Chameleon White Lies: The Scammer Who Left Brides In The Lurch And Couldn't Stop
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Jan 8, 2026 Justin Sales, an investigative reporter and podcast producer, dives deep into the bizarre and shocking world of wedding scammer Michael Esposito. From the early signs of deceit at his failed startup to his brazen new scams under multiple aliases, Justin unfolds a captivating tale of pursuit and deception. He recounts the tense undercover confrontation meant to expose Esposito and discusses the complexities of chasing a scammer across jurisdictions. Ultimately, Justin examines the limitations of law enforcement and reflects on the impact of their investigation.
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Fake Media Startup Implodes
- Justin Sales recalled being hired as political editor at Nuzirati and then seeing the company implode within weeks.
- Employees never got paid and the startup vanished after Esposito promised checks that never arrived.
Same Scam, New Industry
- The scam pattern shifted industries but kept the same mechanics: take payments, underdeliver, and disappear.
- Esposito moved from a fake media company to catering and wedding services while repeating the same fraud.
Pandemic Reporting Leads To Reveal
- During the pandemic Justin pivoted his reporting into a podcast about the recurring scammer mystery.
- He uncovered the scammer's real name, Carl John Buccio, and criminal record in a few days of digging.