Scamfluencers: “Rick & Rosario Ames: The Spy Who Told Too Much” | Episode 188
Release Date: November 17, 2025
Hosts: Sachi Koul & Sarah Hagi
Episode Overview
This episode of Scamfluencers follows the staggering true story of Aldrich “Rick” Ames and his wife, Rosario–one of the most audacious espionage scandals in CIA history. Ames, a mediocre, error-prone agent, became the deadliest mole in U.S. intelligence, betraying his country and putting agency secrets—and lives—up for sale. Hosts Sachi and Sarah examine how Rick’s arrogance, self-interest, and incompetence led him to commit treason, how the CIA’s toxic “boys club” culture let him thrive, and whether Rosario was truly an unwitting accomplice or something more.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
1. Spy Glamour vs. Reality
[00:25]
- Sarah: “Don't you think the genre of like spy movies...are kind of skewed towards how overly competent they are?”
- Sachi: “I think most spies are probably pretty mundane people. That's how they're getting away with it, you know.”
- This theme underscores the contrast between Hollywood’s version of espionage and the mundane, even sloppy, reality of real-life spies like Rick Ames.
2. The Arrest – February 1994
[00:57-03:40]
- Episode opens dramatically as FBI surrounds Rick and Rosario’s Virginia home.
- Rosario, in shock, is arrested alongside Rick. She likely suspects this would be the end of their privileged lifestyle.
- Sarah: “Despite being one of the most bumbling double agents of all time, it took years for the CIA and the FBI to finally uncover Rick's treason.”
3. Rick Ames: The Ultimate Failing Upwards
[05:17-15:00]
- Rick’s background: privileged but unimpressive, “failing upwards” in the CIA.
- Multiple arrests for drunkenness and reckless driving, yet promoted and protected by nepotism and a lax boys-club culture.
- Sachi (on Rick’s high school photo, [06:49]): “He's got thick glasses...very big ears. He’s a nerd.”
- Rick’s own chilling quote ([09:46]):
Rick (quoted by Sachi): “I felt proud and selected. They made a great effort to cultivate a sense of being in the elite...the ethics of espionage, telling lies...didn't bother me. There was a sense of fun.”
- Repeated underperformance, but rarely punished.
4. Failed Spy, Dysfunctional Marriages, and Boys’ Club Attitudes
[13:07-16:28]
- Multiple affairs confound his “career,” especially one at the office Christmas party.
- Sachi ([13:07]): “I think everybody should get a divorce. I do think in this case, Nancy should also kill him.”
- The hosts mock the idea of men in the workplace feeling underappreciated.
- The CIA’s culture pushes out women like Nancy (Rick’s first wife), while indulging incompetent men.
5. The Rosario Affair: Conflict of Interest and Co-conspiracy
[18:29-22:22]
- Rick, in Mexico, falls for Rosario, a smart and ambitious Colombian diplomat—who is also a CIA informant (and already married to someone else).
- They begin a secret, unethical relationship, violating CIA protocols.
- Sachi ([19:32]): “She's the hottest woman in the world...I understand what he’s getting out of it. I'm a little unclear on what it is for her.”
6. Rick’s Promotion and Greed: The Birth of a Mole
[22:22-26:33]
- Despite fresh security breaches and lackluster performance, Rick is inexplicably promoted to head of Soviet counterintelligence.
- Rosario’s expensive tastes and Rick’s expensive divorce push him deeper into debt.
- Sachi ([22:22]): “They're just giving jobs away over there.”
- Rick, assigned to get close to KGB agents, decides to sell secrets for money.
7. The Begin of Betrayal: Selling Out for Cash
[26:33-33:22]
- April 1985, Rick brazenly hands over names of double agents to Russian officials for $50,000.
- He soon escalates: handing over six pounds of secret documents, unprompted.
- Sachi ([28:45]): “Is this the dumbest man in America? He's a worse spy than Inspector Gadget.”
- Rick’s self-reflection is cold:
Rick (quoted by Sachi, [30:12]): “I’m still puzzled as to what took me to the next steps...the main factor...was a realization after I had received the $50,000...there was as much money as I could ever use.”
8. Blood on His Hands: Consequences for Colleagues
[33:22-36:20]
- Rick’s leaks cause the execution of at least 10 CIA assets in the USSR.
- No remorse—only regret that he was too obvious, making the mole hunt easier.
- Sachi ([37:29]): “He doesn’t regret it. He only regrets being caught. Incredible.”
9. The Roman Holiday and the Cost of Treason
[37:40-41:46]
- Rick and Rosario live lavishly in Italy, splurging on luxury goods.
- Rosario supposedly knows nothing, parroting that their wealth is from “family money” or “investments.”
- Sachi ([40:17]): “It's like a Costco deal for state secrets.”
10. Unraveling: Suspicion and Investigation
[44:46-49:29]
- After their return to D.C., old friend and CIA officer Diana Worthen visits and is alarmed by Rick and Rosario’s sudden wealth and opulent lifestyle.
- Diana and a group of women at the CIA investigate:
- Track Rick’s finances, find large unexplained deposits that track perfectly to his known meetings with Soviets.
- The FBI is brought in as CIA faces its own scandals (Iran-Contra), further delaying resolution.
11. The Wiretaps: Rosario’s Involvement
[49:29-50:46]
- Wiretaps capture Rosario offering Rick advice about hiding his money:
Rosario (quoted by Sachi, [49:29]): “Rosario: You are going to have to be a little more imaginative about how you always have this envelope with this big hunk. I mean, really.”
- Both plead guilty; Rick gets life without parole, Rosario over five years.
12. Reflections on Entitlement, Privilege, and Scamming
[52:23-56:51]
- Sachi ([52:23]): “I guess you could start with the stupidity. It's so dumb. Like the scam was just that he was gonna give up everything he had for, frankly, not a lot of money.”
- Hosts dissect Rick’s entitlement, lack of loyalty, and the CIA culture that let him thrive.
- Sarah ([52:58]): “The thing about Rick that really makes this like a universal story is the level of entitlement...He failed upwards in such a way that even his colleagues were like, this makes no sense.”
- Both question how much Rosario really knew—probing whether her intelligence and closeness with Rick mean she must have been aware earlier than she admitted.
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
| Timestamp | Speaker | Quote/Description | |-----------|--------------|------------------| | 02:34 | Sachi | “This is like the best episode of Real Housewives in the world. This is Sprinter van on bath salts.” | | 09:46 | Rick (via Sachi) | “I felt proud and selected. They made a great effort to cultivate a sense of being in the elite...there was a sense of fun.” | | 22:22 | Sachi | “They’re just giving jobs away over there. They weren’t just letting anybody do anything.” | | 28:45 | Sachi | “Is this the dumbest man in America? He’s a worse spy than Inspector Gadget.” | | 30:12 | Rick (via Sachi) | “I’m still puzzled as to what took me to the next steps...was a sense of the enormity of what I had done. But certainly underlying it was the conviction that there was as much money as I could ever use.” | | 33:04 | Sachi | “This guy is like evil Mr. Magoo. He’s not asked to bring any of this...It’s so dumb and so monstrous.” | | 37:29 | Sachi | “He doesn’t regret it. He only regrets being caught. Incredible.” | | 40:17 | Sachi | “It's like a Costco deal for state secrets.” | | 49:29 | Rosario (via Sachi) | “You are going to have to be a little more imaginative about how you always have this envelope with this big hunk. I mean, really.” | | 52:23 | Sachi | “I guess you could start with the stupidity. It’s so dumb. Like the scam was just that he was gonna give up everything he had for, frankly, not a lot of money.” | | 52:58 | Sarah | “The thing about Rick that really makes this like a universal story is the level of entitlement. He had to be something kind of like, I don't want to be in the CIA, Dad. I want to act...And he still had this really indignant view of things.” |
Important Segment Timestamps
| Time | Content | |----------|-----------------------------------------------------------| | 00:57 | Arrest of Rick and Rosario, scene-setting | | 05:17 | Rick’s unremarkable background and journey in the CIA | | 13:07 | Rick’s mistakes, personal flaws, and boys club culture | | 18:29 | Rick meets Rosario, a pivotal new influence | | 22:22 | Rick’s inexplicable promotion to head of Soviet section | | 26:33 | Rick’s first spy-for-cash operation | | 33:22 | The deadly consequences of his betrayal | | 44:46 | Return to DC, suspicions, and friend-driven investigation | | 49:29 | Recorded calls highlighting Rosario’s level of involvement| | 52:23 | Reflections on stupidity, entitlement, and “value” | | 56:51 | The lasting lesson: don’t be a spy; reality TV is safer |
Takeaways & Reflections
- Scam Mechanics: Rick’s “success” as a scammer owed much to mediocrity, luck, and a culture of unaccountability rather than to brilliance or cunning.
- Organizational Blindness: CIA’s lack of oversight and insular culture allowed his betrayal to grow; staff often dismissed warning signs because he “fit” the club.
- Psychology of the Scammer: Rick’s main motivator was personal gain. He was indifferent to ideology, result, or human cost—and always ready with a self-pitying rationalization.
- Rosario’s Role: Remains debatable. The evidence hints she knew more, and earlier, than she claimed.
- The Cost: At least ten CIA informants executed. The case forced the CIA and FBI to reform protocols for detecting insider threats.
Final Thoughts
Sachi and Sarah sharply blend humor and outrage, exposing not just individual failure but a systemic rot at the very heart of a major intelligence agency. Their analysis is as biting as it is insightful, making this tale both a riveting cautionary saga and a striking cultural critique of entitlement and institutional dysfunction.
Recommended for anyone fascinated by true crime, spy scandals, or the everyday banality of evil.