Scam Goddess Podcast - Fraud Friday: The Long Island Long Con w/ Jon Gabrus (January 9, 2026)

Episode Overview

In this Fraud Friday classic episode, host Laci Mosley ("Scam Goddess") is joined by comedian and podcast connoisseur Jon Gabrus to delve into some of history’s wildest scams, examine the blurred lines of morality in fraud, and bring their signature comedic perspective to crime stories. The featured deep-dive is into a multi-decade coin con orchestrated by Harold Adamo on Long Island, and the episode also touches on more contemporary scams, from students faking deaths to avoid finals, to a “witch” bilking her mark for hundreds of thousands. Laci and Jon’s irreverent tone keeps things lively, irreverent, and side-splitting.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Comedy, Outfits, and Podcast Banter (00:42–07:38)

• Opening Banter & Podcast Talk

  • Laci welcomes Jon Gabrus, playfully referencing his many podcasts.
  • Compliments are exchanged over outfits, and the duo jokes about modeling and brand "scams" in advertising contests.
  • Quote:
    • Jon Gabrus: "That's the scam of the century, is me becoming a plus size model." (02:46)

• Scam Goddess House Rules

  • Laci clarifies: The podcast isn’t investigative journalism—it's comedy with a focus on scams, con artists, and the wild side of fraud.
  • They openly embrace scammers as "heroes" of the show.
  • Quote:
    • Laci Mosley: "We worship scammers here. I support them fully." (06:55)

2. What’s Hot in Fraud & Listener Scam Story (07:39–15:29)

• Current Scam Trends

  • Gas stations called out as scam hotbeds; Brooklyn dubbed "the Silicon Valley of scams."
  • Listeners are encouraged to submit scams they've "retired" for the show.

• Featured Listener Scam: The Mortician's Midterm Maneuver

  • A gay mortician uses his access to funeral records to forge a death certificate for a class excuse, enlisting his partner's help after a Vegas weekend derails his study plans.
  • He fabricates a death in the neighborhood, edits documents and images to provide "proof"—including a Photoshopped barbecue picture—ultimately scoring an 'A.'
  • The hosts discuss the ethics and high-stakes bravado involved.
  • Quote:
    • Laci Mosley: "I feel like you don't need to also submit proof of you being at a fake barbecue." (12:59)

3. Academic Scam Reflections & College as a Con (15:30–22:08)

• Academic Scams and Loopholes
  • Hosts share their own college scam stories: feigning illness, seeking sympathy, leveraging office hours, and playing up “underprivileged” student angles to get ahead.
  • Laci recounts manipulating professors with strategic appearances.
  • The conversation segues into the broader scam of higher education, especially the proliferation of dubious online degrees.
  • Quote:
    • Jon Gabrus: "I don't have the time to blah, blah, blah. Teacher just goes, I don't give a shit either. I'll give you an 84 right now." (16:37)

4. HISTORIC HOODWINK: The Long Island Long Con (22:09–46:15)

• Setting the Scene—Long Island Love & Coin Dealers

  • Laci tees up the main scam: Norman Rockwell–style suburbia meets high-stakes fraud among old friends.

• The Scam Unfolds

  • Harold Adamo, rare coin dealer, forges trusting relationships, especially with Rococo Marini, and begins a two-decade-long scheme.
  • Details of the scam:
    • Adamo sells coins at massively inflated prices—e.g., a $200 coin is resold for $100,000, inflating value shamelessly.
    • He fakes liquidity, commissions, and business risk parity, and peddles "official-looking" statements to maintain the illusion.
    • Marini's trust is further entrenched as Adamo becomes a godparent to his children, goes on cruises with the couple, and blurs all personal-professional lines.

• Salon Comedy and Social Satire

  • Laci and Jon riff about the swingers’ lifestyle, suburban subterfuge, and the erotic overtones of “bilking.”
  • They imagine the business conversations happening amidst boozy, swinging cruises and mock the naïveté of high-flying suburbia.
  • Quote:
    • Jon Gabrus: "If your name is Rococo, you are a mark." (47:28)

• Discovery, Fallout, and Legal Battle

  • When the scam surfaces, Marini sues for $11 million in damages; expert testimony is needed to establish fraud versus subjective coin value.
  • The court solidifies damages and Adamo faces charges, but Marini never effectively recoups his lost fortune—much of which came from his children's college fund.
  • Quote:
    • Laci Mosley: "If you my dad and... you in your 50s, get your * on. Great. But I'm trying to go to school and you telling me... you ain't got no coins for me? Like, put them hands up, father." (45:58)

5. Aftermath and Broader Satire (46:16–52:26)

• Post-Scam Fallout

  • Marini tries to recoup funds by suing colleges for tuition paid with ill-gotten gains, but universities keep the money.
  • The scammer evades justice for years, gloating about the situation.

• Philosophical Takeaway

  • Laci and Jon repeatedly draw connections between blind trust, greed, embarrassment, and the inevitable futility of clawing back losses—when those losses have woven into the fabric of suburban life.

Scammer of the Week: The Witchy Woman’s Evil Spirit Blessing Scam (52:27–59:47)

• The Scam

  • Samantha Stevenson, 27, poses as psychic "Ivana Lopez" and cons a 67-year-old man out of over $600,000 with a spirit-cleansing scam.
  • She convinces him to sell his house, transfer money to her, and burn cash to rid spirits.
  • The charge under Canadian law: “pretending to practice witchcraft” for material gain.
  • Quotes:
    • Laci Mosley: "If you wanted to get rid of evil spirits in your home, you had to sell your house. Okay, well then the spirit ain't there no more." (53:57)
    • Jon Gabrus: "She could scam an old man out of money the old fashioned way by just dangling pussy in front of him. So I appreciate her going the other way and dangling the devil's pussy." (58:13)

• Commentary

  • The hosts marvel at the “witchcraft” charge and riff on psychic scams—from Cleo to Miss Cleo.
  • Banter about whether burning $6,000 cash counts as witchcraft and speculate about the effort Samantha went through to keep her con going.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Listener Scam Creativity:

  • Laci Mosley: "He pulled the sword out... pulled the body out the drawer. Like, what is this?" (09:57)

• Meta Commentary on Fraud:

  • Jon Gabrus: "Keeping a lie up for 25 years is hard as hell." (43:16)

• Harold’s Lack of Remorse:

  • Laci Mosley: "[Harold] gloated that the bankruptcy trustee overseeing their case lost that money. Harold, you're rude." (50:43)

Important Timestamps

• Opening banter, ads skipped — 00:42
• Listener mortician scam story — 08:34–15:29
• Academic scam/college as scam — 15:30–22:08
• Historic Hoodwink: The Long Island Coin Fraud — 22:09–46:15
• Legal fallout and aftermath — 46:16–52:26
• Scammer of the Week: The Witch/Psychic scam — 52:27–59:47

Tone, Energy & Listener Takeaways

• Tone: Playful, irreverent, and frequently explicit with biting satire on both the culture of scamming and those who get scammed.
• Takeaway: Scams are everywhere—education, suburban friendships, occult rituals. Trust is currency—and sometimes, that currency is counterfeit.
• Laci’s Signoff: "Keep scamming!"

Want more?

• Submit your own “retired” scam: scamgoddesspodmail@gmail.com
• Follow @ScamGoddessPod
• Listen to more from Jon Gabrus on his many comedy podcasts

“As always, stay schemin’.”