The Blazin’ Embezzler w/ Brendan Scannell (Fraud Friday)

Fri May 01 2026

In this week's Fraud Friday, Laci is joined by Brendan Scannell (Bonding, Heathers) to talk about an embezzling bookkeeper who attempted to cover up her thievery with arson. Plus, in Scammer of the Week, a car shop employee fakes his own kidnapping to get out of work. Stay Schemin’! (Originally Released 03/15/2021) Follow on Instagram: Scam Goddess Pod: @scamgoddesspod Laci Mosley: @divalaci Brendan Scannell: @bscan Research by Sharilyn Vera SOURCES: https://sanfrancisco.cbslocal.com/2021/01/11/saratoga-bookkeeper-allegedly-broke-own-nose-set-office-ablaze-to-hide-1-million-embezzlement/ https://www.sccgov.org/sites/da/newsroom/newsreleases/Pages/NRA2021/Carlstrom.aspx https://www.nytimes.com/2021/02/23/us/brandon-soules-fake-kidnapping.html

Transcript

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Lacey Mosley (1:29)

applecard.com what's Poppin Congregation it's your girl, Lacey Mosley, aka Scam Goddess. Welcome to an episode of Fraud Fridays, where we release older episodes from the Scam Goddess vault. That's right, Fraud Fridays is where we bring back your favorite episodes from behind the Paywall. Enjoy this episode from behind the Paywall and as always, stay scheming. Scams Ca Robbery and Frau Scam Cause Robbery and Fraud Scam Goddess. What's poppin, Congregation? Hallelujah. We're back on this sanctified and saved Tuesday for another episode of Scam Goddess podcast, The podcast that's dedicated to robbery, fraud, cons, all those things of the like. And it's also a comedy show. Have y' all picked up on that yet? All right, guys, it's me, Lacey Mosley, a. A scam goddess. And as always, I'm. What? Yes, I'm excited, I'm thrilled, I'm fucking elated for our guest that we have today. You have seen him in the reboot of Heathers, and if you didn't see him in that, honey, you definitely saw him playing Pete Devon in the Netflix dark comedy Bonding. Okay, let's get you da dun. Okay. We got a da dung king in the house, honey. Yes, guys. Brendan Scannel. Yes. Did I say your last name correctly?

Summary

Scam Goddess: The Blazin’ Embezzler w/ Brendan Scannell (Fraud Friday)

Original Air Date: May 1, 2026
Host: Laci Mosley
Guest: Brendan Scannell

Episode Overview

In this re-released “Fraud Friday” classic episode, Scam Goddess Laci Mosley welcomes comedian and actor Brendan Scannell (Netflix's "Bonding") for a riotous deep-dive into scams both petty and audacious. The pair talk about scam culture, swap personal and listener scam stories, and gleefully dissect the shocking criminal career of a septuagenarian embezzler who tried to cover her tracks with literal fire. As always, the episode is packed with comedic banter, tangents into pop culture, and a healthy dose of scam appreciation.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

Scam Culture & Personal Scam Connections

[04:03]

Laci explores Brendan’s views on scamming, asking if he’s ever been scammed or enjoys scam stories.
Brendan is drawn to "enterprise scammers"—those who fake expertise to make millions, referencing the COVID-era LA Dodger Stadium testing scam and the infamous Theranos scandal:
- "I'm a big fan of, you know, medical scams ... You would go and you drive through and they would test you... And of course it's like some 25 year old who knows somebody at city hall and got an $100 million contract for his little startup." (Brendan, 04:28)
Both hosts riff on scams involving fake medical startups and the culture of bold, youthful grifters seizing opportunities.
Laci and Brendan bond over the idea that employers who underpay minimum wage almost invite workplace-level pettiness or petty theft as a form of minor revenge.

Listener Scam Story: High School Ice Cream Heists

[06:56] – [14:32]

Brendan selects the alias “Tabitha” for a listener confession, leading to hilarious sidebars about ice cream shop names and the economics of Cold Stone in Indiana.
The scam: Tabitha and co-workers at Baskin Robbins would sell higher-value items (pints) for cash, ring up a cheaper item (kid’s cone), pocket the difference, and pad the tip jar.
They also traded ice cream for Quiznos sandwiches and, occasionally, for weed.
Both hosts reflect on the almost inevitable pettiness of minimum wage jobs:
- "Y’all don't want to pay people a living wage...y’all pay them shit. They should rob you. Hire an adult." (Laci, 13:00)
Discussion includes humorous confessions about small-time workplace theft and makeshift perks, like "stealing" straws from Sweetgreen or printing at the office for personal use.

Behind the Scenes: Showbiz Grifts

[14:42] – [17:00]

Brendan describes how he once grifted Moon Juice from the set of "Heathers" as a response to being asked to do unpaid promotions:
- "They were like, does Brendan have any crafty requests for food? And I said, I only want Moon Juice. So everything on set that day...was just a full spread of Moon Juice. And they did it." (Brendan, 16:11)
Laci and Brendan riff on wellness drinks, influencer scams, and Instagram marketing cliches.

Historic Hoodwink: The Blazin' Embezzler, Janice Carlstrom

[20:52] – [43:16]

The Crime

Janice Carlstrom, a 73-year-old bookkeeper from San Jose, embezzled over $1 million from her employer (Saratoga Realty) between 2014–2019.
When confronted with accounting discrepancies, Janice tried to cover her tracks by setting the office on fire and faking her own assault.

The (Botched) Cover-Up

Janice claimed she was subdued by an "unknown assailant" who duct-taped her, stripped her to her underwear, and set the office on fire. She even self-inflicted injuries (cut/broken nose) for believability.
Laci and Brendan illustrate the absurdity of Janice's cover-up:
- "So you're trying to tell me that a man came up to you from behind, duct taped you, stripped you naked, and then began embezzling over four years time?" (Laci, 28:52)
- "I'm curious about these people's acting skills, like when they're being interrogated..." (Brendan, 29:27)

Motives & Aftermath

Janice used stolen company money to pay her own as well as her son’s home loan accounts, spreading the ill-gotten wealth. Laci quips:
- "She took care of her baby. We love a supportive mother!" (Laci, 23:11)
The police quickly saw through her story. Surveillance and evidence (including her fingerprints on arson-related items) confirmed the arson was self-inflicted.

Sentencing and Sympathy

Janice faced charges: arson, grand theft, workers comp fraud, filing a false police report.
Both hosts express some sympathy for Janice, seeing her case as an outcome of an unforgiving system that lets the elderly toil into their 70s:
- "That's the real criminality here, is that at age 73, you still have to be going into Saratoga Real..." (Brendan, 42:02)
- "Steal all the money. I'm sorry. You're gonna probably spend a little time in jail and these are your twilight years. But maybe that could be a fun change." (Laci, 42:11)

Notable Moment

[27:24] Brendan delivers a dead-on impression of Janice psyching herself up to self-inflict her injuries:

"Just fucking do it, Janice." (Brendan as Janice, 27:24)

The Lesson

Laci’s verdict: If you’re caught embezzling, just relocate—don’t escalate with arson.

Scammer of the Week: Brandon and the Faked Kidnapping

[44:28] – [61:10]

The Caper

2021: Brandon, a young tire shop employee in Arizona, faked his own kidnapping to avoid going to work.
He tied himself up with a belt and bandana, then staged himself by train tracks, telling police two masked men had snatched him.

The (Un)Believability

The story unraveled—no injuries, no surveillance evidence, no text messages—and under scrutiny, Brandon admitted he’d made the whole thing up.
His reason: he just didn’t want to go to work.

Hosts’ Take

The comedy writing is strong as they break down the logic:
- "Your job must be really bad if you would rather lay in a ditch next to the train tracks." (Laci, 60:45)
The theme: petty scams flourish everywhere, from fraudulent sick days to full-blown “kidnap” dramas.

Memorable Quotes & Moments

On pandemic medical scams:
- "People love just being told that you know how to do something, like Elizabeth Holmes..." (Brendan, 05:47)
On workplace theft:
- "If I work at an office, I’m stealing staples, those little tiny tacks..." (Laci, 13:00)
On getting caught:
- "Janice, you just sang like a stool pigeon. Goddamn." (Laci, 41:06)
On elaborate coverups:
- "If you can cook the books, you can uncook the books." (Brendan, 31:13)
On criminal improv:
- "I don’t believe it. I don’t believe it." (Brendan, 29:41)
On jobs worth ditching:
- "Your job must be really bad if you'd rather lay in a ditch next to the train tracks." (Laci, 60:45)

Timestamps for Key Segments

04:03 – Brendan’s obsession with enterprise scammers
06:56 – Listener scam: The Baskin Robbins pint/cone switcheroo
14:42 – Brendan’s Moon Juice grift on set
20:52 – Historic Hoodwink: Janice, the blazin’ embezzler, intro
22:20 – Details of the embezzlement and fake arson
27:24 – Brendan’s “Just do it, Janice” impression
42:02 – Systemic ageism and criminality in Janice’s case
44:28 – Scammer of the Week: Brandon’s fake kidnapping escapade
56:58 – Breakdown of Brandon’s lies
61:10 – Laci and Brendan wrap-up and closing remarks

Final Thoughts

Laci and Brendan blend sharp social commentary, personal anecdotes, and outright hilarity as they pick apart scams at every level—from ice cream shop sleight-of-hand to self-made disasters fueled by desperation and underappreciation. The episode’s message: “Stay schemin’,” but if you must, at least scam smarter than these folks!

Scam Goddess is produced by Earwolf. If you want to send your retired scams or follow Laci's antics, check out ScamGoddessPod.com or @divalaci on all platforms. And, as always, stay schemin’!