The Perfect Scam

In this 2021 episode, when Shirley Gibson learns that her property in Miami’s historic West Grove neighborhood has been sold by someone using a forged deed, she is determined to fight. Working together with journalist Phil Prazen and lawyer David Winker, they uncover an elaborate real estate scam targeting dozens of elderly property owners in this historically Black neighborhood. Law enforcement is soon on the trail of the criminals, but will Shirley get her land back?

In this 2021 episode, Miami’s historic West Grove neighborhood has recently become a hot real estate market. So hot, in fact, that it has attracted the attention of scammers. It wasn’t always so. Shirley Gibson’s family has owned property in West Grove since her great-grandmother immigrated from the Bahamas over 100 years ago. Now in her 80s, Shirley had hoped to pass on the property to her niece and nephew. But when Shirley goes to pay her taxes one day, she learns that her property has been sold without her knowledge for $230,000. When another of her properties shows up on Zillow, it becomes clear this is not a fluke but an elaborate real estate scam, targeting property owners in this historically Black neighborhood.  

Suzi and Gary retire to Tucson and find the perfect house with a less-than-perfect kitchen. They love to cook and entertain, so they put their energy and money into renovating their dream kitchen. Construction starts and is going smoothly until the payment for cabinets is due. The designer requests immediate payment by wire transfer, but a week later they discover that the designer never received the payment. Suzi and Gary discover that they are the victims of a BEC (business email compromise) scam.

Retired priest, Father Robert Banzin, has devoted his life to the service of others. Now in his 80s, he continues to preach every Sunday at his Chicago-area parish. Father Bob, as he is known in his community, gets an alarming email claiming that his PayPal account had been used for a purchase on eBay. Concerned, he calls a number he believes to be PayPal's customer service and is informed that his bank account has been compromised. Within weeks, every penny of his life savings had been stolen. But all is not lost, as former students and parishioners rally to support him.

Chris Mancinelli shares the harrowing story of his father, Alfred, who falls prey to relentless online romance scams. With insights from Marty DeLima, a professor studying the impact of scams on older adults, they discuss the family's emotional turmoil and the shame that often accompanies such deception. Chris reveals their desperate attempts to help Alfred, navigating complex family dynamics and the psychological effects of fraud. Together, they emphasize the importance of open communication and strategies to protect vulnerable individuals from exploitation.

Chris Manzanelli shares his harrowing experience as he and his brother uncover their father Alfred's entanglement in multiple scams, including a romance scam with an impostor posing as WWE star Alexa Bliss. The podcast delves into the uneasy interactions between father and sons as they explore troubling financial patterns while trying to maintain familial bonds. It also highlights the emotional toll of scams on both the victims and their loved ones, emphasizing the complexities of elder care and the vulnerability exacerbated by isolation during the pandemic.

Niki Hutchinson shares her heart-wrenching tale of being duped in a crypto-dating scam, where she lost her inheritance and trust in emotional connections. With insights from Jean Chatzky, a seasoned financial editor, they explore the dangerous intersection of romance and cryptocurrency. Niki recounts the thrill and eventual disaster of investing under false pretenses while Jean highlights essential strategies for recognizing scams and protecting one's finances. Their conversation reveals the emotional turmoil of trusting too easily and the importance of cautious investments.

In this episode, Cathy Jr., a retired Army Reserve veteran, shares her harrowing experience of falling victim to a deceptive work-from-home reshipping scam. Joined by Melissa Lanning, Executive Director at the Better Business Bureau Institute of Marketplace Trust, they delve into the emotional and financial struggles of job seekers. They discuss the red flags of reshipping scams, the clever tactics used by scammers, and the importance of vigilance in the digital job market. Listeners also gain valuable insights into reporting scams and accessing support resources.

80-year-old David lives in a tight-knit community, frequently helping his neighbors with yard care and other tasks. So when he gets a knock on the door from two brothers claiming they are working on his neighbor's home, and noticed a hole in his roof, David agrees to let them fix it. But one repair turns into many as the brothers find more and more work that needs to be done on his house. David's daughter is suspicious, and when she finds out that the work has cost her father over $450,000, she jumps into action to help catch the criminals.

Rodney Baldus, a retired truck driver from Minnesota, believes he is the recipient of a large inheritance belonging to his late wife. The inheritance is in Italy, but he is told he must first fly to Africa to sign papers before going on to Italy. Since his travel expenses are all paid for, Rodney is not suspicious of criminal activity. Unfortunately, Rodney is now sitting in a crowded jail cell in Mozambique with little hope of ever getting out, and his daughter, Nicole, fears for her diabetic father's life. Rodney is what is sometimes called a blind mule, a victim who was persuaded to transport money or contraband for a criminal gang, an unwitting participant in a serious crime. Journalist Mariana van Zeller, host of National Geographic Television's Trafficked, tells his story.