August 19, 2024

EP. 256 — The Rideshare Racket w/ Niles Abston

How does a Brazilian immigrant become an American Uber Mafia Queen? Buckle up, ’cause Niles Abston (FXX’s Dave) stops by to help tell the story of Priscila Barbosa who finessed the gig economy to make more than $780,000 before it all came crashing down. And remember Con-gregation, if your Uber driver is lit you don’t have to sit! Stay schemin’!

 

This story was primarily reported by Wired Magazine’s Lauren Smiley in her article, “Priscila, Queen of the Rideshare Mafia

 

Pre-Order Laci’s book “Scam Goddess: Lessons from a Life of Cons, Grifts and Schemes”: https://www.hachettebookgroup.com/titles/laci-mosley/scam-goddess/9780762484652/?lens=running-press

On Sunday, Sept. 22nd Laci will be hosting the Scam Goddess 5 Year Anniversary Live Show @ the Regent Theatre in Los Angeles. Buy tickets at https://regentdtla.com/tm-event/scam-goddess-live-five-year-anniversary/

 

Follow on Instagram:

Scam Goddess Pod: @scamgoddesspod

Laci Mosley: @divalaci

Niles Abston: @thenilesabstonshow

 

Research by Kaelyn Brandt.

 

SOURCES:

https://www.wired.com/story/priscila-queen-of-the-rideshare-mafia/

https://www.justice.gov/usao-ma/victim-and-witness-assistance-program/us-v-wemerson-dutra-aguiar-and-us-v-priscila-barbosa-et-al

Recent Episodes

See All

August 28, 2025

In this week’s Fraud Friday, Laci is joined by Adam Conover (Adam Ruins Everything) to discuss amateur British archeologist Charles Dawson, who committed one of the greatest frauds in all of archaeological history.

August 25, 2025

Laci welcomes comedian Chris Powell, a.k.a. Comedian CP (How to Die Alone), to sip on the CONgregation’s tea. Yup, it’s another listener letter compilation, and the CONgregation is spilling all their tea.

August 21, 2025

In this week’s Fraud Friday, Laci is joined by Chelsea Devantez (The Problem with Jon Stewart) to discuss Inigo Philbrick, a young art dealer who took the fine arts world by storm with a few Ponzi schemes.