The Moth The Moth Radio Hour: Confidence Game
4 snips
Aug 6, 2024 
In this captivating discussion, Abigail Ladd recalls her playful cons as a school kid while Tonya Camille reveals how she and her sister cleverly exploited their resemblance. Pete Goldfinger shares firsthand experiences from a notorious scandal, and Gayliene Omary recounts her emotional run-in with a heart scammer. The stories are filled with humor, reflection, and insights into the art of deception, revealing the complex human side of scams and what they teach us about connection and trust.
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Abigail's Reading Con
- Abigail Ladd, from a young age, realized that adults were easy to trick, especially if you were cute.
- She successfully faked her ability to read for three years, starting in kindergarten, by memorizing books and employing clever tactics to avoid actual reading.
Triplet Test Taker
- Tonya Camille and her triplet sisters' physical similarities often led to people mixing up their names.
- Tonya exploited this confusion by impersonating her sister Tiffany to take a crucial college exam for her, ultimately succeeding in the deception.
Madoff's Impact
- Pete Goldfinger's grandfather invested money with Bernie Madoff, which Pete later relied on.
- The Madoff Ponzi scheme collapse left Pete broke and stressed, but it also led him to re-evaluate his priorities and find happiness.