Scam Goddess Episode Summary: "Smooth Criminal Tanya Smith" with Margaret Cho
Episode Overview
In this electrifying episode of Scam Goddess, host Laci Mosley teams up with the legendary comedian and actress Margaret Cho to delve into the intricate world of fraud and scams. Titled "Smooth Criminal Tanya Smith," the episode offers a captivating blend of comedy, true crime insights, and historical con artist tales. Listeners are taken on a rollercoaster journey through Tanya Smith's elaborate wire fraud schemes, all while enjoying the witty banter between Laci and Margaret.
Guest Introduction: Margaret Cho
Timestamp: [02:25]
Laci Mosley warmly welcomes Margaret Cho to the show, highlighting her impressive accolades:
Laci Mosley: "She's currently touring on her Live and Livid Standup tour and tickets for new 2025 dates are on sale right now. Plus, her new music album Lucky Gift will be released on February 14th of 2025."
Timestamp: [02:17]
Margaret Cho expresses her excitement and pride in joining the Scam Goddess congregation:
Margaret Cho: "Thank you. I'm such a longtime listener, longtime congregation. I love you, Scam Goddess. I'm so proud to be able to be on it."
Timestamp: [02:25]
Discussion Points
Mariah Carey and Valentine's Day Album
Timestamp: [03:21]
Laci and Margaret dive into Mariah Carey's dominance of the Christmas season and transition into Margaret's upcoming Valentine's Day album, Lucky Gift. They discuss the commercialization of holidays and the importance of self-love:
Margaret Cho: "My album is all about love and loving yourself. So it's like, maybe Valentine's Day can be, you can be your own Valentine."
Timestamp: [03:59]
Laci Mosley: "Even if you have a partner, you can still be your own Valentine."
Timestamp: [04:02]
Personal Experiences with Scams
Timestamp: [10:31]
Margaret shares her personal encounters with scams, including a story about being scammed into buying gift cards online during the pandemic:
Margaret Cho: "I tried to buy this cat online and they're like, 'Do you have Zelle?' Can you just 'attack'?"
Timestamp: [17:47]
Margaret Cho: "I ended up losing like $2,000. The cat never came."
Timestamp: [17:18]
Laci elaborates on the red flags in such scams, emphasizing the urgency and unconventional payment methods:
Laci Mosley: "They rushed you, too. That's a part of scamming is the urgency."
Timestamp: [19:11]
Historic Hoodwinks: The Story of Tanya Smith
Timestamp: [23:49]
In the Historic Hoodwinks segment, Laci and Margaret unravel the intricate tale of Tanya Smith, a mastermind behind a $40 million wire fraud scam that eluded the FBI for decades.
Early Life and Motivation
Timestamp: [27:02]
Tanya Smith grew up in North Minneapolis with her parents, five siblings, and a Doberman named Black Power. Inspired by legendary musician Prince, Tanya developed a keen sense for money and fraud from a young age.
Margaret Cho: "She was homies with friends like Prince. That's incredible."
Timestamp: [29:37]
Scamming Techniques
Timestamp: [34:04]
Tanya's scamming prowess was evident as she impersonated bank employees to manipulate security protocols:
Laci Mosley: "She would call up an elite private school and rave about her bright daughters to get them accepted. That's her scamming methods."
Timestamp: [34:35]
Tanya evolved her schemes from helping friends with utility bills to orchestrating large-scale bank fraud:
Laci Mosley: "She could impersonate bank employees to set up wire transfers of up to $5,000."
Timestamp: [35:34]
FBI Interactions and Trials
Timestamp: [44:13]
Despite her elaborate schemes, Tanya's interactions with the FBI were hampered by biases and skepticism:
Laci Mosley: "They knew she couldn't be the mastermind and wanted to find the real guy."
Timestamp: [44:38]
Tanya's absurd defense during her first trial leveraged her identical twin sister, leading to her acquittal:
Laci Mosley: "She argued that it could have been her fugitive twin sister committing the crimes."
Timestamp: [50:55]
Prison and Escape
Timestamp: [56:00]
After serving a portion of her 24-year sentence, Tanya executed a daring escape by disguising herself and walking out of prison:
Laci Mosley: "She dressed up as a lawyer and simply walked out."
Timestamp: [55:57]
Her escape showcased her confidence and meticulous planning, further cementing her status as a legendary con artist.
Aftermath and Memoir
Timestamp: [57:00]
Post-escape, Tanya continues her life of luxury and repurposes her scamming skills to secure a literary agent for her memoir, Never Saw Me Coming:
Margaret Cho: "You can be anything you want, including a criminal."
Timestamp: [68:14]
Laci and Margaret humorously speculate on Tanya's current endeavors, blending admiration with comedic disbelief.
Listener Letters
Timestamp: [60:07]
In the listener letter segment, "Derek" shares his (semi-harmless) scams involving buying broken phones on eBay and his cousin's Walmart gift card fraud. Laci and Margaret engage in playful banter, highlighting the often thin line between petty scams and genuine criminal activities.
Derek: "I bought broken phones on eBay and used a hidden warranty exchange program to get new ones. Then, I sold them for profit."
Timestamp: [61:21]
Margaret Cho: "That's nice. That's a nice thing."
Timestamp: [63:06]
The segment underscores the show's blend of humor with serious discussions about fraud.
Conclusion and Final Thoughts
As the episode wraps up, Laci Mosley and Margaret Cho reflect on the multifaceted nature of scams, the human elements behind them, and the societal perceptions of fraudsters. They encourage listeners to stay vigilant and informed, blending insightful commentary with their signature comedic styles.
Laci Mosley: "Stop waiting for tomorrow. Don't wait. We don't know how much time we have."
Timestamp: [68:14]
Margaret Cho: "Never try to buy gift cards in the middle of the night. Say no."
Timestamp: [67:57]
The episode concludes with festive New Year wishes, leaving listeners both entertained and enlightened.
Notable Quotes with Timestamps
-
Margaret Cho on Self-Love:
"You can be your own Valentine. That would be the best."
Timestamp: [03:59] -
Laci on Handling Scams:
"If something feels off, listen to your body. Your nervous system knows."
Timestamp: [20:05] -
Margaret Cho on Tanya's Intelligence:
"How incredible that is, that is like genius level."
Timestamp: [37:19] -
Laci on Tanya's Trial Defense:
"Using a twin to get acquitted? That's brilliant."
Timestamp: [50:58] -
Final Encouragement:
"Don't wait. We don't know how much time we have."
Timestamp: [68:14]
Final Remarks
"Smooth Criminal Tanya Smith" stands out as a testament to the Scam Goddess podcast's ability to intertwine humor with true crime storytelling. With the vibrant participation of Margaret Cho, the episode not only entertains but also educates listeners on the complexities of fraud and the human stories behind them. Whether you're a longtime fan or a new listener, this episode offers valuable insights wrapped in comedic brilliance.
Stay Scheming!
Join the Scam Goddess "Con-gregation" every Tuesday for new episodes and catch classic episodes re-released every Friday. Don't miss the premiere of the Scam Goddess TV show on Freeform and Hulu on January 15th, 2025!