The Krypto King with Jackie Johnson

Summary

Scam Goddess: "The Krypto King" with Jackie Johnson

Release Date: April 7, 2020
Host: Laci Mosley
Guest: Jackie Johnson (Host of Natch Beaut)

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Episode Overview

In this high-energy, hilarious episode, Laci Mosley welcomes Jackie Johnson to dive into the world of cryptocurrency scams, specifically the story of the faux “Krypto King” and his massive Ponzi scheme. True to Scam Goddess’s signature style, the duo mixes deep dives into con artistry with wild personal stories, social commentary, and stylish shade-throwing. From expired makeup myths to tips on protecting yourself from everyday cons, they break down how scammers capture trust, live large, and ultimately get caught. The episode keeps the laughs coming while exploring the ridiculousness and tragedy of scam culture.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

Beauty Basics: Are Expiration Dates a Scam?

• [00:00–04:00]
  • Laci and Jackie start with a comedic exchange about beauty routines, sharing how Jackie changed Laci’s life with advice to mark product open dates with a Sharpie.
    • Laci: “I thought expiration dates were a scam, guys. But expiration dates are not a scam.” [01:44]
• Disclosure from Jackie about guidance she’s learned from beauty chemists: expiration dates matter, and “they explained it… it is actually tested for that amount of time.” [01:48]

Listener Letters: Retail Mini-Scams

• [03:08–06:50]
  • Jackie and Laci read a listener letter ("Eleanor") about a manager tacking extra charges onto orders, pocketing the difference. Jackie shares her own experience with a dishonest waitress at Scoots Double Double who altered tip amounts.
    • Jackie: “This bitch got away with that for a good half a year… she got to keep all that money. Hell yeah.” [04:21]
  • Advice flies about keeping merchant receipts, monitoring statements, and how customer service is one of America’s “only good things.”

The Art of Complaining (and Getting Discounts)

• [06:20–08:00]
  • Jackie and Laci trade stories about talking to customer service reps for discounts, encouraging listeners to “just call… even if nothing’s wrong. There’s always a deal to get.”
    • Jackie: “Every year I call up SiriusXM and I'm like, 'yeah, I'm done.' And they’re like, 'How about a whole year for $10?'” [06:34]
  • Laci shares how, while living in London, she was shocked at British customer service: “I would have looked on the box, found the address, and pulled up to that joint… 1-800-contacts.” [08:07]

Class Action Lawsuits & Personal Hacks

• [09:46–10:42]
  • The hosts joke about the importance of signing up for class actions, the scant rewards, and faking documentation.
    • Laci: “If a class action lawsuit comes into your midst… you might get a cool, like, 15 to $150.” [09:46]
    • Jackie: “I was so mentally upset by it that I had to erase the email with the receipt. Out of duress.” [10:42]

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Historic Hoodwinks: The Krypto King Scam

The Setup: Social Media Flash and Crypto Hype

• [11:31–14:10]
  • Laci introduces the scam: two Arizona men, John Caruso & Zach Salter, accused of masterminding a $7.5 million Ponzi scheme under the guise of investments in cryptocurrency with “Zima Digital Assets.”
  • Social media presence featured “traveling to exotic locations, driving luxury cars, and posing in private jets.”
    • Laci: “Everybody loves to pose in a PJ.” [12:00]
    • Jackie: “Even when I become a billionaire, I'm not gonna ride one [private jet]. And y’all have my word.” [12:11]
    • Laci responds: “You do not have my word on that…private jets are my reparations, Jackie.” [12:17]

The Mechanics of the Scam

• [15:12–18:06]
  • Zima claimed to “operate various private funds focusing on investments in crypto and blockchain.” They lured over 100 investors, including “former major league baseball players and their families” plus vulnerable seniors.
  • Salter, also an aspiring R&B artist, is lampooned for his chiseled facial hair and music on “Zima Records.”
    • Laci: “He don’t got no song called ‘Robbery.’ He don’t got no song called ‘Fraud.’” [19:55]
    • They play a clip: “Serving me a little Bieber.” [21:03]

“Serial Entrepreneur”: Rebranding the Scam

• [22:39–25:05]
  • Jackie and Laci riff on “serial entrepreneur” as just new lingo for con artist.
    • Laci: “That is the best rebranding of con artist that I have ever heard.”
    • Jackie: “I used to work at a tanning bed. I used to be a dog walker. I used to work at the Cheesecake Factory at the Grove. I'm a serial entrepreneur.”
• Impromptu lesson: “Cryptocurrency is a digital asset…[etc.]” and tongue-in-cheek realization, “so I’m a cryptocurrency entrepreneur!” [25:29]

The Fallout & Endgame

• [27:20–47:02]
  • Court documents reveal none of investors’ money went toward real investments; it was spent on lavish items, gambling, car rentals, mansions.
    • Laci on how the scheme relied on getting new investors to pay off old ones—a classic Ponzi.
    • Commentary on how flaunting wealth online often spells the scammer’s doom.
    • Laci: “Uncle Sam is the biggest hater that has ever lived. If Uncle Sam sees you flashing, he starts googling…Did I get my cut?” [30:38]
  • Caruso’s criminal record: prior extortion, repeated probation violations, starting new scams after jail.
    • Jackie: “I smell a buddy comedy. Take time to be a dad today.” [39:04]
    • Laci: “He started a multi-level marketing scheme as soon as he got to prison. But if you do what you love, you never work a day in your life.” [44:42]

The Social Media Effect

• [46:14–49:10]
  • The hosts reflect on how Instagram and social displays fuel crime and emotional distress.
    • Laci: “Instagram is probably out here putting people in jail. In fact, I know they are—‘cause I’ve seen so many Instagrammers go down on the ‘gram.” [48:58]
    • Noting flexing used to require effort; now Insta makes it viral and destructive.

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Scammer of the Week: Shark Tank’s Barbara Corcoran Gets (Almost) Duped

• [49:38–55:02]
  • Barbara Corcoran, real estate mogul, was nearly conned out of $400,000 via a sophisticated phishing attack. A scammer posed as her assistant (minor change in email), tricking her bookkeeper into wiring funds.
    • Jackie: “She's a boss. Oh my God…She is rich, rich.” [51:36]
    • Laci: “I can’t wait till I’m so rich that I can just accept that I lost 3,000.” [51:15]
  • German bank froze the transfer just in time: Corcoran’s fortune stays intact—a rare happy ending in true con fashion.

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Notable Quotes

• “Private jets are my reparations, Jackie.” — Laci Mosley [12:17]
• “That is the best rebranding of con artist that I have ever heard: ‘serial entrepreneur’.” — Laci [23:15]
• “Uncle Sam is the biggest hater that has ever lived.” — Laci [30:38]
• “He started a multi-level marketing scheme as soon as he got to prison. If you do what you love, you never work a day in your life.” — Laci [44:42]
• “Instagram is probably out here putting people in jail.” — Laci [48:58]
• “If a class action lawsuit comes into your midst… you might get a cool, like, 15 to $150.” — Laci [09:46]
• “I was so mentally upset by it that I had to erase the email with the receipt. Out of duress.” — Jackie [10:42]

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Timestamps for Major Segments

• Beauty & Expiration Dates: 00:00–04:00
• Listener Mini-Scams: 03:08–06:50
• Customer Service/Renegotiating Deals: 06:20–08:00
• Class Actions & Receipts: 09:46–10:42
• Main Scam (Krypto King): 11:31–47:02
• Social Media & The Flex: 46:14–49:10
• Scammer of the Week (Barbara Corcoran): 49:38–55:02

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Tone, Style, and Takeaways

Laci and Jackie keep the energy high, blending deep skepticism, righteous outrage, and playful admiration for bold scam artistry. They gleefully underscore how scammers lean on buzzwords, social media flexing, and the public’s FOMO. The episode is rich in pop culture asides, beauty tips, and life hacks—delivering both comic relief and sharp warnings for listeners.

Main Takeaway:
Scams thrive on confidence, branding, and social engineering. Whether it's a “Krypto King” running a classic Ponzi or phishing attacks targeting titans like Barbara Corcoran, vigilance, skepticism, and (sometimes) a sense of humor are an audience’s best defense. And always—“stay schemin’!”

Transcript

[A]

Scams C. Robbery and Frauds. Scams CA Robbery and Fraud. Scam Goddess. What's poppin, Congregation? It's YA Girl, Scam Goddess. AKA Lacey Mosley. And we're here with another installment of Scammer, Scam Goddess. Yes. I named the show after me. Guys, I always say this, and I'm gonna keep saying this. I know I get on y' all nerves. That's fine. I'm very excited for this guest. You know her, you love her. She's also a Texas girl, a North Texas girl, which is a very important distinction, honey. She is the host of the amazing podcast, Natch Beaut. I have Jackie Michelle Johnson in the building.

[B]

I am so excited. I've been anticipating getting an invite on the show. Like, I would say it at night to myself at when I sleep. Like, I hope I get asked to be on Scam Goddess manifest. I'm just such a big fan of your work.

[A]

Thank you. So am I. I'm such a huge fan of your show. You've taught me so much, girl. I was using expired makeup before I went on your show, and I'm so

[B]

glad that you don't anymore. Yes.

[A]

Now, I, like, check the dates or write the little. Like the. Like, you told us to use a

[B]

Sharpie when you open a product, right. The day that you opened it, and then you have a year, six months, whatever the label says to use it.

[A]

Cause I did not know that. And I was using. I had a primer that I was using for a solid, like, two and a half years.

[B]

Well, if your skin doesn't have a reaction to it. Cause that's my thing. All of a sudden, I'll break out. And I'm like, what happened? They'll go, oh, shit. I'm using sunscreen. That's four years old. Okay, yeah, that's probably not helping.

[A]

I never even thought of that.

[B]

Yeah, expiration dates. We gotta look at the labels.

[A]

I thought they were a scam, guys. But expiration dates are not a scam.

[B]

They're not. I just had two chemists on my show, and they explained it is not a scam. It is actually. They are tested for that amount of time to not expire.

[A]

Yeah. And that sounds like America. They're like, yeah, this product will work for six months. Exactly. And then it'll kill you.

[B]

And then you tr. Or pay the price. Are those Gel X nails?

[A]

Yes.

[B]

I wanna get gel X. I love it.

[A]

I love it so much.

[B]

Cause they don't break, right? Like, you literally cannot break them.

[A]

No, they're so Great. Except for the. Actually, I know what you're talking about. This. And that is not this. Cause that's the dipping powder, right?

[B]

I don't know. I've never gotten it. I'm pretty sure they make a nail for you, and then they use gel to stick it on. That's what gel X is.

[A]

Ooh, I've never done that. Okay, that's not what this is. These are gel, but they're not the icks.

[B]

That's hard gel.

[A]

Gel. No X. Yeah, okay.

[B]

Because I have hard gel. Hard gel is not regular gel. There's so many damn gels. Lacey, no dip. Oh, my God. I don't dip.

[A]

Do you dip? No, I don't dip. In Texas. They dip a lot.

[B]

No dip.

[A]

I find a place that dips. Here.

[B]

No dip. No dip for me. I dip. You dip? We dip.

[A]

Yes. I put my hand up on my hip.

[B]

I put my hand. I put my nail up on my tip, then I dip. You dip? We dip. I put those nails up.

[A]

I love it. Ugh. The energy. Fantastic.

[B]

Always.

[A]

So we'll get into our first segment here. So, Jackie, this is where we talk about what's hot and fat. Now, sometimes, like, I'll tell you about a popular scam that's happening. Warn our listeners out there. Cause I don't want them getting caught in any scams. Except for mine.

[B]

Yes.

[A]

Or they'll write in letters and snitch on their friends and family. And today we have a letter, and this is. I'm gonna call you. What's the name? Jackie. What's the alias name for a female? Yes.

[B]

Let's go with Eleanor.

[A]

Eleanor.

[B]

Ooh, I'm a Beatles fan.

[A]

That's a OG Name.

[B]

Why not?

[A]

Or Eleanor Roosevelt. Eleanor Rigby. Yes, Eleanor Rigby.

[B]

Eleanor.

[A]

So Eleanor R. Says here is a scam my friend's Boss ran about 10 years ago. It was very subtle, but the manager would always tack on an extra 75 cents on an order and pocket the change. She did this by making each order with extra veggies or some other condiment that actually wasn't in the order. She was able to get away with it since she was the manager and would do the final register adjustments anyway. To my knowledge, she got away with it until the location closed due to the strip mall shutting down.

[B]

Hmm. You know what? So I'm gonna out somebody. I don't know her name, but I used to work at this hamburger place called Scoots Double Double in Dallas.

[A]

Scoots. That's a very. Dallas.

[B]

Yeah. And I wore A bikini top.

[A]

That makes sense. It's tracks.

[B]

And I waited at tables with a girl who would. Whatever they wrote in for her tip, she would just add a 1 or make a 1 of 4. This bitch got away with that for a good half a year. And then somebody took their other half of the receipt home and said, wait a minute. My credit card statement is different from what I wrote down. And she got caught, and they fired her. But guess what? She got to keep all that money. Hell yeah. I bet Eleanor R. Got to keep all that money or her boss.

[A]

Right. I would say getting fired is a small price to pay for robbing people for.

[B]

Yeah. Because you could just go to the next place and get another job.

[A]

Yeah. Also though, it's fascinating that she even got fired for it, because she couldn't just be like, oh, it was an accident. I hit wrong way.

[B]

All right. I. Maybe. I think she admitted to it. I think she. She owned up to it. Yeah. Cuz you're right. She could have just been like, oh, that was a mistake.

[A]

Yeah, you got to deny to the end.

[B]

Deny to the end.

[A]

They like, we have all these receipts. I'm like, I don't. I. I don't want to sound ridiculous, but I've never seen these receipts before in my life.

[B]

You know, women, entrepreneurship, we do our best, right?

[A]

This is an entrepreneurship.

[B]

I agree. And guess what else, everybody, if you're worried about this now, keep your half of the receipt. You know, they go, merchant, copy, copy. Get your copy. Keep that filled out in your purse. I don't know.

[A]

I always just rip it same.

[B]

I rip it up. I don't look. I don't. I don't look at my statements.

[A]

I don't either.

[B]

We might be getting scammed.

[A]

We might be. I need to start actually looking at shit. I went into AT&T to get a new phone, and they were like, oh, do you have AT and T for cable? And I was like, I sure do. And they were like, you know, I was like, it's a little spotty, though. I'm not really, like, fucking with it like that. And they're like, let's just check on it. They were like, do you know how much you pay a month? And I was like, how much I paid? Yeah, they take the money out, but they make withdrawals.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

No dollar amount came to my head. And I was like, oh, that's not good.

[B]

Because they tack on, like, secret fees and shit. And they'll do it slow to see if you notice. And if you don't call and complain. They'll do it again. They'll do it again. They do it slow.

[A]

Every service provider y' all got out there, just start calling and complaining. Even if nothing's wrong. Always, there's always a deal to get. Guys, cancel your Hulu, and Hulu will discount your Hulu to keep you.

[B]

Yes, everyone will do that. Every year I call up SiriusXM and I'm like, yeah, I'm done. And they're like, how about if we give you a whole year for $10? I'm like, okay, okay, okay.

[A]

I'll crawl back.

[B]

I guess I'll keep it. So you know what? Everybody, you gotta.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

Save that cash every period.

[A]

Yeah, every now and then, just call customer service people, pretend to be angry. It's the only good thing about America is our customer service. Because I lived in Lond for a little while, and I remember I was working. This was a scam in itself at some, like, theater. And I was running the theater because my boss just, like, gave me the keys and then stopped coming to work. And I was an intern, so I was working for free. Internships are slavery. And I was working for free. And she just stopped coming to work. So then I had to run the theater by myself. And bill collectors would call, and I had to order pizza for the matinee and shit. And I ordered pizza one time, and it took over an hour. And I started getting mad, and I was like, what the fuck? Like, I'm about to call these people and turn it like this. This is not how we do things America. And this British lady was like, oh, my God. Like, you complain in America. Like, she was like, one time, I asked my contact solution company, the contact company that I buy my contacts from, I asked them if I could have, like, a wee bit more solution because they only give me enough to put my contacts in one time. And I get a prescription. So it's like, it comes every month regular for years. They go, no, we will not give you any more contact solution.

[B]

I feel like I'm in Down Abbey right now. What an accent. You are a scam goddess.

[A]

Well, you got how your phone access ready, but, yeah, she said that the

[B]

company told her British people are very polite.

[A]

That's crazy.

[B]

They're very polite over there.

[A]

You know, I would have been like, where's the. I would have looked on the box, found the address, and pulled up to that joint. 1-800-contacts. I mean, I'm in front. I'm out front.

[B]

We need more solution. Damn it.

[A]

My eye juice.

[B]

It's Important. Do you wear contacts?

[A]

I do.

[B]

Do you wear dailies?

[A]

I don't. I wear 30 days. Because I'm childish, okay?

[B]

Because I just started doing dailies. And it's a life, a change. It changes the game. However, I was told you're supposed to rinse them with solution before you put them in your eye. And I'm like, that seems like a waste, right? Because somebody tweet me if you agree or disagree with that statement. Because I'm like, the whole point is that I don't have to get the eye juice out. Exactly. Now, I would love to know.

[A]

That's crazy, because they sitting in I Juice. That's what I'm saying.

[B]

But somebody was like, hey, that's not I Juice. You have to rinse. And I'm like, but I don't. And nothing's happened to me yet.

[A]

That feels excessive. I feel like they just trying to sell more I Juice. And I appreciate that.

[B]

And that shit is not cheap. I get that CVS brand, right? $7.99. I'm not paying for Bausch and Lom. Fuck that. I don't have $13.

[A]

Right? These eyes ain't getting no luxury.

[B]

I'm all about that CVS I Juice for now.

[A]

You know, right until the commercials start. Like, you know, a loved one use CVS I Juice. When they started for Zantac, that shit shook me.

[B]

Oh, yeah.

[A]

But luckily, like, I had just kind of gotten into Zantac. That feels like a weird statement. But I had. I've. As. I've. I'm aging. I went out and drank one night and then woke up and, like, what's

[B]

happening in my chest? You got that burn.

[A]

I got that burn. And so I took a Z and I was like, oh, this is phenomenal. And then I swear, like, the next day, they was like, if you've taken these cancer pills, I was like, oh, I guess I won't be taking these anymore.

[B]

You gotta be careful out there. I mean, class action lawsuits is a whole episode of Scam Goddess, right?

[A]

And also, guys, if a class action lawsuit comes into your midst, if you see one online that you know you might have been in, if you get an email about one, sign up. Cause you might get a cool, like, 15 to $150.

[B]

You never know. What was that one that was going around about the, like, the security? Internet breach? Security?

[A]

Yeah. That was with the credit website. Yeah.

[B]

But they called me out. I like, went on there because they were giving out $75. I was like, hell, yeah. I got screwed I need my money. And they're like, can you show us receipts, please? Can we see your membership? And I was like, fuck, they caught me. I was trying to get in on that. It's my American right.

[A]

I bet you you don't even have to have receipts, right? I bet you if you had pushed forward, they probably would have let you

[B]

know that I can call and complain

[A]

and be like, why would I save the receipt? I didn't think you guys were.

[B]

I was so mentally upset by it that I had to erase the email with the receipt.

[A]

Out of duress.

[B]

Out of duress. I'm duress over here.

[A]

Oh, speaking of contacts, I am having an eye issue.

[B]

A bad contact can ruin everything.

[A]

A whole day.

[B]

Oh, gosh. Have you ever put one in and you just scream in pain?

[A]

Yes.

[B]

It is like, what the hell was in this?

[A]

Right? And I don't wanna know. My point is, eyeballs must be stronger

[B]

than we think, because we put them through a lot.

[A]

All right, guys, we'll be back with our next segment right after this break. Scams Ca. All right, guys, and we are back from the break, and it is time for my favorite segment, Historic Hoodwinks. This is where I'm gonna regale Jackie with a historic con that's worthy of our praise. And we're just gonna get our thoughts and our commentary through

[B]

today.

[A]

We have a crypto business scam.

[B]

Ooh, topical.

[A]

Yes. So two Arizona men have been accused of running a massive Ponzi scheme from a look at their social media, which is now gone. Aw, I hate that. It's gone.

[B]

So we can't look.

[A]

John Caruso and Zach Salter had it all. Traveling to exotic locations, driving luxury cars, and posing in private jets. Everybody loves to pose in a pj.

[B]

Yeah. You saw the Fire Festival documentary.

[A]

Yes.

[B]

That company in Russia. Now you can pay to, like, sit on a private jet. First of all, private jets are extremely wasteful and bad for the environment.

[A]

They really are.

[B]

Even when I become a billionaire, I'm not gonna ride one. And y' all have my word on that. You will never see Jackie J. On a private jet.

[A]

You do not have my word on that.

[B]

No, I understand flying. It sucks. It's so inconvenient. But it's so wasteful to fly private. Like, as an environmentalist, I could never get behind that. You know, Leonardo DiCaprio won't fly private if you.

[A]

It's so wasteful.

[B]

It truly is horrifically wasteful.

[A]

But as a black who has always saved every plastic bag she ever had under the Cabinet. I will be riding in some private jets.

[B]

You could also maybe make a makeshift parachute out of all those bags and have it ready.

[A]

Private jets are my reparations, Jackie.

[B]

You know, and you're entitled to that, right? I would never deny you of that.

[A]

That's how I'm phrasing this. To get away with doing something so horrible to the environment. It is really bad for the environment, guys, so. But they're posing in these PJs. For $200, I think you can pose in a PJ at LAX.

[B]

Okay.

[A]

Yeah. So do the Bow wow challenge, guys. Then you don't. Then that's not wasteful because you're just taking photos of the jet.

[B]

That's true.

[A]

And then you go and you get.

[B]

That's more economicalized. Right. Or southwest.

[A]

Right.

[B]

In level C. Maybe I'll do that. Yeah.

[A]

Maybe I'll pose on the private jet and then I'll go creep back over to, you know, premium, whatever, economy class. There's too many names.

[B]

I know.

[A]

Like, the airplane is really a fucking scam. There used to be like 80 seats. It was comfort. They feed you a hobby.

[B]

I have not been on a frigging plane in years where they're like. Where they don't say, this is a completely full flight. And now they take your bags. If you're not in first class or economy plus, they will take your bags.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

They're like, sorry, we have no room.

[A]

Sorry we made this plane to fit 130 people, but we only have room for three bags. Yeah.

[B]

So every time they take my bag. Every time.

[A]

And that sucks because it adds time to your commute. The whole reason I carry a carry on is so I could carry it

[B]

all on with my damn day. Yeah.

[A]

And I gotta wait at the damn carousel and look for my tag and

[B]

they scratch your shit all up.

[A]

Oh, my God. I feel like baggage handlers are purposely damaging our shit.

[B]

I would, too. Because people are assholes. Everyone at the airport is an asshole. Like, the people traveling.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

And they're just like, throwing the bags like, yeah, you deserve this.

[A]

Right. They're like kicking them and stomping them.

[B]

Oh, yeah. You gotta get through the day. I don't blame em.

[A]

It took extra effort. It took extra effort for you to body slam my bag. Like, doesn't that make you tired?

[B]

We look out of the tarmac, we

[A]

see him do it. We see him just taking out all the frustration. Yes. My favorite is when they go through your shit and they leave you a little note like, hey, we went through your Shit, yeah.

[B]

Nice panties.

[A]

Right? And I'm like, what were you looking for? The only time I understood why they went through my shit is cause my mom had me checking bags and flying pie batter all around the country.

[B]

Interesting.

[A]

Cause she makes really good sweet potato pies. So for Thanksgiving everybody would want them. So she would freeze the batter and then when I flew somewhere, like, make me check it in a bag. And one time they did open my bag for that, but they let me keep it.

[B]

That's good.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

As long as they didn't swirl their fingers all in it.

[A]

They probably did. They probably pissed that shit.

[B]

You never know.

[A]

Evil.

[B]

You never know. You know.

[A]

Well, so they're posing in the PJs. These two guys were in their 20s, okay. And they were living the life premier money of premier money managers in a trendy world of cryptocurrency. After founding a company called Zima Digital Assets.

[B]

That sounds like such a fake name.

[A]

It sounds so fake. Also, isn't Zima that alcohol?

[B]

Yeah, it's malt liquor. Yeah.

[A]

How you gonna name your. That's like four Loco Digital Assets.

[B]

Ooh, that sounds more real.

[A]

Like, why did you name Eczema?

[B]

They're probably too young to know what Zima is.

[A]

That's true. They probably heard it and were just like, it sounds foreign.

[B]

I haven't seen Eczema in a long time. I used to drink them in high school.

[A]

I don't think I've ever physically seen Eczema. I've just heard about them on tv.

[B]

Yeah. On the Simpsons. There was a Simpsons joke. I ordered Eczema, not emphysema. Cause somebody was smoking and I still say that funny. I know, really clever. I steal jokes. So.

[A]

So the self styled crypto king and his business partner defrauded more than 100 investors out of at least $7.5 million over the past 18 years.

[B]

Oh, okay. So they're on that the top tier. Yes, they are on the top scam tier.

[A]

And I'm proud of them because honestly, there's so many investors who are just throwing money at everything because they have so much money.

[B]

They want you to do it. Get them on the phone. I have a woman owned company called Natchebut. Y' all want to invest and that's a legitimate company. I'm doing my best. You know, all I hear is how difficult it is for women to raise money for their businesses. And these two yahoos walk in and get seven mil.

[A]

Yeah. Calling their company Zima.

[B]

It's a man's world. It truly Is Casey. It's a man's world. God. We're doing our damn best out here.

[A]

The scam is, is that y' all are missing out on good money from women.

[B]

Work with women.

[A]

Scam the system. Yes, that's where all the good shit is. So, in a Business Insider interview regarding their cryptocurrency business in 2019. So they're scamming when they're also going on Business Insider. Like normally scammers to keep their shit on the low.

[B]

Hiding in plain sight.

[A]

Yes, they're hiding in plain sight.

[B]

The balls. The balls.

[A]

You love it. The flavor. This is in 2019. They said letting fear impact your decisions isn't a way to grow wealth. I'm not in the business of guessing. I make calculated trades using tested principles and algorithms. Since trading is using historical models to predict the future, at Zima, we have a list of rules and principles to execute our trades and make decisions, which we believe has been the key to our success and allowed us to scale very quickly.

[B]

Hmm.

[A]

So this is all bro talk.

[B]

That was all bullshit. That was buzzwords. Algorithms. It sounds like an algorithm wrote that paragraph like a bot. A bot wrote that paragraph.

[A]

We're talking projections. We're talking algorithms. Algorithms.

[B]

We're talking huge scaling. We're never talking.

[A]

Yeah, points on the dollar.

[B]

Somebody give me and Lacey a presentation. Okay, we'll go in there and get it.

[A]

This is he on cocaine. This also sounds like cocaine talk.

[B]

It's just. They can afford it.

[A]

Oh, yes. The Colombia. The finest Colombian.

[B]

Yes.

[A]

They get it right from Noriega himself. Caruso, the founder of the Fake blockchain and cryptocurrency investment firm, has dubbed himself the Michael Jordan of algorithmic cryptocurrency trading.

[B]

I don't like that analogy.

[A]

The MJ of algorithmic cryptocurrency trading. That is a mouthful. So, Zachary Salter, an aspiring R and B singer. Na hoo. Okay. Co Founded Zima with Caruso.

[B]

Okay, so we have a little artistic flair on there.

[A]

Yes.

[B]

I wonder if he wrote the theme song for it.

[A]

Yo, he's got a Spotify album. Wait a minute. I might need to hear some of this.

[B]

I mean, I'm interested.

[A]

I'm very fascinated.

[B]

R and B is a very nuanced art, and I'm a fan, so, yeah, I'd like to hear this.

[A]

I do. All right, guys, so we're gonna play a little clip from Zach Seltos.

[B]

Oh, he also has a very chiseled facial hair situation.

[A]

Oh, my God. It's not his face. That's chiseled. It's his facial hair.

[B]

Yes, facial hair and then hairline. Look at that. He's got, like, shapes shaved into his hair.

[A]

Does he have a black barber? This is. Read this. Shape up is very, very black. So Zach has many songs. We'll only take a sample of one. So let's see which name sounds the most interesting. He's got a song called Forever 777. Sounds exciting.

[B]

Ooh, Snake Eyes.

[A]

Snake Eyes. Be with me. Body language. He don't got no song called Robbery. He don't got no song called Fraud.

[B]

I guess not.

[A]

Zima.

[B]

Wait, this one says Lacy. Wait, no Lacy K song. Is this featuring Lacy K. Oh, my God.

[A]

And Lacy spells her name like me. That's what I was thinking.

[B]

I was about to say that.

[A]

Hit list. All right, guys, Hit list.

[B]

Zima Records.

[A]

Zima Records. Okay.

[B]

Okay. A little country country going on.

[A]

Okay, what you gonna sound like?

[B]

I can't wait. I'm speechless.

[A]

I fell into your chair while your head was in my lap. Oh, my God,

[B]

that's Lacy.

[A]

Wait, does this slap?

[B]

Wait till the chorus. Wait, we gotta know.

[A]

Okay, I don't know how much we're legally allowed to play, but maybe.

[B]

I'm assuming they went bankrupt, so they're not gonna sue.

[A]

Yeah, this is Zima's jail fund.

[B]

I don't like his.

[A]

All right, we can stop it.

[B]

Oh, my. Serving me a little Bieber.

[A]

I was about to say this is great value. Bieber.

[B]

You know what?

[A]

He's. It's the. I love when they sing in italics. I love it. He's very in.

[B]

Pained. You can hear it.

[A]

Oh, my.

[B]

I might have to check that out later, though.

[A]

Oh, my God. I wonder who else was signed with Zima Records when they went out of business.

[B]

Who knows? I bet we could find out. I mean, maybe I could send them my demos, right?

[A]

I don't know. Look, record labels are a scam. We all know that.

[B]

That's true. You gotta be put it out yourself, Right?

[A]

This hurts me more because Zachary had a future being the fake ass Bieber.

[B]

Yes, I agree.

[A]

He had a future being faux Bieber,

[B]

and you know he hasn't. He has, like, an artist side to him. You know, it humanized him in a way to hear that.

[A]

Yes. I mean, look, I say scamming isn't art. Scam artists. That's true. So, you know, like, he obviously is just a very artistically inclined man. God damn. Zachary Salter. He co founded Zima with Caruso. I cannot. Zachary, you had a future in the mars.

[B]

He did. He could have gone the voice.

[A]

Oh, yeah, he could have definitely gone on the voice. Now he looks like he's like in his. Like, he looked like 35, maybe. No, no, no. He looked like maybe like 40. Was he gray?

[B]

You know what? You can never tell by pictures because scammers know that Facetune is real. You know what I mean? He could be a completely different person for all we know.

[A]

That's very true. Because I was like, he's. His sound is very young.

[B]

Yeah, he looks pretty young.

[A]

Yeah. Yeah. Okay.

[B]

But again, I don't know.

[A]

I don't know.

[B]

I'm on alert now, you know?

[A]

Hey.

[B]

Can't get anything.

[A]

Might not even be his face.

[B]

That's true.

[A]

So Zima's website says the firm operates various private funds focusing on investments and cutting edge technologies, including crypto and other blockchain based assets, which. All of that shit is fake. It also claims that Caruso and Salter have been investing in long and short cryptocurrency and block technology, whatever, since 2012. So they've been doing this since 2012. Running this. Salter describes himself as a serial entrepreneur. That is the best rebranding of con artists that I have ever heard.

[B]

That is a PR spin.

[A]

I am a serial entrepreneur. That's me.

[B]

Yeah. Oh, I think we all are. We all are. I used to work at a tanning bed. I used to be a dog walker. I used to work at the Cheesecake Factory at the Grove. I'm a serial entrepreneur.

[A]

Yes.

[B]

You know, I always have my thumb in many different projects.

[A]

I worked in the Hamptons. I used to do fake radio.

[B]

Or was that Laura Chan?

[A]

She did Wakano. I did this place called Roku in Laura.

[B]

Okay, yes, we've all done that.

[A]

Familiarity with Japanese. Several drug fronts and mob fronts I worked for. I am a serial entrepreneur.

[B]

You are? So is your mom.

[A]

Yes. Oh, yeah, my mom definitely is.

[B]

It's in your blood. It's a multi generational entrepreneurship.

[A]

This is like, invigorating to myself.

[B]

I agree.

[A]

God damn.

[B]

It's all about branding.

[A]

I'm in love with these men.

[B]

Ugh, I can't wait to hear what happens. Can I be honest, Lacey? I kind of don't know what cryptocurrency is. I kind of don't get it. Like, what is it? Is it real?

[A]

Let's Google cryptocurrency so I can get an accurate definition of what the fuck it is.

[B]

It's a real thing. I met a lady the other day who is a cryptocurrency attorney. And I was like, whoa, that sounds pretty, like, intense.

[A]

So it's. Cryptocurrency is like, as far as I know, before we get the accurate description, it's like, oh, actually, we have the description. It's a digital asset designed to work as a medium of exchange that uses strong cryptography. Cryptography. To secure financial transactions, control the creation of additional units, and verify the transfer of assets. So basically, it's encrypted so that people can't, like, fuck with the coding and, like, just. Because if you could, like, fuck with Bitcoin, you could just, like, make a code yourself. Like billions of.

[B]

But I feel like people did that.

[A]

Right?

[B]

Right.

[A]

Yeah, yeah. But I think it was harder to do with certain cryptocurrencies. So it's like, you can use it as a medium exchange online. A lot of people use it on the dark web to, like, purchase things.

[B]

Look, it says the United States dollar is a cryptocurrency. Oh, shit.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

Who knew that?

[A]

I didn't.

[B]

Because I guess every time we Venmo. That's cryptocurrency. Yeah. Shit. So I'm a cryptocurrency entrepreneur.

[A]

You are. Oh, my God.

[B]

This is so insane. I'm finding so much about myself.

[A]

I love this discovery journey that you're on.

[B]

We can rebrand ourselves. It's like, I'm a social media influencer, a podcast host, a comedian, and a cryptocurrency entrepreneur.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

Yeah, why not? I'm adding it to my Twitter bio today.

[A]

You should. So one of the guys says, I've known since I was young. I wanted to make a positive impact. This is Salter talking. He said in a question and answer interview in an entrepreneur magazine last June. He said, my go, my mantra is Gold Intentions, which I got as a tattoo when I dropped out of college at 20 years old. So this is peak tech startup story.

[B]

Gold Intentions. That should have been one of his songs.

[A]

It should have.

[B]

That is a really good hook.

[A]

I think he. He got a little messed up along the way. Like, he didn't realize the money was in the music for him.

[B]

That's true.

[A]

Also. How long are we gonna let these tech people all follow the same road, right? Like, if you wanna work in Silicon Valley, you gotta. Banana Republic gets several black turtlenecks. You gotta go to college, but only for a little bit.

[B]

And then you drop out.

[A]

And then you drop out. Then you start making shit in your garage, which is somehow still very nice.

[B]

Yes.

[A]

Like, and this is. These are the steps to becoming A Silicon Valley pop star.

[B]

Everybody knows. Everybody knows.

[A]

It's getting a little cliche. Guys come up with something else. So both are said to sold their victims on life of wealth and financial independence by trading cryptocurrency. Only one problem. Court documents say that millions that they took from their victims, not $1, ended up being invested.

[B]

And they got away with that for all those years?

[A]

Yes. And they didn't even try to invest. Y' all couldn't even just throw some money out there. And why not?

[B]

If it was, there's apps that make it real easy.

[A]

Right. Y' all could at least put some of their money on Acorns.

[B]

I'm about to say on Robin Hood. I feel like I've heard of that. Like, come on, do something.

[A]

You could have got them back like a point zero twenty seven at a

[B]

penny on the, on the dollar on those Google. Google stocks or Netflix or something.

[A]

Yeah, y' all could have signed up for one of them deals where every time you buy something they give you some money.

[B]

Oh yeah, I have those on my website.

[A]

Yeah, yeah, you could have did something. Y' all didn't invest anything.

[B]

I got some Sephora clicks.

[A]

They just. And when you don't invest or have a way to make the money back, that's when you gotta start Ponzi scheming. You get more investors and then you give of those investors.

[B]

Right. Because you're in so deep now, you gotta keep it going.

[A]

So that the victims. Investors said that numerous victims caught in the elaborate scam were former major league baseball players and their families. The players themselves are not identified in the court documents. Other victims describe senior citizens such as 76 year old who gave the two men $200,000 to invest in crypto, cryptocurrency. And an 86 year old who entrusted them with $60,000. Call your grandparents. This is because y' all not calling y' all grandmama and y' all grandpapa and they about to spend all these coins and then you gonna be ma take that dirt nap and you don't get no inheritance.

[B]

You gotta keep a check on grandma and grandpa for sure.

[A]

Cause if you don't call them, the

[B]

scammers will and they want to talk to somebody.

[A]

And I will take your grandma out to the lunch. We walk in the park and feed the ducks.

[B]

That's true.

[A]

And I will take her checks.

[B]

And grandma will remember who took her to feed the ducks, right? She sure will.

[A]

She won't remember I took them checks, but she will remember that we watched Young and the Restless every Tuesday.

[B]

That's right.

[A]

Yeah. So come on, y'.

[B]

All.

[A]

Call your grandparents, but also the Major League baseball players. I'm like, damn, that sucks sex, cuz. You know, athlete money only goes so far. Baseball players get paid really well, though. I always said if I was to date an athlete, I would want to date a baseball player, because then they don't have any cte and their bodies are usually pretty healthy when they finish. That's true.

[B]

That's true. Yeah. Cause, man, you can get. You can get into trouble.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

I was like, what is the best sport to play in terms of, like, body impact, bodily impact? Yeah. You know, maybe a little soccer.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

A little baseball.

[A]

Oh, soccer. People are getting hurt. They're tearing their legs up. They legs popping out the socket. Yeah, you don't want to do that. I think it's baseball.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

So. Okay.

[B]

And those outfits, their little booties look so good.

[A]

Oh, they look good. They do look good. Looking cute, Delicious. All right, baseball players right into the show. If you're single. Professional only. Mlb. Only to all my MLB baseball fans.

[B]

Frisco has a minor league team, Right?

[A]

Not minor leagues, though. Y' all ain't getting no money. I'm sorry.

[B]

We're on a mission here. We're on a mission.

[A]

Yes. So how they spent the money? According to evidence from James Lamerson, a special agent with the US Secret Service. Damn. The Secret Service got in on this shit? I guess because it's fake money. Whenever you do fake money scams, the government pulls up. So they were spending money on wild shit.

[B]

You can't be flashy with it either. That's the thing. Like, once you start throwing the money around, they start sniffing.

[A]

Uncle Sam is a hater.

[B]

That's true.

[A]

He is the biggest hater that has ever lived. And if Uncle Sam sees you flashing,

[B]

he's like, he's gonna call.

[A]

He starts googling real quick. Did I get my cut? Did I get mine? That's all right.

[B]

All right.

[A]

I got mine. I got mine. Carry on. Carry on. But if he don't see his, you gonna be with Lauryn Hill and Wesley's nice in the jail.

[B]

That's true.

[A]

So these are the things they were buying. They both spent at least $350,000 jetting around on private planes and hundreds of thousand dollars on luxury cars, vacations, clothes, and jewelry. The two even lived in multimillion dollar mansions in Paradise Valley and Scottsdale. Documents say that Caruso and his girlfriend lost more than $1.4 million gambling at a Las Vegas casino.

[B]

Mm.

[A]

Mm.

[B]

I play the penny slots when I'm in Vegas. You know what I mean? I keep it conservative.

[A]

Oh. Craps is my game, and I usually walk with rent. Oh, damn.

[B]

Look at you.

[A]

My dad taught me how to play. And the secret to success in craps is don't pay the field ever. It's a shit bet. Those. All those, like, high horns, throw a quarter in, whatever Bets, bullshit. Play the numbers, stay for an hour, have enough money to stay for an hour. 15 minutes, you'll get hot, and then the biggest secret is leave.

[B]

That's key. Cause once that adrenaline starts going and you think you're invincible, and you will fall.

[A]

You got 15 minutes every hour on the table. And when you get that, you bet real strong, you get your money, and then you cash out.

[B]

I am now making my goal in life to go to Vegas with you.

[A]

Oh, my God. That would be so fascinating.

[B]

Seriously, because I am so intrigued.

[A]

Let's see. Me, you, Haley, Dragon, and all the ball.

[B]

Maybe we catch a Christian Aguilera show. I don't know.

[A]

Now we talking.

[B]

I mean, you know. You're not mad at that?

[A]

I'm not mad at that at all. But here's my issue with them. Was this. Y' all trying to invest the money. Were y' all like, okay, maybe we can turn a profit at roulette?

[B]

They were like, maybe if we make a few GS, we can send them back to everybody and be like, check out these investments we got going for you.

[A]

This was stupid, right? They send people investments, like, okay, you got $52.

[B]

It's paying off. We're doing the long game here, guys.

[A]

They send just the chips. Why does it say Bellagio on it? That's how we sending out y' all returns right now from the Bellagio.

[B]

It's a new cryptocurrency. Bellagio chips. Why not?

[A]

Why not? So Caruso bought a Lambo? Yeah. Urus, I've never heard of this car. It's a Lamborghini. And I'm probably saying it wrong. Urus, Urus, I need to get richer. And Salter bought a number of expensive cars, including a Mercedes, a BMW, and an Audi, as well as $350,000 on exotic car rentals. They were stunned, truly.

[B]

Like, my God, I'm sad that Instagram is gone.

[A]

I need this.

[B]

I need the photos, damn it.

[A]

I need to know the. I know and you know, the flex. You know, the. I want to see ca.

[B]

I want to see. Had to do it to him, right? Hashtag, look back at it.

[A]

Right.

[B]

Also, with him, like, looking back at the car. I mean, I need to see this content.

[A]

Also, I want to know if any of his investors followed him or either

[B]

of them on Instagram. Oh, one time, this lady owed me money that I used to do eyelashes. Lacey, I don't know if I told you that I used to do eyelash extensions.

[A]

I didn't know that. You're such a talented.

[B]

I'm telling you, entrepreneur, honey. Serial entrepreneur. And this woman shorted me, and I was like, hey, you owe me this money. And she's like, oh, yeah, I'll get it for you. And then she wouldn't. And then she said, hey, I'm sorry. I'm really hurting. Meanwhile, she's at the Hollywood bowl seeing Hot Chip in a Box. I'm like, bitch, you're at Hot Chip in the Box. You're doing fine. You know, and then I see her at the beach. I see her in Malibu getting drinks. I'm like, I'm about to drive to your house.

[A]

She was taking your eyelashes all over the city.

[B]

She was. So I wouldn't. I know how they feel, looking at the Instagram account, being like, where's my cash?

[A]

Also, Jackie, the Texas just jumped out. He was like, she's saying, hot chick. She got my money.

[B]

When I get upset, drunk or tired is when the Texas gets worse. Yeah, same.

[A]

The Texas is usually pretty hidden, but if you catch me, like, tired, drunk, or at home or a combo, mama,

[B]

A combo of the three is the most. And I am both drunk and tired right now, so. Yes. Yes.

[A]

All right. What, you finna do? Yes. Very country. I love it.

[B]

Why not?

[A]

But. Yeah, exactly. So it's like, I wonder if anybody was looking and was like, I haven't gotten any returns. And every time I call them about the cryptocurrency, they just keep saying projections and algorithms, and then the phone disconnects. But they're in jets and so many exotic cars.

[B]

Yeah, they're doing very well. So where my money at? Right.

[A]

This reminds me of the Rush card situation, where Russell Simmons had a card called the Rush Card, which was like one of those debit cards for people who don't have a bank account.

[B]

Oh, okay. I dated a guy with that.

[A]

Yeah. I always say on the show, I dated a guy with a magnesis card. So shout out to Billy McFarlane. I've held that scam card.

[B]

Yeah, honey.

[A]

Very heavy quality. So people would deposit their money onto these cards, like, from their checks or whatever they do direct deposit. And then one day, it froze and then nobody could get their money out. And mind you, like, if you can't get a bank account, you're probably amongst the people who are the most financially vulnerable in the country. And so they couldn't get access to their money. So they're, like, hitting up Russell Simmons or tweeting at him. And then eventually they start commenting on Instagram on his daughter's photos. Come on, Tell your daddy to run me my money.

[B]

People will come at your family, your pets. It was like, angela, workers, tell your

[A]

daddy I need my check. So I wonder if anybody was on their Instagram. Like, hey, y', all, when is my crypto money coming in?

[B]

I mean, I would.

[A]

I would definitely.

[B]

Oh, yeah.

[A]

I have questions.

[B]

Be like, bitch, you're at hot chip in the bowl in a box.

[A]

So hot chip really, really pitched. It was what took you over the map? It did. So Caruso was claiming that he only had an income of $22,800, which did not support his lavish spending. So, you know, Uncle Sam was like, hmm. Salter reported that he had an income of zero dollars.

[B]

Okay.

[A]

Mm.

[B]

Interesting.

[A]

I'm like, how? And this is where you start fucking up. Y' all were scamming just regular people, but you have to report your scams to the government. Yes. Okay.

[B]

Cause you gotta clean that money. You gotta clean that money.

[A]

Taxes are a scam in the themselves. The government sets you up to fail so that they can come after your ass.

[B]

And I heard once you get audited, you're always on the list forever. Like, they'll keep auditing you. I'm trying to be careful. I'm very. I'm very conservative with my write offs because it's.

[A]

It's fun for the government. Also, the government can only really audit the middle class. They don't have enough resources or money to audit billionaires and rich people. And then there's people who lobby to make sure that the government stays underfunded when it comes to the tax division so that rich people don't suffer. So the middle school, middle class, we're being scammed.

[B]

Oh, everybody watch your back.

[A]

Oh, God, I can't wait till we eat the rich. I'm gonna put hot sauce on em.

[B]

I'm gonna put Trader Joe's. Everything but the bagel seasoning.

[A]

Ooh, yes. I'm gonna get some cookie butter for a second.

[B]

Oh, yeah. Let's all go to Trader Joe's and pick our condiment of choice.

[A]

Yes. We're eating the richest. Yes. So Caruso received five years probation for the crime but was sentenced.

[B]

What?

[A]

Yes, but this is for saying that

[B]

no income.

[A]

Yes. Robbery and fraud. So Caruso had spent time in jail before.

[B]

Oh.

[A]

He was found guilty of threatening to cut off a man's hand and genitals in a $200,000 extortion scheme that he carried out with his father in 2009.

[B]

Oh, wow. A lot to unpack there. A lot to unpack there.

[A]

Take time to think.

[B]

I've got your balls in hand. Handoff. You know, we've all said it, but

[A]

he did it with his father.

[B]

Right. That's what I'm saying. I smell a buddy comedy.

[A]

Take time to be a dad today.

[B]

Teamwork.

[A]

Fathers are the biggest scam.

[B]

Like, true.

[A]

Like, if you get a father who stays, like, you really got a good one. Because fathers are such a scam that in la, there are advertisements, pro dad billboards that are like, hey, call your kid.

[B]

Yeah. I thought the same thing when I saw those ads. I was like, wow, this is what it's come to.

[A]

Yes.

[B]

And they put, like, Disney characters on them. Yeah.

[A]

They have all different types of ones. They have one that's like, dance like a dad. It's him and his daughters. You know what the bar is on the floor.

[B]

And then, you know, you see a man holding a baby, and you're like, oh, he's such a good dad. I'm like, he's probably holding that baby for five minutes while mom washes her hands or something, you know?

[A]

Right. Mom's over there changing a tire. He's holding the baby, and he's like, come on, hurry up with the towel. This is heavy. The baby is heavy. A whole ad campaign for you guys. So, yeah, he did this shit with his dad. And actually, correction here. He received five years probation for that crime.

[B]

Got it.

[A]

So we haven't gotten into charges for that.

[B]

I was about to say, I'm about to start a cryptocurrency scam, but that's all.

[A]

You get five years probation. That's a slap on the wrist. But also five years probation for threatening to cut off someone's hand and genital. That feels light.

[B]

You know what? Who knows?

[A]

You know, it's fine. So. But then he was sentenced to three years in prison for violating the terms of his probation on three separate occasions. The caucasity of this. You got a slap on the wrist, then you violated your probation three times,

[B]

and you're still walking free.

[A]

You was coming into the court like, hey, judge, back again. Yeah. You know, it's crazy. I did shank somebody in a Bar. But, you know, you gotta hear my side. Like, what. What were you doing to violate your probation?

[B]

Or.

[A]

Yeah, I did call him again and tell him I was gonna cut off his balls and hands one more time.

[B]

I was drunk. I told them to take my phone from me. They didn't.

[A]

It's their fault.

[B]

I saw him on Instagram at the Hot Chip concert at the ball, and I had to say something.

[A]

Okay, well, we'll let you off with a warning.

[B]

Wait, you say Hot Chip dismissed.

[A]

Right. So he was released in 2017 after serving 20 months and set up the Zima website shortly after being released. So he got out of jail after serving 20 months and then immediately opened up a crime business? Yeah, he was like.

[B]

He's like, we gotta get back in the game.

[A]

The jail people were like, where can we drop you off?

[B]

The public library?

[A]

He was like, nah, you're right. At Crime.

[B]

Can y' all drop me off at Crime Crime Boulevard?

[A]

Thank you so much. So the investigation for this Ponzi scheme began after the Federal Trade Commission received an anonymous complaint about Zima in April of 2019. So we got a hater on our miss. Somebody snitched. I'm guessing they snitched cuz they saw y' all Instagram was on fleek.

[B]

Yes.

[A]

And they were like, wait a minute.

[B]

Cause you're gonna get some haters. You're gonna get some jealous people.

[A]

Yeah, jealous of your blessings that you stole. That God allowed you to steal.

[B]

That's right.

[A]

You know. So the US Secret Service, Michael Caruso on January 30, they believed the $7.5 million is just a portion of their total haul, and that the pair may have stashed additional ill gotten proceeds in an unknown location. I hope y' all did offshore it. If you were smart, you did. But y' all were out here flexing so hard, I don't know if you did right.

[B]

I mean, I'm so curious about that.

[A]

They don't seem like they would save when you're spending $350,000 in renting luxury cars.

[B]

Over a million at the casino. At the casino gone.

[A]

Yeah. You don't feel like a saver to me.

[B]

Got a million dollars.

[A]

That's a lot of money.

[B]

That's a lot of friend slot machines, which is what I like to partake in.

[A]

You gotta be at the slot machine for a solid month of the year.

[B]

That's right. On Max bet.

[A]

Lever lever.

[B]

Just Max bet. Max bet.

[A]

One of your arms is just a diesel.

[B]

That's right.

[A]

So strong from pulling that Lever. So they believe that the 7.5 million. Right. Is just a little bit of what they got. The pattern of investor payments is against investor payouts with no investment of funds is consistent with a Ponzi scheme. So basically with they're saying here is that what they were doing was, is getting money from new investors and then taking that new money that they got and giving it to an old investor to be like, these are your profits. That's how Ponzi schemes work. So in order for them to stabilize, you have to continue to get more investors, which is what makes it hard. But Madoff did it for like 50 years.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

So, you know, shout out to a king. So court documents go on to say that Caruso appears to have wholeheartedly embraced his background and chartered the career trajectory of a full time career criminal. Which is what he said earlier. He said he's a serial entrepreneur.

[B]

That's true.

[A]

He appears to believe that he is endowed with super intelligence. And indeed, details of his activities in jail basically back this up because he was engaging in a complex coordination of people and resources. And it provided a glimpse of a criminal mastermind at work.

[B]

There you go.

[A]

So he got into jail and immediately

[B]

started scamming, scamming against his fellow inmates.

[A]

He was like, guys, I got a ramen noodle empire that I just really need to get you.

[B]

All you have to do is invest three ramen noodle packs to get in on this.

[A]

And if you shift somebody in the yard, you can move up even faster.

[B]

You know, he's very thorough.

[A]

He started a multi level marketing scheme as soon as he got to prison. But you know what, that kind of makes me happy because it's like, if you do what you love, you never work it on your life.

[B]

So I'm saying the passion is clearly there. Yeah.

[A]

And then also it's tells me that his life isn't gonna stop in prison. Like, he's.

[B]

He made the most of it to

[A]

be a serial entrepreneur in jail.

[B]

A lot of people would probably, you know, fall in that situation and give up. Give up.

[A]

But he didn't.

[B]

He did not.

[A]

And also, like, you know, the whole superior intelligence, the whole grandiose aspects of it, he's definitely got a lot of the makings of a sociopath.

[B]

Yeah. Oh, I definitely think there's narcissism in him.

[A]

Oh, yeah.

[B]

Oh, yeah.

[A]

So much true narcissist. I love it. So when the media tried to track down Salter at his family home after being released into his father's custody. So Salter got Off kind of easy. It looks like a woman spotted them outside and raced inside. One neighbor said. Last I heard he was selling high end real estate in Scottsdale. So I'm shocked and dismayed, said a longtime neighbor. And then both men's attorneys would not comment on the allegations. And Caruso and Salter are due back in court. So this is all ongoing.

[B]

Oh, wow. This is ripped from the headlines.

[A]

Yes. And I love when a scam is just so fresh.

[B]

Tastes better fresh and so clean.

[A]

Yes.

[B]

How exciting.

[A]

But also just beautiful.

[B]

I'm going to keep my eyes up. And also I bet there's some Instagrams on the Internet somewhere. I'm going for.

[A]

We have to find these.

[B]

I got to see.

[A]

Yeah, because I need to know the flex.

[B]

I got to see how strong. I mean, it must have been really aggressive.

[A]

I wonder how much crime is directly because people want to flex on the gram 100.

[B]

I know some really dark facts about like big life decisions people have made based on watching people's Instagrams. I know people who have left la, move, who have moved out of LA because they were so upset by looking at someone's Instagram.

[A]

Do they know that the Instagram still exists? Wherever you go, they left.

[B]

This is, this is my point. Everyone is faking it. We all know it. You do it, I do it, we all do it. So don't let let it affect you.

[A]

Nah, man. This is now a goal of mine. I gotta flex.

[B]

So far.

[A]

Somebody packs they shit up and move

[B]

and then be like, hey, is your apartment open now? What's the rent gonna be? I'm looking for a new spot.

[A]

I' ma post a photo, I'm gonna drop a flick.

[B]

Well, you are so lit, but you are really good. I wanted to ask you, like, who do you get to take your photos because they do an exceptional job. Like you on the boat, you on the beach, you on. You know, somebody is serving good angles.

[A]

So that was my 13 year old sister and I taught her from a very young. As soon as she could hold the camera.

[B]

Yes.

[A]

We began the lessons.

[B]

Yes. That was a smart investment.

[A]

Yeah. That's my baby sister. Oh, she's 16. Lord. That's my baby sis. Shout out to Sid. But anybody else who I need to take a photo, I teach them really quickly. Like one just hit the button. A whole bunch. I'll do live if they're a real amateur. So I can go. I always test the good moments and then I'll have him just move the camera up, down, over to the side. Anger and I'll just keep posing.

[B]

I would love to see that in action because I want to learn from you.

[A]

Your Instagram is fantastic.

[B]

Well, I do my best, but, you know, my boyfriend's learning. I got, you know, he. I'm teaching him, not train a man. But I do the live. I say, hit the button, hit the button, hit the button. And he's like, oh, you have live turned on. He turns it off. I go, don't turn it off. I need every option, honey. You know, he'll get it.

[A]

He's getting.

[B]

We're working on it.

[A]

But, yeah, so, like, the gram, I think might be actually out here, like, ruining lives. Because before, you had to flex. Before flexing wasn't as easy of a task. You had to go to several different events a week to flex. You had to, you know, travel. You had to get gas. You had to.

[B]

Like, I had a Tumblr account. I had to upload the photos on the Tumblr. Like, this was pre Instagram.

[A]

You had to have a thumb drive.

[B]

Oh, I had to have the thumb drive. I had to have all of it.

[A]

Then you had to share it with people. You had to, you know, send it via text or send it or post it on a site and then be like, hey, come over and look at my new Flex. Now, Instagram has mainstream the Flex to where all you have to do is hit send.

[B]

And the Insta stories are even easier. Mm, shit.

[A]

And Those only last 24 hours, so people be looking at those even more because they're like, I gotta see what it is. Cause it's gonna be gone.

[B]

That's true.

[A]

Yo, Instagram is probably out here putting people in jail. In fact, I know they are because I've seen so many Instagrammers go down on the gram.

[B]

Yeah. I mean, case in point, our friends right here.

[A]

Damn. So, all right, guys, be careful. Be careful with the gram.

[B]

Everybody be careful with the gram. If that's one message we can convey today.

[A]

But also, if I ever post a picture that makes you leave your city, let me know. Because then I have truly ascended.

[B]

I'll let you know if I hit that point. Yes.

[A]

Let me know if somebody packs up and moves after one of your friends,

[B]

and I'll tell you the story on the way out.

[A]

Yes, I need to know. All right, guys, it's time for our last segment of the show. So Scammer of the Week.

[B]

I can't wait.

[A]

So Scammer of the Week is unknown, actually, but we know that they are German. The person who was a victim of this scam is shark tanks. Barbara.

[B]

I got a lot of texts and tweets about this because I'm a big shark head.

[A]

She fell for this very common phishing scam, and it cost her almost $400,000. So the scammer tricked her bookke into wiring the money by using an email address that was similar to her assistance requesting a payment for a renovation.

[B]

Yes.

[A]

So Cochran's bookkeeper, Christina, received what appeared to be a routine invoice from Cochran's assistant, Emily, to approve $388,700.11.

[B]

Very specific amount.

[A]

Specificity.

[B]

Yes.

[A]

The flavor. And this is a payment to a German company called ffh. Concept.

[B]

Concept.

[A]

Concept. Yes. Shaggy.

[B]

Yes.

[A]

The bookkeeper replied, asking, what is this need to know what account to pay out of. And the cybercriminal posing as Emily was able to give a credible and detailed response that FFH was a designing German apartment units that Cochran had invested in. Cochrane does invest in real estate, and FFH is a real company in Germany. Cochran said in a statement that she had already accepted that she had lost the money and moved on. I can't wait till I'm so rich that I can just accept that I lost 3,000.

[B]

I wiped my ass with 400,000 today. And it is what it is.

[A]

I mean, what you gonna do? Some days you win some. Some days you lose $400,000.

[B]

That's the game when you're Barbara Corcoran.

[A]

She is rich. Rich.

[B]

She is rich. She sold her real estate company for. I don't have the number in front of me, but I want to say it's over 100 million.

[A]

Stop.

[B]

Yeah, she.

[A]

She's a boss. Oh, my God.

[B]

So, you know, she was like, oh, haha. That was silly. It's like Bloomberg. You know, that money's gone. That money is gone.

[A]

That shit made me mad, though, because I was like, Michael Bloomberg, you could have just gave us this money. You could have literally just gave us.

[B]

He could have been mode. All of us, $500 or something.

[A]

And honestly, that would have been a more effective campaign.

[B]

100%.

[A]

You probably would have got more votes if you was just like, everybody dropping your cash app, Bloomberg, Twitter, everybody post

[B]

your Venmo account and I'mma hook y' all up. Why not? Same with Styer. I'm like, ugh. Or how about all the kids that need food, right? Could you have gone on a big Target run?

[A]

Like, look at these commercials, bitch. You know how many pop tarts you could have bought for the children?

[B]

A lot.

[A]

Like, a lot a Waste of money. Now we don't see any of it and you just annoyed us.

[B]

Yeah, he spent it all on ads and, like, yard signs that are now gonna go in our landfills.

[A]

Thanks so much for ruining this planet.

[B]

Thank you.

[A]

Even more bloomer. God damn.

[B]

Shake my damn head.

[A]

But also, I do want to be nasty rich. Not maybe right before nasty. Right before I have to start killing people. Because every billionaire is involved in somebody's murder. Like in some way. It just. That's how it works.

[B]

Shit gets complicated. It does, yeah. You know.

[A]

You know Bezos, he's killing people every day at the Amazon package factory. So what you gonna do?

[B]

Use that prime, you know, do what you gotta do, guys.

[A]

People are dying for the prime.

[B]

Use.

[A]

Use wisely. If you don't really need the prime, maybe just do five to seven because

[B]

it's dark out there.

[A]

People are really hurting when you do prime.

[B]

It's truly dark.

[A]

Like, yeah, you're getting your package in two days. But who had to die?

[B]

Somebody had to piss in a jar.

[A]

Yeah, for sure. At least piss in a jar.

[B]

Google it. I'm not making that up.

[A]

Nope. You can go to fulfillment centers now. So I wonder if she even fired her assistant. She's probably like, girl, right? Quit playing, okay? You lost 400 grand today.

[B]

That was sneaky, though. That was a sneaky. I think there was like a period in the middle of the email or something. Like, you know, have you ever opened your trash folder, your junk folder? There are emails that are like, from yourself. Or do you ever get calls from yourself?

[A]

That's why.

[B]

Because those scam bots will like, put your own number. Because they're like, whoa, I'm calling myself. Like, they get sneaky.

[A]

Deaky deaky. And also, like, she did try to vet this. She asked a lot of questions. She googled the company's, you know, like, were they real? Like all of this and still got scammed. So someone must have hacked into the assistance email and got enough information to be able to answer questions.

[B]

Because I wouldn't know how to answer. What if she spoke in a different tone? You know?

[A]

Right. I don't know big facts. So they had to have studied the way she writes and that, oh yeah, her email's completely compromised. So Cochran said in a statement that she'd already accepted it and she moved on. She said, I really thought it was a goner. She said in a twist of good fortune, the German based bank the bookkeeper used to wire the money froze the transfer before it was deposited into the scammer's bank account in China.

[B]

Oh, wow.

[A]

So they stopped the wire. This is a rare occurrence.

[B]

So she didn't. She's not out the money?

[A]

No.

[B]

Damn. Barbara.

[A]

I see you, Barbara.

[B]

You. I see you, Barbara.

[A]

You got power. I mean, she's a. I thought wire transfers were unstoppable.

[B]

You know what? Put it up to Barbara Corcoran.

[A]

That's why we use them, because they're supposed to. That's why they're for crime, because they're supposed to be unstoppable and irreversible. Damn. So Cochran said that her bank asked the German bank to freeze the transaction so her team could prove that it was fraud. So, hey, shout out to Barbara.

[B]

We love a refund, right?

[A]

We love a refund of our money.

[B]

Why not? I got scammed one time buying dog clothes on Instagram.

[A]

What a statement.

[B]

And I got my money back from PayPal. And I was so stupid. Satisfied? I said, you will never try to get me again. Boo Boo's Boutique.

[A]

Boo Boo's Boutique.

[B]

You heard it here first. That's true. It's a scam. Nobody believe it. It's a scam.

[A]

If Boo Boo pops up on your

[B]

timeline, you better keep scrolling, Boo Boo will get you.

[A]

Did you report them on Instagram?

[B]

You know what? I didn't. Damn.

[A]

Boo Boo out here probably too late.

[B]

Boo Boo probably got several more innocent people because of me not being diligent like Barbara.

[A]

What was the. The outfit was this cute.

[B]

It was overalls and adorable and Choo Chura looked great.

[A]

My dog. Yeah.

[B]

But you know what? I think what happened was, I think Boo Boo got in over her head. I think she just got too many orders and got overwhelmed. I don't think she was looking to scam. I think it was just like, orders came in, she didn't have product to fulfill, and she kind of ghosted everybody. Like, I get it. When you're a woman entrepreneur now, don't

[A]

put that on women entrepreneurs. We just rebranded ourselves.

[B]

That's right. You're right, you're right. What am I doing?

[A]

Think big, think big. Rebranded ourselves.

[B]

Think big, think big. Anyway, stay away from Boo Boo's Boutique.

[A]

Yes. All right. And on that note, Jackie, we always ask our guests, where do you want to be found?

[B]

Oh, shit. Gotta answer carefully. I'm gonna say Nash Butte.

[A]

Yes.

[B]

Yeah. And listen to Nash Butte.

[A]

Her podcast is fantastic.

[B]

Lacey's been on it.

[A]

Sings.

[B]

I loved your episode. Everybody. Check it out.

[A]

It was so fun.

[B]

We talk about beauty and self care and self care rituals and what beauty means to you. And we buy products, and we. We all support what we're buying. So it's like, you learn a lot. You learn a lot. Why not we throw out makeup when it expires. Yes.

[A]

We do our best. And, guys, as always, if you want to rat out your friends and family or yourself, make sure it's retired, though. Scamgoddesspodmail.com you can follow us on all platforms. Scamgodesspod. And if you want to follow me, D I V A L A C I D VA Lacey. On all platforms, honey.

[B]

And let us know if you decide to move out of your city, because Lacey's Instagram is so popping that offended at your own life.

[A]

Take a picture of your packed bags and tag me in it when you're leaving the city, okay? I need to know.

[B]

All right, y'.

[A]

All stay scheming. Gam Godd.