Why Would You Work With A Known Con Artist?

Summary

Podcast Summary: The Ramsey Show Highlights

Episode: Why Would You Work With A Known Con Artist?

Date: September 14, 2025
Hosts: Dave Ramsey, Christian (co-host), Caller: Chris

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Episode Overview

In this poignant episode, Dave Ramsey and his co-host Christian advise a caller, Chris, who finds herself in a dire financial and personal situation after allowing her sister—described as a "con artist"—to start and operate multiple businesses under Chris’s name. This decision led to significant debt and legal implications that threaten Chris’s future, especially as she prepares to become a single mother. The hosts break down the consequences, challenge Chris to take decisive action, and offer empathetic but firm counsel on possible next steps.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Chris’s Predicament: How It Began

• Chris’s older sister started a business under Chris’s name and LLC ([00:06–00:21])
  • Chris consented to this as a "favor," believing it would help her credit.
  • Dave Ramsey questions why her sister didn’t just use her own name.
• Revelation: Chris describes her sister as “a bit of a con artist” who wanted to avoid having too many businesses associated with her own name ([00:37]).
• Christian’s blunt reaction: "What does that say about you? To work hand in hand with a known con artist." ([00:54])

2. Fallout and Legal Liability

• COVID-19 Loan Abuse: During the pandemic, Chris's sister took out $122,000 in loans using the LLC and spent the money on personal needs, not business operations ([01:16–01:41]).
• "She has been fraudulently starting LLCs, taking out debt against that to then spend personally." — Dave Ramsey ([01:41])
• Outstanding Debt: The loans have grown with interest to about $135,000. Chris is personally liable since everything is in her name ([02:02–02:27]).
• Christian highlights the legal seriousness: "There's a legality there too, because it's completely..." ([02:21])

3. Pattern of Problematic Business Practices

• Chris’s sister has run several businesses under Chris’s name: retail shop (candles), barbershop/salon, possibly even a construction business ([03:04–03:20]).
• None of the businesses are currently operating ([03:28–03:32]).

4. Reflection on Decision-Making

• Chris explains she was persuaded by her sister’s claim that it would help her credit and make it easier for her to get loans in the future ([03:52–04:07]).
• Dave and Christian challenge Chris directly, shifting the focus to her responsibility and future decisions.
  • "Tell us about you and what would cause you to agree to something so, like, clearly bad." — Christian ([03:34])

5. Urgent Recommendations and Emotional Impact

• Action Plan: Dave lays out that the only solution is for the sister to refinance the debt and LLC in her own name, but both hosts doubt the sister’s willingness or ability to do so ([04:13–04:45]).
  • "You're on the hook for 130 grand and you have to pay that off." — Dave Ramsey ([04:41])
• Christian points out the relationship is deeply damaged:
  • "You may as well fight to the death... because your relationship's ruined anyway." ([04:45])
  • "The fact that she conned her own sister is disgusting." ([04:52])
• Dave sums it up with conviction: "First of all, it's despicable. So this relationship didn't exist. It was transactional. And she used you. That should make you angry." ([05:00])

6. Chris’s Situation: Maternal and Financial

• Chris recently stopped working as a server due to pregnancy and lacks both income and support from the baby’s father ([05:10–05:28]).
• She is moving in with her mother to reduce living expenses ([07:28–07:39]).
• Additional debt: Chris carries approximately $65,000 in student loans for a degree in communications and Spanish business ([06:30–06:52]).

7. Paths Forward: Hope and Practical Guidance

• Christian urges Chris to confront her sister and appeal forcefully:
  • "You need to come down with me to the bank...If not, you're effectively trying to ruin my life." ([05:41])
• Dave empathizes with Chris’s challenges as an expectant single mom and underlines urgency.
• Christian encourages Chris to look into jobs related to her language skills, such as interpreting or translating ([07:04–07:13]).
• The hosts gift Chris a free session with a Ramsey financial coach ([07:49–08:14]).

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Memorable Quotes

• "What does that say about you? To work hand in hand with a known con artist."
  – Christian, [00:54]

• "She has been fraudulently starting LLCs, taking out debt against that to then spend personally."
  – Dave Ramsey, [01:41]

• "You're on the hook for 130 grand and you have to pay that off."
  – Dave Ramsey, [04:41]

• "The fact that she conned her own sister is disgusting."
  – Christian, [04:52]

• "This relationship didn't exist. It was transactional. And she used you. That should make you angry."
  – Dave Ramsey, [05:00]

• "You need to come down with me to the bank... Otherwise, you are effective—that means you’re effectively trying to ruin my life if you don't do this."
  – Christian, [05:41]

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Important Timestamps

• [00:06–01:09] – How Chris’s sister started the LLC and the nature of the “favor”
• [01:16–02:21] – Details on the loans, misuse, and Chris’s liability
• [03:04–03:32] – The range of businesses attempted and their fates
• [04:13–04:45] – Dave and Christian on the only real solution
• [05:10–05:40] – Chris’s current situation as a single mom
• [06:30–07:04] – Discussion of Chris’s student debt and career prospects
• [07:49–08:14] – Offer of a free financial coaching session

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Episode Takeaways

• Hard lessons in trusting family: Even those closest to us can inflict financial and emotional harm, and “favors” can have disastrous consequences.
• Legal and financial ownership: If your name is on the business or loan, you bear the ultimate responsibility.
• Self-advocacy: When in crisis, it’s crucial to confront the person responsible and to fight for your own future, however difficult.
• Seeking help: Even in overwhelming situations, reaching out for professional advice and support can be a first step toward regaining control.

Overall, the episode serves as a stark warning about mixing family and finances carelessly—and offers hope and practical steps for those facing financial disaster.

Transcript

[Dave Ramsey]

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[Chris]

I have an older sister who started a business under my name and llc. And under your name? Yes.

[Dave Ramsey]

Is it your business?

[Chris]

It's not mine though.

[Dave Ramsey]

Did you know that she was doing this?

[Chris]

Yes, I consented because I know she asked me as a favor kind of thing.

[Dave Ramsey]

Is this like a co signer for debt? I don't understand how this was a favor. Why didn't she put her own name on production company?

[Chris]

And it was. It was kind of so that she didn't have. She's a bit of a con. A con artist. And she did it so that she didn't have too many businesses under her name. What?

[Christian]

And you agreed?

[Chris]

Yes. Like an idiot.

[Christian]

Well, I was going to say. What does that say about you? To work hand in hand with a known con artist.

[Chris]

I know. I. I didn't think it would have caused this many issues. Yeah, she.

[Christian]

So what issues are you facing out? Tell us the issues you're facing.

[Chris]

Yeah, so she during. And then years later, Covid happened and she decided to take a loan out under this llc. And so to do what? She just hasn't been paying it at all.

[Dave Ramsey]

And it's just to use for personal. Whatever. Just blowing money.

[Chris]

What was that?

[Dave Ramsey]

What did she use the debt for?

[Chris]

She. Personal. Personal uses. She did not use it for the business.

[Dave Ramsey]

So she has been fraudulently starting LLCs, taking out debt against that to then spend personally.

[Chris]

Yes.

[Dave Ramsey]

And then you were like, sure, I'll help you out, sis. I'll be an accomplice to this crime.

[Chris]

Yeah.

[Christian]

So how much money?

[Chris]

Unfortunately, how much money?

[Christian]

How deep. How deep is she in this?

[Chris]

Yeah, the loans. It was two loans. They were a total of 122,000. And now with interest, they're about 135.

[Dave Ramsey]

You do understand that you're the one liable here. You're the one who's going to get sued. You're the one who's going to have your credit totally trashed.

[Christian]

There's a legality there too, because it's completely.

[Dave Ramsey]

The debt is in your name, correct?

[Chris]

Yes.

[Dave Ramsey]

Oh, my goodness.

[Christian]

And there's no. There's no operating business. It's just totally fake.

[Chris]

Now, there was. Yes, there was an operating business and she ended up losing that business in 2022.

[Christian]

Moving it to where?

[Chris]

Oh, she just lost it.

[Christian]

Oh, lost it anymore?

[Chris]

Yeah.

[Christian]

Okay, so you mentioned earlier that she has done a lot of this. How many times? How many fake businesses or failed businesses has she run through?

[Chris]

Well, under this llc, with My name, she. It started off as a, like a retail shop selling candles and things. And then she ended up doing a. A barber shop salon.

[Christian]

And then she. You said she also had a construction business.

[Chris]

And then she. She also had. Had a construction business, which I'm not even sure if she had that under her name, but she.

[Dave Ramsey]

Do any of these businesses still exist? They're actually operating day to day.

[Chris]

Pretty. Nope.

[Christian]

Now, can I ask you a question? What in the world would make you say yes to this? Where. Where was your mind at? We've spent enough time talking about her. Tell us about you and what would cause you to agree to something so, like, clearly bad.

[Chris]

Yeah, she was just like, when, when she first convinced me to do the, the, the business under my name, she. She pretty much was just saying, like, this is going to help your credit out. If you need to take a loan out in the future, this would help you out.

[Christian]

And.

[Chris]

Yeah, like, yes, like full.

[Dave Ramsey]

Well, here's the bottom line. If we're starting today, you're not going to refinance this in her name. She's not going to do that. And she probably can't do that. That's the solution here. She takes over the payments, refinances the LLC and all the debt in her name.

[Christian]

But she won't do that.

[Dave Ramsey]

Have you talked to her about that?

[Chris]

I have not. No.

[Dave Ramsey]

That would be. I would fight to the death to make sure that happens. Cause if not, here's the bad news. You're on the hook for 130 grand and you have to pay that off.

[Christian]

And you may as well fight to the death on the thing that George just told you because your relationship's ruined anyway. If she says. Do you see what I'm saying? The fact that she conned her own sister is disgusting.

[Dave Ramsey]

First of all, it's despicable. So this relationship didn't exist. It was transactional. And she used you. That should make you angry.

[Chris]

Right?

[Dave Ramsey]

What are you doing for work?

[Chris]

I'm a server, but I just. I just stopped working because I'm expecting the baby, so I'm expecting a baby pretty soon here.

[Dave Ramsey]

So is the father in your life? Where's dad?

[Chris]

He's. He has some mental health issues, so he's unfortunately not. He's not going to support me much, I don't think.

[Dave Ramsey]

So you're going to be a single mom?

[Chris]

Yes.

[Christian]

So we must. This is like we must talk to your sister. And, and she's got to understand. You've got to put this in terms that she can understand and Say, listen, you. You. You tricked me, and I am now in really hot water. I cannot pay this loan that is actually your loan. I have another life coming into this world that I have to feed and take care of. You need to come down with me to the bank, and you have got to refine. We've got to refinance this so that you can take the payment. Otherwise, you are effective. That means you're effectively trying to ruin my life if you don't do this, and that's what I'd say to her.

[Dave Ramsey]

You're going to have to find the last ounce of empathy that exists in her body if it's in there to convince her to do this. Because you've got your own crisis going on. The last thing you need is this. Do you have any other debt?

[Chris]

Yeah, student loan debt.

[Christian]

How much.

[Chris]

Right now? I'm not sure, but maybe like 65,000.

[Christian]

What's that degree in or what did you start school for?

[Chris]

That was a communication degree and a double degree in business. Spanish business.

[Christian]

Okay.

[Chris]

Translating, Kind of.

[Christian]

Oh, okay.

[Chris]

Yeah.

[Christian]

So what. What type of job were you hoping to do with that? And can we still start headed towards that direction?

[Chris]

I mean, like, interpreting? Yeah, translating.

[Dave Ramsey]

Have you looked for jobs in that field?

[Chris]

I have not, no.

[Christian]

How come?

[Chris]

I don't know. I just got used to the serving and making tips and just like, I just stayed doing this.

[Dave Ramsey]

So what are you doing for income now? You just said you'd stopped.

[Chris]

Yeah, right now I'm not doing anything. I just stopped about a week ago because.

[Dave Ramsey]

How are you paying the bills?

[Chris]

Well, I just moved in with my mom.

[Christian]

Okay.

[Chris]

And I was able to save. I have. I have some money saved. And the worry is that the government will just, like, grab it.

[Christian]

Well, if you don't pay your student.

[Dave Ramsey]

Loans, they will, and the creditors are going to come after it. And so, Christian, I am heartbroken over your situation. I'm going to gift you a session with a financial coach on us who can walk with you, you know, for much longer than we can on this call to try to unravel the pieces and find some hope in this very desperate situation. I'm so sorry you're going through this. Hang on the line. Chris is going to pick up. We're going to hook you up with a financial coaching session and start looking.

[Christian]

For translator jobs today.

[Dave Ramsey]

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