Scam Goddess Podcast Summary: "Zadeh Kicks: The Greatest Sneakerhead Swindle LIVE!"

Podcast Information:

• Title: Scam Goddess
• Host: Laci Mosley (Scam Goddess)
• Guests: Wayne Brady, Carl Tart, Oscar Montoya
• Episode Title: Zadeh Kicks: The Greatest Sneakerhead Swindle LIVE!
• Release Date: June 24, 2025

1. Introduction of Guests (00:00 - 04:31)

Laci Mosley kicks off the episode by welcoming her special guests:

• Oscar Montoya: Known for his roles in Minx, Brooklyn Nine-Nine, and viral podcast episodes.
• Carl Tart: Recognized for his appearances on Grand 2 History of the World, Part 2, Brooklyn Nine-Nine, and current work on SNL.
• Wayne Brady: Celebrated for his work on Whose Line Is It Anyway?, Let's Make a Deal, and his podcast Wayne Brady's What If with John Magnum.

Laci humorously sets the tone, mentioning their presence is essential to "fill the room up" and prepares the audience for a lively discussion.

Notable Quote:

• Laci Mosley (04:31): "Welcome to my Tiny Desk concert."

2. Personal Experiences with Scams (04:34 - 24:40)

Laci delves into the guests' personal encounters with scams and fraudulent activities:

• Carl Tart: Shares his teenage years working at an arcade where he subtly pocketed tokens to extend his gaming time, rationalizing it as "taxing the system" rather than outright theft. Later, he recounts being scammed at the Greyhound terminal during his first audition trip to Atlanta, losing $60 but still securing the role.

  Notable Quote:

  • Carl Tart (05:55): "I scammed. When I was a teenager... So I wasn't stealing money, right? I was taxing the system."

• Wayne Brady: Discusses his experiences working at Rite Aid, where he observed a coworker's intricate coupon fraud, leading to her dismissal. He also recounts being scammed by "Environment California," a fraudulent job offer promising high earnings, resulting in lost money and a critical lesson in trust.

  Notable Quote:

  • Wayne Brady (09:38): "They would ring themselves up and use coupons, and she would just swipe these coupons, and she would get, like, $200 worth of stuff... and she got fired."

• Oscar Montoya: Unlike his guests, Oscar admits never having scammed anyone but has been a frequent victim of scams, including manipulative interactions while working at Blockbuster.

  Notable Quote:

  • Oscar Montoya (18:47): "I've never scammed anybody because I'm too stupid to do that. But I've been scammed my entire life."

The segment emphasizes that everyone is susceptible to scams, highlighting common vulnerabilities and the importance of awareness.

3. The Zadeh Kicks Scam (24:49 - 87:15)

The heart of the episode focuses on Zadeh Kicks, an online sneaker resale company led by Michael (last name withheld for privacy). Zadeh Kicks enticed sneaker enthusiasts with promises of limited-edition releases at below-market prices.

Key Points:

• Founding and Operation:

  • Michael's Background: Born in Eugene, Oregon, Michael studied footwear design but dropped out to pursue sneaker reselling.
  • Zadeh Kicks Launch (2013): Started with a $20,000 loan from his father, leveraging employee discounts from Nike stores to acquire limited-edition sneakers.
  • Business Model: Utilized backdoor arrangements with retailers, securing new releases before official availability. Customers placed bulk pre-orders, anticipating resale profits post-release.

  Notable Quote:

  • Laci Mosley (66:54): "So let's find out a little bit about who Zeta is. So Michael was born in Eugene, Oregon... In 2013, Mike made sneaker reselling his career."

• Growth and Deception:

  • Rapid Expansion: By 2020, Zadeh Kicks was among the top 1% of Shopify merchants, attracting customers with promises of exclusive releases.
  • COVID-19 Impact: The pandemic disrupted supply chains, leading to shipping delays. Michael began taking pre-orders for shoes he couldn't fulfill, misrepresenting inventory availability.
  • Financial Mismanagement: Funds from pre-orders were diverted to luxury purchases, including Ferraris, furs, and high-end handbags, rather than fulfilling shoe orders.

  Notable Quote:

  • Laci Mosley (86:14): "Mike was only able to get 6,000 pairs of this shoe. Remember, 600,000 pairs is what he told the girls he was giving them."

• Customer Exploitation:

  • Refund Policies: Initially imposed a 20% cancellation fee, later increasing it to 50%, discouraging customers from seeking refunds.
  • Communication Tactics: Threatened customers with bans if they voiced dissatisfaction, echoing the "Soup Nazi" scenario from Seinfeld.

  Notable Quote:

  • Carl Tart (81:05): "Is it this moment, or was it a couple of moments ago? Because I know that I... It would take me a while."

• Legal Consequences:

  • Wire Fraud Charges: Michael and his partner Bethany faced charges for wire fraud and falsifying information on 15 bank loan applications.
  • Financial Debts: The company amassed over $65 million in unfulfilled orders and an additional $20 million from bogus business loans.
  • Asset Seizure: Authorities recovered approximately 60,000 pairs of shoes from Zadeh Kicks' warehouse, including personal collections belonging to Michael.

  Notable Quote:

  • Laci Mosley (90:11): "Can you imagine getting 15 chances from the bank? If something hit before your check, they charge you $35.15 loan applications? This is crazy."

4. Analysis and Reflections (87:15 - 95:49)

The discussion shifts to analyzing the broader implications of the Zadeh Kicks scam:

• Psychology of Scamming: Guests reflect on how trust is exploited, the allure of exclusive deals, and the desperation that drives customers to engage in scams.

  Notable Quote:

  • Oscar Montoya (22:27): "I feel like that is my fault. I think that the big thing with scammers is that you are able as a scammer, you have an innate ability to clock and lock into a scammy."

• Impact on Communities: The scam disproportionately affected younger consumers and marginalized groups, exacerbating financial vulnerabilities.

  Notable Quote:

  • Laci Mosley (34:19): "Young people are using Klarna and they've also seen a rise in black and Hispanic women using Klarna."

• Regulatory Oversight: The episode critiques insufficient federal regulation and enforcement, highlighting the need for greater consumer protections against fraudulent financial practices.

  Notable Quote:

  • Carl Tart (34:50): "But also, I love the irony of a company that's putting people in debt being in debt. Good, don't pay them back. Klarna gonna close before y' all gotta pay em back."

5. Closing Remarks and Takeaways (95:49 - End)

Laci wraps up the episode by reiterating the severity of the Zadeh Kicks scam and its ramifications:

• Lessons Learned: Emphasizes vigilance in financial dealings, skepticism towards too-good-to-be-true offers, and the importance of regulatory frameworks to protect consumers.

  Notable Quote:

  • Laci Mosley (85:59): "So if you have to wait a little while longer, because it really is an addiction. A sneaker head. That's crack."

• Future Episodes: Teases upcoming content and encourages listeners to stay informed and cautious.

• Guest Promotions: Each guest promotes their respective projects and social media platforms, maintaining the show's engaging and community-driven spirit.

Final Notable Quote:

• Laci Mosley (97:01): "Thank you all so much for coming. Before we go, I do have to ask all of you beautiful gentlemen, where would you like to be found?"

Conclusion

This episode of Scam Goddess provides a compelling exploration of one of the most significant sneaker scams in history, weaving personal anecdotes with in-depth analysis of fraudulent schemes. Through engaging dialogue and insightful reflections, Laci Mosley and her guests shed light on the mechanics of scamming, its impact on individuals and communities, and the urgent need for better consumer protection measures.

Stay tuned for more episodes every Tuesday, and don't forget to join the Scam Goddess "Con-gregation" for a humorous yet enlightening take on the world of fraud.