The Knife: Off Record – 122

Date: August 28, 2025
Hosts: Hannah Smith & Pasha Eaton
Theme: The Impact and Ripple Effect of Scams and Identity Theft

Episode Overview

In this episode of The Knife: Off Record, hosts Hannah Smith and Pasha Eaton deep-dive into the personal and emotional fallout from scams—specifically romance scams and identity theft. They tell two true stories: the first follows a Canadian professor whose photos were used in catfishing schemes for years; the second is the harrowing account of Kristin Lewis, an Arizona woman whose stolen purse leads to her being falsely accused of multiple crimes.

With typical empathy and solution-oriented discussion, the hosts explore not only the mechanics of these scams but also their profound effects on victims and unwitting participants. The episode balances detailed narrative storytelling with practical conversation, culminating in actionable advice and media recommendations.

Key Segments & Discussion Points

1. Opening and Theme Introduction

• [02:03] Hannah Smith: Announces the main focus—two stories about scams, beginning with a "mini-story" from her.
• [02:44] – [02:54] Brief banter about Reddit as an endless resource for compelling stories.

2. Story One: The Relentless Romance Scam of Alec Kouros

The Catalyst and Fallout

• [02:54] Hannah Smith: Introduces Alec Kouros, a Canadian professor whose photos have been exploited by catfishers on Facebook since around 2007.
  • The scam is discovered when a woman contacts Alec’s partner, believing she is also in a romantic relationship with him.

    “For the past eight years, my photos have been used by romance scammers, AKA catfishers.” – Hannah quoting Alec Kouros [03:00]

  • Initial confusion is quickly resolved—it was a fake account, not Alec.

Escalation and Lack of Recourse

• [04:05] – [06:18] Over the years, Alec is contacted by more and more women, believing themselves to be victims of ghosting or, worse, financial swindling.

  • Facebook accounts multiply—not just of Alec but also impersonations of his mother, brother, and other family members to bolster the scam’s credibility.
  • Despite repeated reporting to Facebook and even local police, nothing is done.
  • [06:37] Social commentary on victim blaming, with Facebook users even defending the platform and questioning why Alec had public photos.

  “Who is out there defending Facebook? Like, who’s waking up in the morning, like, Facebook needs my support?” – Pasha [06:37]

Ongoing Burden

• [09:00] By 2020, scammers had shifted to dating apps; Alec got contacted two to three times every day by victims.

  • Developed an FAQ and web page to direct victims for clarity and self-protection.
  • [10:57] Pasha notes the double devastation: heartbreak and betrayal layered atop the realization of scam.
  • Alec discusses the emotional toll, his morning routine now wading through more victim emails.
  • The cases sometimes escalate into resentment and harassment towards Alec by those unwilling to believe their “relationship” wasn’t real.

  “Sometimes they believe him and sometimes they don’t.” – Hannah [13:50]

Broader Systemic Issues

• [17:19] Even international incidents—Alec is contacted by a Russian man demanding money back from an investment scam under his name, threatening legal action.
  • Reflection on cross-jurisdictional challenges for law enforcement and platforms.

The Age of Deepfakes & Continued Struggle

• [19:06] Facebook has recently removed 10 million fake accounts in a single year, highlighting the problem’s scale and urgency, especially with AI-driven scams.
• [19:49] Alec struggles with undeserved guilt and continues efforts at public awareness.

3. Story Two: Kristin Lewis—A Victim of Identity Theft

Origins of the Nightmare

• [20:26] Pasha Eaton: Shares the story of Kristin Lewis, an Arizona woman whose life was upended first by misfortune, then by criminal exploitation.
  • Kristin, from a low-income family in Phoenix, is injured in a serious car accident in 2011, leading to chronic pain and—after surgery—a medically induced opioid dependence.

The Theft

• Navigating unemployment and financial strain, Kristin decides to sell unused household goods online.
• While meeting an acquaintance to sell an item at a local gas station, her purse is stolen—likely by the acquaintance (who sat in her car’s passenger seat).

“You go on with your life...but I don't know where my purse is.” – Pasha [25:10]

• The purse contained vital ID (driver’s license, Social Security number), gift cards, and more.

The Consequences Unfold

• Months later, she’s banned at a beloved record shop for shoplifting she didn’t commit, and is embarrassed in front of her new boyfriend.

• Soon after, Kristin's mother receives a call: there is a warrant out for Kristin’s arrest; she’s accused of drug-related felonies.

  “So Kristin is stunned by this and very confused.” – Pasha [32:31]

• Fears going to the police to explain; worries she’ll just be arrested and not believed.

Arrest and the Wheels of Justice

• [37:08] Kristin is eventually arrested in a grocery store parking lot. The arresting officer recognizes her protest, but still must take her in.

  • Endures 18 hours in jail, is released pending a court date.

• Public defender initially seems promising, then leaves due to a conflict; replacement is dismissive and urges her to plead guilty to a year in jail.

  “You need to just plead guilty and they’ll give you a year.” – Pasha, paraphrasing her public defender [41:25]

Investigation and Self-Advocacy

• Kristin obtains police reports and medical records from the day “she” was arrested. She discovers the imposter is “Courtney,” a friend of the man who stole her purse, whose body cam footage and medical details definitively prove she is not Kristin.

  • The public defender refuses to review this crucial evidence.

  "He doesn't even open the folder. He doesn't take one second to even try to see if she's telling the truth." – Pasha [44:10]

• After months, she fires her public defender, crowdfunds for a real attorney (with help from friend/skateboarder Aaron “Jaws” Homoki), and her case is dismissed in two weeks.

  “Thanks, Jaws!” – Kristin via Pasha [47:03]

Aftermath and Ongoing Challenges

• The real perpetrator (Courtney) is never charged; Kristin still worries about lingering consequences as her ID is potentially still in circulation.
• The medical bills from the imposter’s hospital visit were directed to Kristin, compounding her stress.

Practical Takeaways

• [50:47] Reporting a stolen ID as “lost” vs “stolen” makes a crucial difference; reporting as “stolen” creates a record, which can aid future defense if the ID is used illicitly.
• Recommend freezing credit reports as a protective measure after theft.

4. Wider Reflections and Additional Recommendations

The Psychological and Systemic Toll

• Emotional burden on the innocent when their identity is hijacked: guilt, confusion, inability to clear their name, and dread of public humiliation or legal bias.
• Frustration with legal and social institutions: lack of police response due to jurisdictional issues, the indifference of some public defenders, and slow institutional change by platforms like Facebook.

Media Recommendations

• [19:58] Hulu Documentary: Hey, Beautiful: Anatomy of a Romance Scam

• [53:43] Hannah & Pasha: The Catfishing of Tegan and Sarah: Explores emotional and logistical hardships when public figures are victims of identity misuse.

  “You hear about these stories of identity theft, and then someone is just like, well, what am I supposed to do?” – Hannah [55:22]

• [56:30] Podcast: Catch Me If You Ken (The Binge Network): The true story of a scammer’s cross-continental exploits.

  "Catch Me if you Ken investigates the never before told story of a scam that happened from Los Angeles to Italy..." – Pasha [56:44]

Notable Quotes & Moments

• “The process and the journey is so delicious. That's where all the good stuff is. You just can't live and die by the end result.” – Phoebe Robinson, as cited by Pasha [00:01]
• “Imagine getting a response from him and it being that link and going down that rabbit hole of like realizing you've been conned and also sometimes probably heartbroken.” – Pasha [10:57]
• “I have just spent the last six months falling in love with you. Well, at least your picture. I am still dealing with this now unknown person whom I thought was you and I'm not sure what to do.” – Reading an email from a scam victim to Alec Kouros [14:46]
• “She is on good terms with her mom, and she knows she's never been arrested for any of this, but now she has to try to prove that, I guess.” – Hannah on Kristin’s ordeal [39:54]
• “You just need to plead guilty and they'll give you a year. And she's like, take a year in jail for this. Like, these are not my charges.” – Pasha [41:25]
• “The security guard...did appear at one of Kristen's court hearings, and he pointed to her and said, yes, that's her...He later called the court...and said, I got it wrong. That was not her.” – Pasha [47:33]
• “I do have a wreck. I'm not all the way through it, but I feel very good recommending it…” – Pasha [56:30]

Practical Tips Highlighted

• After your ID is stolen: Always report it as 'stolen', not lost, to law enforcement/DMV.
• Freeze your credit: Use services like TransUnion or Experian to prevent unauthorized loans opened in your name.
• Documentation: If you can, maintain evidence of when, where, and how your ID was taken for future defense.

Final Thoughts / Tone

The Knife: Off Record continues its hallmark blend of empathy, narrative depth, and solution-seeking inquiry. The hosts, through candid story-sharing and practical advice, bring home the reality of crime’s lasting ripple effect—not just for direct victims, but for all those tangled in its web.

The episode voice is direct, warm, and frequently pierced by moments of poignant sorrow, gallows humor, or exasperation at institutional failures. Interludes of pop culture recommendations and listener advice keep the tone accessible, even as the subject matter gets dark.

Related Links (from show notes):

• Alec Kouros’s Awareness Website (for romance scam victims)
• Hulu: Hey, Beautiful: Anatomy of a Romance Scam
• Hulu: The Catfishing of Tegan and Sarah
• Podcast: Catch Me if You Ken (The Binge)

Contact the hosts:
Email: theknife@exactlyrightmedia.com
Instagram: @theknifepodcast
Bluesky: @theknifepodcast.bsky.social

For more episodes and recommendations, follow The Knife wherever you get your podcasts.