EP. 180 — The Sweepstakes Scammers w/ Tone Bell

What’s poppin’ con-gregation? This week, comedian Tone Bell joins the show to discuss a group of men in the 1980s who created a sweepstakes company that barely created any winnings. Plus, a 19-year-old has been caught after scamming $37,000 from 439 concerned donors after falsely claiming she had pancreatic cancer.

Research by Kaelyn Brandt

SOURCES

https://nypost.com/2023/01/31/madison-russo-19-charged-in-gofundme-cancer-scam/

https://www.newyorker.com/news/american-chronicles/donald-trump-and-the-sweepstakes-scammers

https://www.bizjournals.com/philadelphia/stories/2002/09/23/newscolumn2.html

https://www.upi.com/Archives/1989/09/29/Five-charged-in-corporate-sweepstakes-scam/5185623044800/

Photos

Recent Episodes

See All

June 12, 2025

EP. 298.5 — Fraud Friday: Australia’s Cop Con Artist w/ AJ Gibson & Emile Ennis Jr.

Guest AJ Gibson Emile Ennis Jr.

In this week’s Fraud Friday, Laci is joined by AJ Gibson and Emile Ennis Jr. (Confess Your Mess Pod) to discuss the Australian identity thief who had a clear obsession with conning cops.

Listen

June 9, 2025

EP. 298 — Sean Kingston’s Beautiful Unpaid Bills w/ Ira Madison III

Guest Ira Madison III

This week, Laci welcomes Ira Madison III (Pop Culture Writer for GQ, Keep It! Podcast) to discuss Sean Kingston and his mom, accused of defrauding vendors out of 1 million dollars.

Listen

June 5, 2025

EP. 297.5 — Fraud Friday: The Famed Forger w/ Eliot Glazer

Guest Eliot Glazer

In this week’s Fraud Friday, Laci is joined by Eliot Glazer (Broad City, An American Pickle) to discuss Lee Israel, a well-known writer who turned to forgery fighting to survive after her declining career as an author.

Listen