Podcast Summary: The Ramsey Show Highlights
Episode: I Got Scammed Out Of $38,000 By A Friend
Date: February 18, 2026

Main Theme & Purpose

This episode centers on a caller’s personal story of being scammed out of $38,000 by a trusted friend, the subsequent emotional and financial fallout, and expert advice from the Ramsey Network hosts on processing the loss and moving forward. The discussion provides practical advice for others who may be dealing with similar losses and emphasizes emotional recovery and financial wisdom.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Caller’s Story: How the Scam Unfolded

• Details:
  • The caller, George (B), recounts being drawn into a scam in 2016 by a gym acquaintance. He believed he was investing in a high-yield savings account through an LLC, only to later discover it was fraudulent.
  • Total loss: $38,000 from the scam, plus additional legal and collection fees totaling about $45,000.
  • Legal action: Although George took the scammer to court and won a judgment, the scammer had hidden or eliminated assets, making the judgment unenforceable.
  • “I hired lawyers. Lawyers and everything like that. So I. All in all, I was out maybe like 40. About 45 grand.” (B, 00:31)

2. Emotional and Legal Aftermath

• Dealing with an Unenforceable Judgment:
  • George has spent four years attempting collection, even hiring a debt collection company during the pandemic which only added to his costs.
  • "The judgment is just basically paper right now." (B, 01:03)
  • The company eventually asked for more money to continue pursuing the case.
• Weighing Further Action:
  • George asks if he should keep chasing the scammer or count the loss and move on.

3. Advice from the Hosts: Moving On versus Chasing Losses

• Expert Take:
  • The hosts strongly recommend George emotionally and financially write off the loss to avoid throwing more money after it.
  • Quote: "You spend 25 grand chasing this guy down, and then it turns out you don't get a dime from him. Well, now you just lost another 25 grand. So it may be time to emotionally write this off and call it a stupid tax and move on." (A, 02:17)
  • Emotional impact acknowledged: It's living "rent free in your head." (A, 02:30)
  • Personal relatability: A host shares having previously been $40k in consumer debt.

4. On Forgiveness, Closure, and Growth

• Letting Go as Empowerment:
  • Host C highlights the potential to refocus energy for financial recovery and growth:
    • "I do think once you emotionally kind of just get over it, right? You detach and you're like, okay, I am moving on. You start to really, really see what you can do and what you have the power to do … Like, that money will come back … but it’s just emotionally having just to let it go, which sucks." (C, 03:07)
  • Focusing on Baby Step 2 (paying off debt) is encouraged as a way to rebuild.
  • The story can one day be a cautionary tale as a self-made millionaire.

5. Host Shares Personal Story of Fraud

• Relatable Experience:
  • The host shares a story about being the victim of identity theft, which resulted in $1,700 of fraudulent phone accounts.
  • Resolution was aided by ID theft protection, but also underscores the drive—and futility—of pursuing “justice” personally:
    • “I want to go full John Wick, man … But at some point, it was $38,000.” (A, 02:58)
    • “I found who the people were because I was a sleuth.” (A, 04:15)
    • Ultimately, letting go was the healthiest path.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On the Reality of Legal Judgements:

  • "The judgment is just basically paper right now, because he got rid of all the—yeah, exactly." (B, 01:03)
  • "If he doesn’t have assets, doesn’t have income you can garnish, there’s not much they can do." (A, 01:24)

• On Emotional and Financial Recovery:

  • “It may be time to emotionally write this off and call it a stupid tax and move on.” (A, 02:17)
  • “I do think once you emotionally kind of just get over it … you start to really, really see what you can do and what you have the power to do.” (C, 03:07)

• On the Urge for Justice vs. Letting Go:

  • "I want to go full John Wick, man." (A, 02:58)
  • "Just Nancy Drew." (C, 04:27)
  • “And then I just. I'm like, what am I doing? What am I doing?” (A, 04:23)

Timestamps for Important Segments

• [00:09] – Caller George shares how he was defrauded and total losses
• [00:41] – Hosts react, clarify the scam’s nature, and express empathy
• [01:24] – Legal realities: unenforceable judgments without assets
• [02:06] – Should George keep pursuing or let go?
• [02:17] – Financial wisdom: Don’t spend more to chase a lost cause
• [03:07] – Emotional advice and hope for future recovery
• [03:52] – Host’s personal fraud story; the limits of playing detective
• [04:16] – Anecdote of sleuthing and ultimate acceptance

Conclusion

The episode delivers a candid, supportive conversation about financial loss, emotional resilience, and wisdom in moving on after being scammed. The hosts blend practical advice, personal stories, and empathy, encouraging listeners to not compound their losses and instead channel their energy into recovering and building a better financial future. The tone remains personal, forthright, and hopeful throughout.