Scam Goddess: From Cartels to Escobar Phone Fails w/ La'Ron Hines (Nov 18, 2025)

Overview

In this lively and insightful episode of Scam Goddess, host Laci Mosley is joined by internet sensation and returning guest La’Ron Hines (of Snapchat’s "Laron in a Million" and viral “Are You Smart?” videos). Together, they dish on social media scams, digital misinformation, and dive into the hilarious (and wild) saga of Pablo Escobar’s brother’s tech “ventures.” The episode keeps the congregation laughing while reflecting seriously on online gullibility, the rise of AI-fueled cons, and what happens when infamous criminals enter the Silicon Valley playbook.

Key Discussion Points

Scam Stories, Facebook Fakes & Digital Gullibility

[02:25 - 09:53]

• La’Ron’s childhood scam confession: Adding fake celebrity Facebook accounts, like “10 Selena Gomez’s” and “15 Ariana Grande’s,” thinking he was chatting with the real stars.
• Laci points out that although Gen Z is digitally native, they’re susceptible to “delusional” online behavior and scams.
• “Facebook is a breeding ground for delusion.” (La’Ron, [03:39])
• Discussion of “auntie” scams—family group chats loaded with fake stories, chain messages, and viral misinformation.
• Commentary on online activism and boycotts: How the urge to protest is real, but internet-organized boycotts often fizzle quickly.

AI Scams & Corporate Greed: The Case of Delta Airlines

[11:15 - 23:40]

• Laci presents a “What’s Hot in Fraud” story—Delta Airlines moving to eliminate set ticket prices in favor of AI-powered “dynamic” pricing based on YOUR spending habits and online cookies.
  • Example: If you splurge on a Beyoncé outfit online, Delta might hike your flight price, assuming you can pay more.
• “You got mattress money so I’m gonna have to run it on you.” (Laci, [20:37])
• Concerns about AI scraping emails—like raising bereavement airfare if you mention a funeral in your email.
• The hosts riff on capitalist exploitation and failings of "infinite growth" business models.
• Notable moment: Laci rails against the PayPal/Venmo option to contribute to the US national debt (“I laughed so hard I thought I wasn’t gonna make it.” [22:50])

Historic Hoodwink: The Escobar Fold (Escobar Inc)

[28:28 - 80:50]

1. Meet the Escobars: From Cocaine to Cellphones

• Pablo Escobar’s brother, Roberto Escobar, infamous for running the cartel’s books and assassination squad, moves into tech entrepreneurship.
• Notable quotes:
  • “He was a criminal with a passion. That’s why he was also running the books.” (Laci, [41:50])
  • “Filing a complaint means bullets.” (Laci, [32:52])

2. Suing Netflix & Beefing with Elon Musk

• In 2016, Roberto tries to squeeze $1B from Netflix for their show Narcos using the family story.
• Later, he targets Elon Musk, claiming Musk’s flame thrower was “stolen” from an Escobar idea.
• Roberto’s escalating demands: “He dropped the case if Elon either paid him $100 million or made him CEO of Tesla.” (Laci, [51:50])

3. The Escobar Fold Scam

• Samsung’s $1,900 Galaxy Fold is released in 2019. Roberto Escobar’s “Escobar Fold” is offered at $350—gold-plated, hyped, and promoted with cringeworthy “Escobar Girls” commercials.
  • “Her boobs were basically above the phone.” (Laci, [65:04])
• In reality, the Escobar Fold is just a rebranded, gold-stickered Samsung Galaxy Fold—many units failed or were returned, then resold by Escobar Inc.
  • Tech YouTuber Marques Brownlee (MKBHD) exposes the scam ([69:12]):
    • “The Escobar Fold is the same phone with a gold sticker glued to it...right underneath is the Samsung label.” (Paraphrased, [69:51])
  • MKBHD never receives his own phone orders until he tweets—regular customers get nothing.
  • The “influencer strategy”: Only high-visibility reviewers get the phone to make the scam look legit.

4. Money Laundering & Bad Branding

• Escobar Inc did not actually supply most customers; instead, they sent promotional items, a “certificate of ownership,” or Roberto’s book, The Accountant’s Story.
  • “Talk about a title that ain’t shit.” (Laci, [73:31])
• Olaf Gustafsson (“El Silencio”), Swedish CEO, is arrested and pleads guilty to fraud and money laundering.
  • “He faces up to 20 years in federal prison for each count.” (Laci, [80:00])
• Brief foray into Escobar’s other scam ventures: gold-plated iPhones, scam flamethrowers, and a “physical cryptocurrency.”

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

Top Quotes (with Timestamps)

• “Facebook is a breeding ground for delusion.” – La’Ron Hines ([03:39])
• “Call your aunties. Your aunties are the most susceptible community.” – Laci Mosley ([03:52])
• “You got mattress money so I’m gonna have to run it on you.” – Laci ([20:37])
• “Filing a complaint means bullets. I don’t want your formal complaint to be bullets.” – Laci ([32:52])
• “He was a criminal with a passion. That’s why he was also running the books.” – Laci ([41:50])
• “He dropped the case if Elon either paid him $100 million or made him CEO of Tesla.” – Laci ([51:50])
• “The Escobar Fold is the same phone with a gold sticker glued to it...right underneath is the Samsung label.” – MKBHD/Hosts ([69:51])
• “Talk about a title that ain’t shit.” – Laci on “The Accountant’s Story” ([73:31])

Laugh-Out-Loud Moments

• La’Ron and Laci brainstorming boycott strategies that never work, mourning the end of “serious” protest fashion (“we ain’t had a serious conversation since civil rights” [06:45])
• Laci’s vivid description of Delta/AI-powered greed, and “the government not caring about us that much” ([04:22])
• Imagining the HR onboarding at Escobar Inc: “You actually got cinderblocks on your feet right now and we throwing you in the water.” ([32:34])
• The Escobar Girls commercial: “Like, they were opening the phone with the titties above the phone—what am I supposed to be looking at?” ([65:04])
• The running gag about product names: “Invisible Man. I was like, well, we know we ain’t gonna be able to see him!” ([62:28])
• Laci’s riff on The Accountant’s Story: “That is the most boring title. You could have named it anything.” ([73:48])

Timestamps for Key Segments

• [02:25] – La’Ron reveals being “scammed” by fake celebrity accounts on Facebook.
• [11:15] – “What’s Hot in Fraud”: Delta Airlines’ AI pricing scam explained.
• [20:03] – Explaining the mechanics and creepiness of AI-driven price-gouging.
• [28:28] – Start of “Historic Hoodwinks”: The Escobar tech saga begins.
• [32:34] – Discussion of cartel onboarding, assassination squads, and “workplace” logistics.
• [41:50] – Delving into Roberto Escobar’s dual role as accountant and criminal.
• [51:50] – Roberto’s wild demands to Elon Musk, including the Tesla CEO switch.
• [63:22] – The “Escobar Fold” and the hilariously bad promo video.
• [69:12] – MKBHD exposes the Escobar Fold scam on YouTube.
• [73:31] – The title “The Accountant’s Story” ridiculed.
• [80:00] – Olaf (El Silencio) pleads guilty to fraud and laundering.

Final Thoughts

This episode is a quintessential tour of the Scam Goddess universe: big laughs, social commentary, ridiculous real-life scams, and the ever-present warning to “stay schemin’!” Laci and La’Ron roast digital gullibility, break down how even cartel royalty can flop at fraud, and underline how influencer marketing is weaponized by modern conmen. Stay tuned throughout for razor-sharp wit, infectious energy, and a masterclass in detecting (and clowning on) scams.

Where to Find the Hosts

La’Ron Hines

• @laronhinesofficial on social media
• The Zillennial Podcast
• Teasing new projects in the works

Laci Mosley

• @divalaci on all platforms
• Scam Goddess TV show (now streaming on Hulu)
• Audiobook & book: Scam Goddess
• Scam Goddess Pod on Instagram & Twitter

As always, congregation: Stay scheming!

Episode Research: Kate Doyle
Audio Engineering: Rich Garcia
Produced by Jessica Cisneros