Podcast Summary: Scam Goddess – "The Not So Magic Mike w/ Rachel Bilson & Olivia Allen"

Podcast Information:

• Title: Scam Goddess
• Host: Laci Mosley (Lacey Mosley)
• Guests: Rachel Bilson & Olivia Allen
• Episode: The Not So Magic Mike
• Release Date: July 29, 2025

Introduction

In this episode of Scam Goddess, host Laci Mosley welcomes actresses Rachel Bilson and Olivia Allen to discuss contemporary scams, personal experiences with fraud, and delve into a particularly intriguing case involving a fraudulent Magic Mike live show.

Generational Differences and Technology

Discussion Highlights:

• Millennials vs. Gen Z: Laci opens the conversation by addressing the generational gap, emphasizing how Millennials perceive Gen Z and Alpha as lacking certain skills, such as reading, possibly due to increased reliance on technology and AI.

  • Laci Mosley [04:00]: "Being alive is very hard these days, especially for us millennials... Why can't y'all read?"

  • Olivia Allen [05:00]: "What is going on with that?"

• Impact of AI and Technology: The hosts discuss the pervasive nature of AI and its implications on daily life, expressing concerns over privacy and the ease with which scammers can exploit technological advancements.

  • Laci Mosley [05:33]: "It's so complicated because if you don't feed the machine, especially as a minority, then the machine is gonna... so you kind of have to feed the machine."

Personal Experiences with Scams

Discussion Highlights:

• Rachel Bilson's Experience: Rachel shares a recent incident where a close friend was scammed out of their life savings through a sophisticated wire fraud scheme tied to a fake escrow company used in real estate transactions.

  • Rachel Bilson [09:36]: "They copied the escrow company a hundred percent... Someone stole their entire life savings."

• Olivia Allen's Experience: Olivia recounts witnessing a friend fall victim to the scam, highlighting the emotional trauma and the challenges in recovering lost funds.

  • Olivia Allen [10:10]: "They worked their whole life, saved up a down payment... It was a scam. It was a fake wire fraud."

• Advice on Avoiding Scams: The trio emphasizes the importance of vigilance, such as verifying phone numbers independently and taking a moment to assess threatening communications.

  • Laci Mosley [13:03]: "You always have 30 seconds. If you're in a plank... think about the information you've received before you go to Walmart and get some gift cards."

Fake Magic Mike Scandal

a. Overview of the Scam

Discussion Highlights:

• The Scheme: John Santilli, a Hollywood producer, falsely solicited over $4 million from investors by claiming funds would support the renowned "Magic Mike Live" strip show. In reality, the money was diverted to personal gambling ventures across various casinos.

  • Laci Mosley [18:20]: "A Hollywood producer stole more than 4 million from investors who thought they were buying a stake in Magic Mike Live... he was actually taking the money and using it to gamble."

• Use of Deceptive Materials: Santilli employed doctored legal documents and fabricated connections with established figures like Channing Tatum to legitimize his fraudulent activities.

  • Laci Mosley [58:58]: "He used a doctored legal document that made it appear that ALORIS Magic Mike L.P. was a shareholder of Mike's Mobile Detailing."

b. John Santilli's Actions

Discussion Highlights:

• Professional Background: Laci delves into Santilli's career, highlighting his legitimate roles in various film projects, which he leveraged to gain investors' trust.

  • Laci Mosley [34:00]: "He was an executive producer of the English Teacher... co-produced the 2019 film Vault... executive producer on the 2024 Lifetime movie held Hostage in My House."

• Gambling and Fraudulent Spendings: It was revealed that Santilli spent over a million dollars from the investor funds on casinos like Twin River, Foxwoods, and Mohegan Sun, displaying a blatant misuse of the borrowed capital.

  • Laci Mosley [62:52]: "He was taking real notes on the job... He was clearly spending this money on gambling."

c. Connection to Channing Tatum and Magic Mike Live

Discussion Highlights:

• Leveraging Celebrity Ties: Santilli's use of photographs with Channing Tatum and references to "Magic Mike" was a strategic move to appear credible and entice investors.

  • Laci Mosley [30:28]: "He has a pic of himself with Channing Tatum on IMDb."

• Impact on Investors: The episode discusses how Santilli's deceit led to significant financial losses for investors who believed they were supporting a legitimate and lucrative entertainment venture.

  • Laci Mosley [62:52]: "He was arrested in 2020 and found guilty of... securities fraud."

Public Reactions and Conclusions

Discussion Highlights:

• Moral Judgments: The hosts express a mix of condemnation and empathy towards Santilli, acknowledging the gravity of his actions while also considering the possible underlying issues like addiction.

  • Rachel Bilson [74:22]: "He took money and it was like supporting his addiction to gambling... I don't agree."

  • Olivia Allen [75:02]: "If he actually goes down... he never hurt any... Anyone physically."

• Lessons Learned: Emphasis is placed on the importance of due diligence, especially when investments seem too good to be true or when they rely heavily on celebrity endorsements.

  • Laci Mosley [63:06]: "We all know. We all know everything is made up. So why not this being made up?"

• Final Thoughts: The episode concludes by reinforcing the necessity of staying informed and cautious to avoid falling prey to sophisticated scams.

  • Laci Mosley [75:56]: "They have the fake LLC... They really withdrew more than a million dollars... These are not the scams we like here."

Notable Quotes

• Laci Mosley [04:00]: "We're just the right amount of cynical. We're just the right amount of active. We're just the right amount of broke."

• Rachel Bilson [07:22]: "Love a fucking scam."

• Olivia Allen [05:00]: "What's going on with that?"

• Laci Mosley [22:48]: "We are talking about a fake Magic Mike right now."

• Laci Mosley [62:52]: "He was taking real notes on the job... He was like, you did a wedding."

Conclusion

This episode of Scam Goddess serves as a cautionary tale about the sophistication of modern scams, particularly how fraudsters exploit trust, celebrity associations, and technological tools to deceive investors. Through engaging conversations with Rachel Bilson and Olivia Allen, host Laci Mosley highlights the critical need for vigilance and informed decision-making to safeguard against financial fraud.

Stay Tuned: For more insightful discussions on scams and frauds, subscribe to Scam Goddess on Apple Podcasts or visit siriusxm.com/podcastsplus.