Scam Goddess: Fraud Friday – The Fake Bootsy Collins w/ Ian Lara

Podcast: Scam Goddess (Earwolf & Laci Mosley)
Episode: Fraud Friday: The Fake Bootsy Collins w/ Ian Lara
Date: February 6, 2026
Guest: Ian Lara, Stand-Up Comedian

Episode Overview

In this classic “Fraud Friday,” host Laci Mosley (the Scam Goddess herself) is joined by rising comedian Ian Lara for an irresistibly funny deep-dive into musical impersonators, borrowing money etiquette, New York street scams, and, most notably, the wild true tale of “The Fake Bootsy Collins.” The episode’s central theme explores how iconic personas are ripe for scammers to imitate, with just enough flair, bravado, and sometimes sheer shamelessness to fool the unsuspecting.

The banter between Laci and Ian is rich with personal anecdotes, sharp observations about urban grifts, and a shared love of storied “scam culture.” By the end, they’ve charted the long and utterly bizarre history of Bootsy Collins impersonators—and cracked each other up the entire way.

Key Segments & Discussion Highlights

1. Meet the Guest & Scam Lineage

• [02:00] Laci welcomes Ian Lara, Harlem-bred standup, HBO Max special “Romantic Comedy.”

• Ian’s Scam Roots:

  • Grew up in Queens, “scam-adjacent.”
  • Family tradition of illegal cable: “I come from a long line of illegal cable users. I was grandfathered in.” (05:03, Ian)
  • Anecdotes about family-operated illegal cable as “the cable company” with questionable customer service:
    • “He’d put you on hold, music playing, then fight with his wife in the kitchen...” (06:26, Ian)

• Laci’s Reflection:

  • “Normalized robbery—Nike said ‘Just Do It,’ so that’s what we do.” (04:37, Laci)

2. What’s Hot & Fried: Listener Letter – “Gustavo’s $20 Scam”

• [11:00] Ian gives the pseudonym “Gustavo” for a listener’s tale.

• Story Highlights:

  • Gustavo, in student housing, lends $20 to a neighbor “for his son.” Wife warns: “You got played.”
  • Gustavo’s frustration grows: avoids, sticky notes, building manager laughs it off.
  • The neighbor’s grand reveal: he’s wanted by police for heroin dealing and kidnapping.
    • “I told the building manager... he just laughed at me.” (21:58, Gustavo letter)
    • “My wife immediately said, ‘Saw that one coming.’” (23:11, Gustavo letter)

• Borrowing Money Etiquette:

  • “Never lend more money than you can afford to lose.” (16:49, Laci)
  • Biting banter about tracking debts, the pettiness of owed money, and how “men are notorious for being scammers.”
    • “Every man is a scam. Okay?” (13:42, Laci)

• Relatable Quotes:

  • “How are you smiling when you owe me money?” (27:04, Laci)
  • “You'll never forget the day someone owes you money.” (20:29, Ian)

3. Historic Hoodwinks: The Fake Bootsy Collins

The Main Scam Story

• [29:48] “My favorite part of the podcast where I bring you a famous group of con criminals...” (Laci)

Bootsy Collins: The Icon

• Legendary funk/R&B bassist; wild fashion, star-shaped glasses, top hat.
• “If you have a similar build, you could just put on all the Bootsy stuff and we wouldn’t know…” (30:55, Laci)
• Personal connection: Laci worked with Bootsy – “Fun dude. Extremely tall...No guy dressing like this is not fun as hell.” (31:02–31:06)

Impersonators on the Scene (Late ‘70s–Early ‘90s)

• First Imposter:

  • Tries to collect Bootsy’s royalties at Warner Bros. HQ while real Bootsy is elsewhere.
  • “He was like, never mind. Forget it.” (43:40, Laci)
  • Scams music stores, attempts to buy on Bootsy’s store credit. Disappears quickly.

• Impact on Bootsy:

  • Growing disillusionment leads to “semi-retirement” after motorcycle injury. (45:03)

• Second Imposter:

  • Calls Bootsy’s wife from LA hotel, racks up free room service.
  • “I love when people perceive that you’re rich, they’ll give you things for free…” (47:10, Laci)
  • Appears at the New York Music Awards, rides with Miles Davis from NY to DC.
  • “If you’re driving for three hours and don’t realize you’re with an imposter, something's up!” (49:57–50:15)

• Dodges Playing Music:

  • “Avoided playing instrument at all costs...had a guitar as a prop but left when it was time to jam.” (52:13)

• Fake Bootsy’s Downfall:

  • “Sting” operation by Bootsy’s team and Rolling Stone exposes the scammer.
  • Even tried to offload scammed gear on actual bandmates.

• Third Imposter:

  • “Booted from the tour bus along with a pet wolf for trying to get hotel expenses covered.” (55:02)
  • Shouts: “You’ll be hearing from my lawyers! You’ll regret this!” (55:46, delivered by Laci in 80s villain voice)

4. Modern Scams, Social Media & Legacy

• Bootsy’s wife Patty now fights Instagram scammers posing as Bootsy.
• “His fan base is in their 70s, they won’t know if they’re talking to the real Bootsy... now you can buy a verified check.” (56:37, Laci)
• Bootsy pivoting to NFTs and “Bootsy Bitcoin” (“Now I’m starting to really think you might be all them fake Bootsies...” (56:15, Laci))

5. Scammer of the Week: Derek Patterson, The Grindr Grifter

• [57:16] 23-year-old grifter from Compton, CA.

  • Scammed Grindr hookups—would “borrow” phones during the meet, Zelle himself cash.
  • Once sent himself $3,950 (“Why not $4,000?” – Ian, 58:34).
  • Escalated to using a stun gun, opening credit lines in victim names; ultimately sentenced to nine years with hate crime enhancement.

• Takeaways:

  • Dangers of fast hookup apps: “He probably got several people a day—people just be ready to get their swerve on.” (60:43, Laci)
  • Both hosts denounce violence, agree this goes far beyond a charismatic scam.

Notable Quotes & Laugh-Out-Loud Moments

• On illegal cable in the family:
  • “He’s not DirecTV. He’s not Spectrum. He’s like, I sell cable. Would you like me to do it to you?” (05:42, Laci)
• On lending money:
  • “If you give out that money, every time you see that person you’ll be looking at them like, oh, you got money for Chick Fil A but you ain’t got my $20.” (16:55, Laci)
• On male scammers:
  • “Every man is a scam. Okay?” (13:42, Laci, to Ian’s protest)
• On Bootsy impersonators:
  • “He had a guitar as a prop, and they’re like, let’s do a jam. He had to go to the bathroom... again.” (52:13, Laci)
• On the effect of streaming:
  • “Now you just stream it—which is a lot easier. It’s a little soulless.” (35:45, Ian)
• On DA BABY’s bot-scalped tickets:
  • “If you a bot and you bought DaBaby tickets, I know you down bad.” (37:29, Laci)
• On mixing designer knock-offs:
  • “Burberry, little brother. Blueberry. You know, Blueberry fire.” (57:29, Ian)
• On scammers getting violent:
  • “He chased him with a stun gun and demanded money. Now he getting violent—he robbed the victim of jewelry and $120 and opened a line of credit with Goldman Sachs using their name.” (59:13, Laci)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• [02:00] — Meet guest Ian Lara & scam upbringing
• [05:00] — Secret life of illegal cable
• [11:00] — Listener scam tale: “Gustavo” and petty $20 repayment
• [16:49] — “Never lend more than you can lose” discussion
• [29:48] — “Historic Hoodwinks”: The Fake Bootsy Collins deep dive
• [47:10] — The perks & pitfalls of “rich person clout”
• [49:57] — Bootsy imposter fools Miles Davis (!?)
• [52:13] — The “prop guitar” scam avoidance
• [55:02] — Bootsy number three, pet wolf, and tour drama
• [57:16] — Scammer of the Week: Grindr grifter Derek Patterson
• [61:57] — Ian’s plug: HBO Max “Romantic Comedy,” tour, Instagram @ianlaralive

Final Thoughts & Tone

Style: Breezy, hilarious, conversational; tons of quick-witted asides and playful one-upmanship.
Takeaway: The larger-than-life persona is always a target for imposters. Whether it’s cable TV or clout-chasing musicians, the scam is often just a carefully-styled look, a well-rehearsed story, and a willingness to keep a straight face. The episode also reminds listeners that “borrowing” is all about trust—once that’s gone, so is the money.

[End of Episode]

Stay scheming, as Laci says—and don’t forget to check your bills, your cable box... and never hand anyone your phone!