Scam Goddess – Fraud Friday: The Manipulating Manager w/ Priscilla Davies
Release Date: January 16, 2026
Host: Laci Mosley
Guest: Priscilla Davies (Comedian/Writer)
Episode Overview
In this lively, candid, and satirical episode of Scam Goddess, Laci Mosley is joined by longtime friend and comedian Priscilla Davies for a “Fraud Friday” edition that dives into the underbelly of classic con artistry. The main event is an in-depth comedic breakdown of the infamous Milli Vanilli scam—one of pop culture’s boldest deceptions—and an exploration of adjacent listener-submitted scams, with social commentary, pop culture tangents, and signature irreverent humor throughout.
The hosts blend a historical scam deep dive with modern scams and listener stories, offering insightful cultural critique and personal opinions with plenty of laughter. The tone is casual, unfiltered, and openly political.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
1. Warm-Up & Listener Banter
[02:00 - 05:00]
- Laci welcomes Priscilla: “Not that old, honey. But very funny.”
- Opening with political humor, riffing on Trump-supporting listeners:
- Laci: “If you're a Trump supporter who loves this show, you should probably turn this shit off.” (02:14)
- Lighthearted commentary on adobo and Goya brand, blending cultural and culinary jokes.
2. Listener Scam Letter: The Gas Station Gold Ring Grift
[05:00 – 13:00]
- “Bel Biv from the Bronx” writes in describing repeated experiences being offered fake gold jewelry in exchange for cash.
- Story recap:
- Someone approaches, asks if he speaks Spanish, offers “jewelry for gas money.”
- It’s a recurring neighborhood scam—gas money for gold—but the rings are worthless.
- Laci: “Gas is high. Is it gold ring high? No.” (10:09)
- Priscilla evaluates the scam’s effectiveness, noting the unlikelihood of it working in the Bronx:
- “You're doing this in the boogie down Bronx. Come on now. Like, niggas got sense out there.” (12:12)
- Observations on the emotional manipulation in sob story scams—direct appeals to cultural kinship (“compadre” tactics) and family emergencies.
3. Historic Hoodwinks: The Milli Vanilli Saga
[17:22 – 59:00]
Introduction to Milli Vanilli
[17:22 – 18:40]
- Laci sets up the story of Milli Vanilli—the pop duo who lip-synced to someone else’s vocals and became the subject of global scandal.
How the Con Was Built
[18:55 – 26:07]
- Brief bio: German-French duo, assembled by producer Frank Farian.
- None of the vocals in their hits were actually theirs.
- Origin story: Frank Farian built hits by hiring real singers and later grafting “the look” onto frontmen.
- Priscilla notes: “It's just such a—where can… Who has God got by this?” (12:28, adapted to this later context).
On Image vs Talent in Music Industry
[22:43 – 25:51]
- Sharp critique of how the industry privileges looks and marketability over actual musicianship.
- Laci: “It's like… I heard a song and then I, like, built this monster around it.” (25:08)
- Discussion: Would a similar scandal even matter today with auto-tune and manufactured pop?
Life as Milli Vanilli & The Cracks in the Scam
[26:07 – 39:09]
- Rob Pilatus & Fab Morvan were dancers from Munich, living in poverty before being discovered.
- Farian coached them on image; kept actual singers isolated and secret.
- Commentary on 90s pop: “You had to be someone we could cut out of a magazine and stick on a wall and be so horny for, right?” (27:34)
The Unraveling: The Skipping Track Live on MTV
[42:31 – 46:26]
- Iconic moment: During a live performance, the backing vocal track skips; duo panics and flees the stage.
- Priscilla reflects on the cultural impact: “It was like a national, international story… everybody’s like, did y’all hear that?” (43:39)
- Laci contemplates what they should have done: “I think if he had stayed on stage and just been like, the track is skipping…” (45:16)
Where Responsibility Lies: Victims or Perpetrators?
[46:54 – 50:26]
- Are Milli Vanilli architects of the scam or just pawns?
- Laci: “They weren't the ones who orchestrated these scams… They were just trying to get out of a bad situation. And now they're the laughingstock.” (39:50)
- Priscilla: “They were too good for the world… one of them killed themselves. Yeah. They committed suicide because of this scandal.” (50:26)
- Open discussion about the toll of public shaming and systemic exploitation.
4. Cultural Reflections: Media & Meme Longevity
[53:03 - 55:28]
- How pre-social media scandals lasted much longer; references lived on in sitcoms; contrast with today’s 24-hour meme cycle.
- Priscilla: “You can still make that Milli Vanilli reference and only Gen Z won't know what's going on.” (55:10)
5. Scammer of the Week: “Students for Trump” Co-Founder’s Law Grift
[59:20 – 64:29]
- John Lambert, Students for Trump co-founder, posed as a lawyer and scammed $46k.
- Laci & Priscilla’s recurring joke about political grifters: “You can scam Trump supporters all you want. Like, I'm not against it.” (60:06)
- Delicate conversation: Is a scam against “bad people” still a bad scam?
- Ultimately, Lambert was himself a Trump supporter—diminishing any Robin Hood angle.
6. Call to Action & Social Responsibility
[66:13 – 67:08]
- Closing with pointed political commentary urging listeners (especially white allies) to do the work of changing hearts and minds among less progressive family members.
- Laci: “Please don't spend any more time posturing on Twitter or talking to your black friends about how bad the world is… get out there and spread the good gospel to your cousins, your aunties, your problematic uncles.” (66:34)
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
-
On Trump fans tuning in:
“If you're a Trump supporter who loves this show, you should probably turn this shit off. You have Trump. And I don't court them. I'm not trying to give you joy. Please don't listen. This is not for you.” — Laci (02:14)
-
On the Bronx ring scam:
“Gas is high. Is it gold ring high? No.” — Laci (10:09)
-
On skills that matter in pop music:
“Looks are a lot. Brocw is—Is hired models, okay? Everyone on the CW is just fucking hot.” — Laci (48:51)
-
On Milli Vanilli's legacy:
“They weren't the ones who orchestrated these scams… They were just trying to get out of a bad situation. And now they're the laughingstock. Even though they weren't the bad guys.” — Laci (39:50)
-
On running the scam:
“If you got to hit niggas with razzle dazzle for the truth, don't razzle—they are lying.” — Priscilla (63:35)
-
On the legacy of shame:
“Just to reiterate, it was a huge—when I tell—it was a huge fucking story when this shit happened.” — Priscilla (55:01)
-
On responsibility to do “the work”:
“Guys, please, if you have a thought or a criticism about the show, consider texting your group chat. Okay? I'm a black woman in America and I'm already tired.” — Laci (69:47)
Timestamps for Key Segments
| Timestamp | Segment | |-----------|------------------------------------------------------| | 02:00 | Introduction, guest welcome, opening political jokes | | 05:00 | Listener letter: Fake gold ring scam | | 13:08 | Deep dive: Emotional manipulation in scams | | 17:22 | Historic Hoodwinks: The Milli Vanilli story begins | | 18:55 | The making of Milli Vanilli – assembling the con | | 24:43 | How they kept the singers hidden | | 32:35 | Milli Vanilli rise to stardom, hit singles | | 42:31 | The live track skipping incident, global exposure | | 46:54 | Are Milli Vanilli victims or scammers? | | 50:26 | The aftermath: mental health & public shame | | 55:10 | Scandal longevity & pop culture memes | | 59:20 | Scammer of the Week: Students for Trump co-founder | | 66:34 | Call to action: Confronting racism in families | | 67:57 | Wrap-up, social media info, closing banter |
Final Thoughts
The episode humorously but thoughtfully explores the spectrum of scam artistry—from petty neighborhood cons to music industry mega-deceit and modern political grifting. Laci and Priscilla bring sharp wit and warmth, contextualizing historical and contemporary fraud with keen observations about race, media, shame, and who society holds accountable. The tragic fallout for those caught in a scam they didn’t craft (like Milli Vanilli) is juxtaposed with the knowing, even gleeful, pursuit of exposing hypocrisy elsewhere.
Tone: Outspoken, sarcastic, irreverent, and socially conscious—full of quick wit, occasional song, and pop culture references.
For Listeners: This episode unpacks one of music's greatest scandals, a Bronx “gold ring” hustle, and how systems—not just individuals—engineer fraud, all with incisive comedic energy.