PRETEND

Did Olivia Newton-John’s Former Boyfriend Fake His Own Death?Faking your own death is almost always a bad idea. Hear the story of Patrick McDermott, Olivia Newton John’s boyfriend, who many believe staged his own death. The wrong way to disappearPeople have been playing dead since the beginning of time. There’s really no way of knowing for how long this has been going on. But I can imagine that the illusion of dying is closely correlated with the concept of debt. If you owe someone lots of money, you have two options: either pay it or run away. Patrick McDermott, Olivia Newton-John’s missing boyfriend, had every reason to run away. His film work had dried up and he owed his ex-wife thousands of dollars in back child support.It took 10 days for anyone to realize he was missing. Olivia Newton-John wasn’t looking for him because they had just recently broken up. It wasn’t until he didn’t show up to pick up his son that his ex-wife noticed something was wrong. But people can’t just run away without leaving behind clues.  Patrick McDermott was last seen after going on an overnight fishing trip. Was McDermott lost at sea or was he just on the run? The truth is, no one wanted to find out. His ex-wife filed a claim on his life insurance. And Olivia Newton John wanted the whole thing put behind her.When the manager of the marina was asked about McDermott’s whereabouts, he said that Patrick McDermott’s name was indeed on the ship’s manifesto. And there was something else. He left behind his tackle box. Inside, they found his wallet, driver’s license, and car keys. Why would anyone want to fake their own death?I haven’t seen any real study on this topic but I can imagine that there are many reasons why someone would want to leave their own life behind and start fresh. It could be forbidden love like in Romeo and Juliet. Or it can be greed—like someone trying to cash in on their own life insurance policy. When it comes to dying, people have many different motivations. How to disappear with Michael BazzellThis series is a collaboration with Michael Bazzell, a privacy consultant and host of The PRIVACY, SECURITY, & OSINT Show. We’re going to show you the wrong way and the right way to disappear. Buy the book: Extreme Privacy: What it takes to disappear by Michael Bazzell:https://amzn.to/2XFm4ofA special thanks to Philip Klein. If you want to read more about Patrick McDermott’s disappearance, check out the book “Lost at Sea: The hunt for Patrick McDermott.”Buy the book: Lost at Seahttps://amzn.to/3ihMjcfAffiliate link disclaimer.-------Story idea? If you have a story to share, email Javier a voice memo or short written description at info@pretendradio.org.For more episodes like this visit pretendradio.org.To get early releases and bonus episodes go to pretendradio.org/donate Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The COVID-19 pandemic is a conman’s Super Bowl. In times like these, when there's so much uncertainty, snake oil salesmen are ready to promise you a cure.In this episode, you'll hear from a woman who takes one of these miracle drugs. I ask her why she takes it.Special thanks to:Joe Terrell with Instrument of Mercy https://instrumentofmercy.com/A Concerned Citizen and host of SwindledSources:https://www.who.int/csr/don/2011_11_24/en/https://wayback.archive-it.org/7993/20170722143956/https:/www.fda.gov/Food/RecallsOutbreaksEmergencies/SafetyAlertsAdvisories/ucm184087.htmhttps://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2020/04/what-can-coronavirus-tell-us-about-conspiracy-theories/610894/https://news.gallup.com/poll/248837/church-membership-down-sharply-past-two-decades.aspxhttps://www.christianitytoday.com/news/2020/may/holy-spirit-empowered-christian-global-pentecostal-study.html-------Story idea? If you have a story to share, email Javier a voice memo or short written description at info@pretendradio.org.For more episodes like this visit pretendradio.org.To get early releases and bonus episodes go to pretendradio.org/donate Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

COVID-19 ScamsI wasn’t expecting to be back with a new PRETEND episode so soon. In fact, I’m still wrapping up the final episodes for my new show called CRIMINAL CONDUCT. But the world around us has changed. And scammers are on the prowl. If you live in the US, chances are you probably received your stimulus payment. It went either straight into your bank account through direct deposit. Or some of you may have cashed the check that you received in the mail. We’re talking about much-needed money for tens of millions of Americans out of work due to the Coronavirus. $1,200 for individuals and $3,400 for a family of four. The IRS has sent out 150 million payments so far since the time of this recording… but more payments are still expected to still arrive through the end of June. And if you haven’t received your check, you’re probably wondering what’s the hold-up? Unfortunately for some, your money is probably gone and in the hands of thieves. Today, I’m going to show you exactly how easy it is for scammers to steal your money. In fact, I’ve challenged a privacy expert to try and hack into my private information. I was really shocked at what he was able to find.Resources:Password managers1Password.com (User-friendly and secure)Bitwarden (More secure cloud-based password manager)KeePassXC (More secure computer-based password manager) Search to see if you’re password is exposed in a breached databasehttps://haveibeenpwned.com/Credit freezes Credit Freeze Tutorial (Full Workbook) Annual Credit Report (Free credit report to detect fraud)Enable 2-factor authentication on all platforms that support it https://twofactorauth.org/Online removal workbookhttps://inteltechniques.com/data/workbook.pdfAdditional resourcesMichael Bazzell’s website Intel TechniquesEva Velasquez Identity Theft Resource Center-------Story idea? If you have a story to share, email Javier a voice memo or short written description at info@pretendradio.org.For more episodes like this visit pretendradio.org.To get early releases and bonus episodes go to pretendradio.org/donate Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

//Criminal Conduct debuts on March 23rd.//Get an inside look into the making of the new podcast. Thank you to Jerri Williams from FBI Retired Case File Review for helping us with this bonus episode.You can listen to the episode one now on Patreon.https://www.patreon.com/posts/34832524Subscribe to Criminal Conduct now so you won't miss an episode. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On September 2nd, 2010, 24 year-old Michelle O’Connell broke up with her boyfriend, St. Johns County Sheriff’s Deputy, Jeremy Banks. Minutes later, she was dead.The St. Johns Sheriff’s Office quickly ruled the case a suicide, without examining crucial forensic evidence or interviewing any key witnesses. A medical examiner ruled her death a homicide, yet other investigations failed to gain traction.Her boyfriend, Deputy Jeremy Banks was never charged and is still working as a St. Johns County Sheriff’s Deputy.Years later, an amateur sleuth named Eli Washtock winds up murdered after investigating Michelle O’Connell’s death. What did he find out?‘Criminal Conduct’ is an investigative true crime podcast series hosted by John Taylor and Javier Leiva. The hosts retrace the footsteps of Eli Washtock, the slain sleuth; picking up the investigation where he left off.‘Criminal Conduct’ will be released in the spring of 2020. Subscribe now on all podcast platforms.criminalconduct.netApple Podcasthttps://apple.co/2S4KaoGGoogle Playhttp://bit.ly/CriminalConGoogleStitcherhttp://bit.ly/CriminalConStitcherSpotifyhttps://spoti.fi/2S0 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Joe Schmo Show is a real-life Truman Show—where everyone is an actor except one unsuspecting guy. It’s a reality show within a reality show. The series everyone watched on SPIKE TV was called The Joe Schmo show. But the show Matt Kennedy Gould thought he was participating in was called The Lap of Luxury—a Big Brother style television show. He had no idea that the people he was living with were all actors. The series was created by Paul Wernick and Rhett Reese (Deadpool). It was hosted by Ralph Garman and written and produced by J. Holland Moore. Season one starred a young Kristen Wiig who played a quack psychiatrist. I must warn you. This show did not age well. It would not survive in today’s #metoo movement. Despite what it lacks in sensitivity, it makes up for in its ingenuity and heart. In this episode, Melissa with Moms and Murder and I talk with Chase Rogan, season three’s Joe Schmo, to find out what it’s like to be the star of television’s biggest hoax.CreditsToday’s episode was written and produced by me and Melissa. Original music was provided by thechicken.netAdditional music by Blue dot sessionsAll clips in this podcast were used in compliance with the US copyright act for fair use exemption, for criticism and commentary -------Story idea? If you have a story to share, email Javier a voice memo or short written description at info@pretendradio.org.For more episodes like this visit pretendradio.org.To get early releases and bonus episodes go to pretendradio.org/donate Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

A con artist save ChristmasBrian Earl with the Christmas Past podcast shares a Christmas story you’ve probably never heard before. In the early 1900s, children’s letters to Santa Claus never made it to the North Pole. They landed in the dead letter office and were eventually destroyed.But along came John Gluck, a hustler who took these letters to Santa and turned it into an opportunity to get rich and famous.It’s the strange and true story of government agents, spies, an art thief, U.S. presidents, and gun-toting boy scouts.Check out “My Dear Santa” with Brian Earl from the Christmas Past podcast-------CreditsToday’s show was written and edited by Javier Leiva.Our theme music was written and composed by Joe Basile with TheChicken.net.Additional music by Podington Bear.-------Support for this episode is brought to you by Detective TrappAnaheim investigator Julissa Trapp is not like other detectives. She’s the only woman on the homicide squad, and a skilled chameleon: undercover cop in vice stings, crime-scene commander, patient confidante of killers. A master interrogator, she invokes her personal experience – and deepest griefs — as a tool to elicit confessions. When a young woman’s body is found at a trash-sorting plant, Trapp learns the murder may be linked to the disappearance of three other women in nearby Santa Ana. Trapp embarks on a dark journey that brings her face to face with a man who takes “a little piece of her soul.”Listen now at Wondery.fm/PretendDT-------Story idea? If you have a story to share, email Javier a voice memo or short written description at info@pretendradio.org.For more episodes like this visit pretendradio.org.To get early releases and bonus episodes go to pretendradio.org/donate Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

PrankNet is a network of online terrorists who performed crank calls which caused thousands of dollars worth in damages.These cruel prank phone calls created anxiety and fear for anyone who picked up the phone. PrankNet victims destroyed hotel rooms, set off fire alarms, and flooded rooms by damaging the sprinkler system. In part 3, you heard actual Pranknet prank calls. In part 4, you’ll hear from a former prank caller who says she was one of the architects behind Pranknet’s most despicable hoax. It involved two female KFC employees in Manchester, New Hampshire. The two employees were convinced to strip naked in the freezing cold and urinate on each other.Hear how Jeri Batsford says she helped Pranknet orchestrate some of their most twisted pranks.CreditsToday’s show was written by Javier Leiva and edited by Molly Brock.Our theme music was written and composed by Joe Basile with TheChicken.net.Additional music by Blue Dot Sessions and Podington Bear.Support for this episode is brought to you by Detective TrappAnaheim investigator Julissa Trapp is not like other detectives. She’s the only woman on the homicide squad, and a skilled chameleon: undercover cop in vice stings, crime-scene commander, patient confidante of killers. A master interrogator, she invokes her personal experience – and deepest griefs — as a tool to elicit confessions. When a young woman’s body is found at a trash-sorting plant, Trapp learns the murder may be linked to the disappearance of three other women in nearby Santa Ana. Trapp embarks on a dark journey that brings her face to face with a man who takes “a little piece of her soul.”Listen now at Wondery.fm/PretendDT------Referenceshttp://www.onpointnews.com/docs/hoax.pdfhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ysSgG5V-R3Uhttps://www.wmur.com/news/18803151/detail.html-------Story idea? If you have a story to share, email Javier a voice memo or short written description at info@pretendradio.org.For more episodes like this visit pretendradio.org.To get early releases and bonus episodes go to pretendradio.org/donate Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

When does a prank call go too far? When it leads to sexual abuse and thousands of dollars worth of destruction. PrankNetThe punks at Pranknet are believed to be responsible for tens of thousands of dollars worth in damages. They often called restaurants making employees set off sprinklers systems and fire alarms. Sometimes they would even call hotel guests directly and convince them to shatter hotel windows.An ESPN reporter falls for a Pranknet hoaxNobody is safe from PrankNet's mayhem. Even Elizabeth Moreau, an ESPN reporter, was persuaded to swing a toilet seat across her Hilton Garden Inn window in the middle of the night. She thought there was a gas leak in the building. All of these calls were recorded and posted on Youtube. You can hear the desperation in her voice during the call. Who is behind PrankNet?The mastermind behind PrankNet is allegedly a Canadian man who goes by the name of Dex. Dex, who’s real name is Tariq Malik, is clearly proud of his work. However, when exposed by an internet blog, he vanished without a trace. A prank caller confessesI wanted to learn more about PrankNet and how they operate. The question is, could I get one of them to talk with me? Fortunately, Jeri Batsford, a former PrankNet member, deflected from the group. Listen to part 3 of The Prank Call on Apple Podcast, Spotify, Stitcher, or Google Play.-----CreditsToday’s show was written by Javier Leiva and edited by Logan Castrodale.Our theme music was written and composed by Joe Basile with TheChicken.net.Additional music by Blue Dot Sessions and Podington Bear.-----Support for this episode is brought to you by Detective TrappAnaheim investigator Julissa Trapp is not like other detectives. She’s the only woman on the homicide squad, and a skilled chameleon: undercover cop in vice stings, crime-scene commander, patient confidante of killers. A master interrogator, she invokes her personal experience – and deepest griefs -- as a tool to elicit confessions. When a young woman’s body is found at a trash-sorting plant, Trapp learns the murder may be linked to the disappearance of three other women in nearby Santa Ana. Trapp embarks on a dark journey that brings her face to face with a man who takes “a little piece of her soul.”Listen now at Wondery.fm/PretendDT---- Referenceshttp://www.onpointnews.com/docs/hoax.pdfhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ysSgG5V-R3Uhttps://www.wmur.com/news/18803151/detail.html-------Story idea? If you have a story to share, email Javier a voice memo or short written description at info@pretendradio.org.For more episodes like this visit pretendradio.org.To get early releases and bonus episodes go to pretendradio.org/donate Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

A prank call leads to a 2-hour strip-search at a fast-food restaurantA prank caller posing as a cop calls a manager at a Hardee's Restaurant in Rapid City, South Dakota. He tells the store manager that one of his employees stole money from a customer. Instead of calling the real police, the manager decides to strip search the employee. This prank call went on for more than 2 hours.I spoke with the manager of that restaurant to find out why he obeyed the prank caller's every demand.Searching for David Stewart—the prank call suspectVictor Flaherty is now the Cheif of Police in West Bridgewater police department in Massachusetts at the time in 2004, he was a detective sergeant searching for the notorious fast-food prank caller. Many police stations across the United States tried to locate the perpetrator—and all of them failed. It turns out that tracing the calls back to the source proved to be nearly impossible. Listen to the lengthVictor Flaherty went through to find the suspect named David Stewart.If you want to start from the beginning, listen to part 1 here. CreditsToday’s show was written by Javier Leiva and edited by Molly Brock.Our theme music was written and composed by Joe Basile with TheChicken.net.Additional music by Blue Dot Sessions and Podington Bear. References:Rapid City JournalCourier JournalMSNBC-------Story idea? If you have a story to share, email Javier a voice memo or short written description at info@pretendradio.org.For more episodes like this visit pretendradio.org.To get early releases and bonus episodes go to pretendradio.org/donate   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices