Scam Goddess Podcast Episode Summary

Title: Fraud Friday: The Cunning Clairvoyant w/ Eric Mosley
Host: Laci Mosley (a.k.a. Scam Goddess)
Guest: Eric Mosley
Release Date: July 25, 2025

Introduction

In this episode of Fraud Friday, part of the award-winning Scam Goddess podcast, host Laci Mosley delves into her personal encounters with various scams alongside her cousin, Eric Mosley. The episode offers a blend of comedic insights and genuine warnings about the intricacies of fraud, highlighting both modern-day schemes and historical cons.

Personal Experiences with Scams

Student Loan Scams

Laci and Eric kick off the discussion by sharing their experiences with student loan scams, particularly focusing on entities like Sallie Mae (now Navient).

• Eric (04:55): "I did like scams that benefit the common person. Like kind of a Robin Hood, like steal from the rich family, like not punching down."

• Angela (05:11): "Financed by student loans thinking that this was going to better my life. And in many ways it did. However, Sallie Mae... is the devil."

Laci recounts how Eric was misled into deferment programs, leading to aggressive collection tactics involving his father to coerce payments.

Energy Scams in Texas

The conversation shifts to deregulated energy markets, where trusted individuals promote pyramid-like schemes to switch energy providers for financial gain.

• Angela (07:02): "They make things look legit with big signs and skydrapers, but it's all smoke and mirrors."

Laci humorously critiques the convoluted pitches, emphasizing the lack of genuine value and the manipulative nature of such scams.

Listener Story: The TikTok Lesbian Scam

A listener, dubbed Ladarious, shares a disturbing account of a friend, Tracy, who fell victim to a manipulative relationship formed on TikTok.

Key Points:

• Formation of the Relationship: Tracy meets Penny on TikTok, leading to a cross-country move to Virginia where Penny claims to have five children.

• Financial Manipulation: Penny finances Tracy's trip but later pressures her into taking out loans, putting Tracy's credit at risk.

• Pattern of Abuse: Similar scams were noted with Tracy's sister, indicating a recurring pattern by Penny to exploit vulnerable women.

Notable Quotes:

• Laci (16:22): "This Penny has five kids under 12. How is that even plausible?"

• Angela (25:05): "We need to know what happened to Tracy. Don't leave her hanging."

Advice:

Laci and Angela urge listeners to thoroughly vet online relationships and remain cautious about significant life changes prompted by new acquaintances.

Historic Hoodwinks: The Vera Pratt and Angela Scam

In the Historic Hoodwinks segment, Laci and Eric explore the intricate scam involving Vera Pratt, a wealthy heiress, and Angela, a supposed psychic.

Overview:

• Vera Pratt: A 70-year-old heiress from a lineage tracing back to oil magnate Charles Pratt. Despite her wealth, Vera struggled with personal demons and sought spiritual healing.

• Angela’s Deception: Introduced as a psychic named Angela, she convinced Vera to invest heavily in her services, using manipulative tactics to gain financial control.

Key Events:

1. Establishment of Trust: Angela began by performing spiritual treatments, gradually gaining Vera’s trust and financial dependency.

2. Financial Exploitation: Angela fraudulently accessed Vera’s American Express card, amassing over $20,000 on luxury items.

3. Legal Intervention: Eventually, Vera’s family intervened, leading to the exposure of Angela’s fraudulent activities and multiple indictments within Angela’s family.

Notable Quotes:

• Laci (37:02): "At eight years old, she was training to be a scammer. Those kids are smart; they know what's up."

• Angela (43:28): "I have to protect my peace... It's too much room with the demons."

Legal Outcome:

Angela, revealed to be Sally Ann Johnson from the Rose Marks family, was sentenced to 26 months in prison and ordered to pay substantial restitution. Vera continued to suffer financial losses until her passing in 2018.

Insights:

The segment underscores the vulnerability of the elderly to manipulative schemes masquerading as spiritual assistance and highlights the importance of family intervention in preventing prolonged exploitation.

Scammer of the Week: Jean’s Plagiarized Book

In the Scammer of the Week segment, Laci and Angela spotlight Jean, the wife of former California state senator Dan McCordale, who was embroiled in controversy for plagiarizing content in her book on Santa Clara County history.

Details:

• Book Deal: Jean was commissioned to write a comprehensive history of Santa Clara County, receiving over $2.45 million between 2009 and 2019.

• Plagiarism Incident: Upon submitting a 580-page manuscript two years behind schedule, it was discovered that approximately one-fifth of the content was copied verbatim from Wikipedia and other online sources without proper attribution.

Notable Quotes:

• Laci (66:14): "She copied and pasted a chunk of her book from Wikipedia. That's blatant plagiarism."

• Angela (68:15): "She couldn't even make the copied sections flow. That's pure scam material."

Consequences:

The plagiarism led to the project being halted, and questions arose about the legitimacy of her earnings and the ethical standards of the publishing process.

Discussion:

Laci and Angela debate the severity of plagiarism, especially in non-fiction works, emphasizing the necessity of original content and the repercussions of intellectual theft.

Conclusion

In this episode, Laci Mosley effectively blends personal anecdotes with listener stories and historical cases to illuminate the various facets of fraud. From student loans to online relationships and historical scams, the episode serves as both an entertaining and educational journey into the world of deception. Laci's comedic approach, paired with genuine advice and critical insights, empowers listeners to stay vigilant and informed.

Final Notable Quote:

• Laci (73:18): "Stay scheming, but not in scams! Protect yourself and your loved ones from fraud."

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Note: The timestamps correspond to the moments in the provided transcript where notable discussions or quotes occur.