Podcast Summary: Scam Goddess – "Jay-Z's Roc Nation School Swindle"

Episode Information:

• Title: Jay-Z's Roc Nation School Swindle w/ Zachariah Porter & Jonathan Carson
• Host: Laci Mosley (Scam Goddess) – known for roles in iCarly and Better Call Saul
• Guests: Zachariah Porter & Jonathan Carson from Camp Counselors podcast
• Release Date: June 3, 2025
• Description: This episode delves into the alleged scam surrounding Jay-Z's Roc Nation School at Long Island University (LIU), where students were promised a debt-free education but still incurred significant debt. Through candid discussions and personal anecdotes, the host and guests uncover the misleading promises and predatory practices involved.

Introduction

[01:06] Laci Mosley:
"Scam Goddess is back with another episode about robbery, fraud, and those who practice it. Welcome to the congregation!"

Laci Mosley introduces the theme of the episode, focusing on educational scams, particularly those targeting students seeking higher education opportunities.

Introducing the Guests

[01:47] Laci Mosley:
"We have two fake camp counselors joining us today—Zachariah Porter and Jonathan Carson from the Camp Counselors podcast."

Laci warmly welcomes the guests, setting a lighthearted yet investigative tone for the discussion ahead.

Personal Experiences with Scams

Zachariah Porter’s Experience:

[03:10] Zachariah Porter:
"I was really good at getting the donations up with the congregation. Looking back, I was finessing people for cash without realizing it was a scam."

Zachariah shares his past involvement in collecting funds through seemingly legitimate means, highlighting how anxiety and misplaced intentions can inadvertently contribute to fraudulent activities.

Jonathan Carson’s Experience:

[06:12] Jonathan Carson:
"I received an email from the university president claiming I was awarded a scholarship, but it was a scam. I almost fell for it because of how detailed it was."

Jonathan recounts his near-miss with a sophisticated phishing scam targeting new university employees, emphasizing the deceptive tactics used to exploit trust.

Main Discussion: Jay-Z's Roc Nation School Swindle

[21:15] Laci Mosley:
"This segment in our podcast is Historic Hoodwinks, where we discuss famous cons. Today, it's about Jay-Z's Roc Nation School at LIU."

Laci transitions to the core topic: the alleged scam involving Roc Nation’s partnership with LIU, promising debt-free education that resulted in unexpected student debt.

Promises vs. Reality

Promised "Debt-Free" Education:

[22:00] Laci Mosley:
"Students were promised a debt-free education, but they still owe thousands."

The hosts highlight the discrepancy between the advertised promises and the actual financial burdens faced by students.

Misleading Communications:

[27:54] Laci Mosley:
"We never said guaranteed scholarship. We said hope. The Hope Scholarship promised full tuition but didn't cover room and board or other fees."

The discussion reveals how ambiguous language in scholarship agreements led to students incurring substantial debts despite initial assurances.

Student Testimonials and Financial Impact

[36:13] Jonathan Carson:
"One student owes $26,000 after negotiating fees down from an initial $39,000 debt."

Students faced unexpected costs for housing, meal plans, and other essentials, leading to significant financial strain despite receiving "full tuition" scholarships.

[46:03] Laci Mosley:
"Students tried building their own recording studios with Amazon boxes, only to find the promised facilities were non-existent."

This anecdote underscores the lack of promised resources and the additional financial burdens placed on students to compensate.

Concluding Insights and Reflections

[63:38] Zachariah Porter:
"This is affecting children. Debt at 18 is crippling. Shame on the university."

The guests express strong disapproval of the university’s practices, emphasizing the long-term negative impacts on young students' financial stability.

[67:04] Jonathan Carson:
"A similar situation happened to me with an unaccredited school. It was messy and stressful."

Jonathan relates his own experience with misleading educational institutions, drawing parallels to the Roc Nation School scam.

[68:36] Jonathan Carson:
"It's awful and nobody's talking about it. It's sad."

The consensus among hosts and guests is one of dismay and a call for greater awareness and accountability in educational advertising.

Key Takeaways

1. Misleading Scholarship Promises: The Roc Nation School advertised "debt-free" education but failed to account for additional essential costs, leading to significant student debt.

2. Predatory Financial Practices: Encouraging students to take out high-interest private loans without adequate support or transparency exacerbated financial hardships.

3. Media and Information Literacy: The episode emphasizes the need for better media literacy among students to recognize and avoid fraudulent educational offers.

4. Personal Responsibility and Awareness: Both guests share their personal near-misses and experiences, highlighting the importance of vigilance and critical evaluation of educational opportunities.

Notable Quotes

• Laci Mosley [22:00]:
  "Debt is when you owe stuff. So already sounds like people were misled."

• Zachariah Porter [36:13]:
  "I think this is a really terrible scam because it involves children. Debt at that age is so crippling."

• Jonathan Carson [67:04]:
  "Just be as smart with your money as possible. Even if they're promising you amazing studio time."

Conclusion

In this episode of Scam Goddess, Laci Mosley, along with guests Zachariah Porter and Jonathan Carson, dissect the troubling case of Jay-Z's Roc Nation School Swindle. Through detailed discussion and personal anecdotes, they expose how deceptive practices in educational advertising can lead to severe financial consequences for students. The episode serves as a cautionary tale, urging listeners to approach educational opportunities with critical thinking and due diligence to avoid falling victim to similar scams.

Stay Schemin' & Stay Informed!