from pandemic-era dog resale fraud to a wild story of a Japanese man juggling 35 girlfriends (the titular "Bamboozling Beau"). With Mosley’s signature wit and Morrissey’s deep scam knowledge, the episode explores not only the mechanics of these scams but also the psychology of both scammers and their victims. Listeners are treated to candid conversation, scam-adjacent confessions, and practical advice on avoiding fraud.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Intros and Scam Confessions

• [02:27] Laci Mosley: Interviews Tracie about her personal relationship with scams.
• Tracie Morrissey: “I'm, like, obsessed with scams. I love scams. ... I'm interested in them, but I also am like, I don't ever want to be a victim. ... I love messing with robocallers, [but] I haven't done anything illegal. ... My scams are like cutting lines in traffic.”
• Discussion about social norms, like merging at the last second and how that’s actually the correct way to drive, not a “scam.”

2. Pandemic & Grocery Store Schemes

• Both reflect on pandemic-induced changes, specifically how essential workers were called heroes but not compensated as such.
• [08:07] Laci Mosley: “The biggest scam of the pandemic is calling people who work in grocery stores essential workers, but then not paying them, like, they're essential ... like, what did this pay? Not looking essential. This pay is looking very replaceable.”

3. Listener Mailbag: Dog Adoption Scams

• [09:20] Laci asks for a fake name, gets “Jerry” from Tracie.
• Listener from Ontario describes various dog scams after increased demand during the pandemic:
  • Imported dogs misrepresented as rescues.
  • Fake sellers taking deposits for puppies but disappearing.
  • Designer dog fraud: pups sold as “hypoallergenic” or with bogus lineage.
• [12:00] Tracie: Shares her own near-miss: “I did have to do a deposit ... I didn't realize [the breeders] were Amish until I got to their house. ... They run puppy mills. ... Feel like I rescued her because I took her out of the situation ... I got scammed into buying a dog from an Amish person when I never would have wanted to do that.”
• [15:07] Mosley: “There's no such thing as flags—it's one flag. When you see a flag, you leave. It's not plural. Okay?”
• Advice: Don’t ignore “red flags” out of desperation.

4. Sidebar: Dating/Ethical Stalking in the Internet Age

• Both admit to deep-dive online research, especially for dating.
• [05:18] Tracie: “I'm not at all weirded out [if people know things about me]. I have a public Instagram. … I put it out there.”
• “If someone pisses me off or something, I’m like, what do I need to know about this person?”

[19:38] HISTORIC HOODWINKS: "The Bamboozling Beau": Takashi Miyagawa

Case Overview

• Takashi Miyagawa: 39-year-old from Osaka, arrested for simultaneously "dating" at least 35 women, convincing each they were in a monogamous relationship, and extracting birthday gifts and money.

How the Scam Worked

• Takashi, a part-time MLM showroom worker (hydrogen water/shower heads), targeted older, single women.
• Promised marriage and fabricated different birthdays for each girlfriend to maximize gifts.
• Women eventually discovered each other and formed a "victim association" to file charges.
• Total financial impact: approx. $1,000 (varied gifts, including a $280 suit).

Panel Commentary

• [21:03] Laci: “Let’s just talk about time management because he's a king.”
• Tracie: “That's not even one [date per day]... there’s not enough time in the month.”
• [22:09] Laci: “He's mostly sold hydrogen water, shower heads... a scammer all around.”
• Women were attracted to his “intentionality,” seeing an older man seeking marriage as rare.
• On red flags in relationships:
  • [34:19] Tracie: “When you know, a man is lying is if he says that on the second date [he wants to be with you forever]. Either a liar or a total whack job.”
  • [34:55] Laci: “Dating is a scam in itself. We all show up as our best selves.”

Scammer Psychology

• Panel suggests Miyagawa’s rewards were as much emotional (attention, adulation) as monetary.
• [43:48] Tracie: “He wants them to sing for him, and he wants to blow out the candles. ... He didn’t want to ever be alone with his thoughts.”

Notable Quotes

• [30:58] Laci: (On victims forming an association) “They unionized. ... They made an LLC. They made a sorority.”
• [31:15] Tracie: “They've seen some stuff.”
• [36:57] Tracie: “That's wild. Maybe he loves cake.”
• [44:17] Tracie: “It'd be incredible if it's illegal to lie to women in Japan. Can you imagine?”

Memorable Moments

• Timestamps during the shared video: the Japanese news reporter chasing after Miyagawa while he tries to evade the camera—Mosley dubs it "Billy on the Street, but if Billy Eichner ran track."
• Analysis of scams’ emotional toll vs. monetary gain—“This is more about revenge/pettiness than money.”

5. Scammer of the Week: Seth Andrew

• [46:38]
• Former Obama admin adviser, stole $200k+ from charter schools serving low-income kids to help fund a Manhattan apartment.
• [47:22] Tracie: “A $2 million apartment in NYC is… not worth going to jail for.”
• Panel discusses hypocrisy in "liberal" fraud—stealing from Black and brown children while projecting a “change the world” image.
• Debate over whether Andrew’s omnipresent yellow hat is “part of the scam”—Tracie theorizes he’s “hatfishing” due to balding.

Notable Quotes & Moments (With Timestamps)

• [02:46] Tracie Morrissey: “I'm obsessed with scams... but I don't ever want to be a victim.”
• [08:07] Laci Mosley: “The biggest scam of the pandemic is calling people who work in grocery stores essential workers, but then not paying them...”
• [15:07] Laci Mosley: “There's no such thing as flags—it's one flag. When you see a flag, you leave. It's not plural.”
• [30:58] Laci Mosley: “They unionized. ... They made an LLC. They made a sorority.” (on the 35 girlfriends drawing together)
• [43:48] Tracie Morrissey: “He wants them to sing for him, and he wants to blow out the candles. ... He didn’t want to ever be alone with his thoughts.”
• [44:17] Tracie: “It'd be incredible if it's illegal to lie to women in Japan. Can you imagine?”
• [47:22] Tracie: "A $2 million apartment in NYC, that's not... that's like a two-bedroom. It's not like a mansion!"

Advice & Takeaways

• “Never ignore the first red flag—don’t rationalize weird behavior when money’s on the line.” (Laci, [15:07])
• Be hyper-vigilant about pet adoptions and online breeders—scams abound, especially around “rare” breeds and pandemic periods.
• Dating is inherently scammy: question anyone moving at warp speed to claim emotional commitment.

Closing & Guest Plugs

• [53:16] Tracie plugs her Instagram and Pipe Dreams store (pipedreams.fun), featuring curated smoking accessories and mugs with fictional company logos.
• Laci’s own projects: “Black Lady Sketch Show,” “iCarly,” and ongoing podcast work.

Listen to this episode for:

• Hilarious scam confessionals and practical consumer tips
• Oddball but true tales of romance fraud and social engineering
• Biting comedic commentary, tons of practical advice, and a crash course in “scam fluency”

As always: Stay scheming!