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The Perfect Scam

The Perfect Scam

By: AARP
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About this listen

AARP’s weekly podcast The Perfect ScamSM tells the stories of people who find themselves the target of a scam. Host Bob Sullivan introduces listeners to those who have experienced scams firsthand, as well as professional con artists and leading experts who pull back the curtain on how scammers operate.AARP Social Sciences True Crime
Episodes
  • Title Pirates: How Scammers Use Quitclaim Deeds to Steal Homes
    Jul 11 2025

    Dreama and Larry’s house is undergoing renovation after a tree fell on it. Since they cannot live there during the repairs, they set up security cameras to monitor the property. To their surprise, they notice a couple repeatedly visiting the house. Alarmed, Dreama and Larry register for a free alert system that will notify them of any changes to their property records. Just two days later, they receive an alert. Unbeknownst to them, Michelle Cherry and Victor Rodriguez have filed a quitclaim deed that will quickly and easily transfer ownership of their home. A quitclaim deed is typically used for transferring properties without a sale, such as from a parent to a child. However, in this case, criminals exploit it to steal from unsuspecting homeowners. Will Dreama and Larry be able to reclaim their home and help catch these “title pirates”?

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    38 mins
  • How AI is Making “Pump and Dump” Investment Scams Easy for Criminals
    Jun 27 2025

    Karen is experienced in investing, but she hopes to boost her retirement savings by joining an investors group on WhatsApp. After a few months of receiving positive trading tips, she follows the advice to invest in several stocks in Asian markets. Her portfolio plummets, losing tens of thousands of dollars. Karen is the victim of a classic “pump and dump” scam: scammers buy a very cheap stock, persuade investors to buy by spreading deceptive claims, and then sell their shares once the price rises, leaving investors with a loss. Learn how AI and an army of bots are making this age-old scam easier for criminals.

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    43 mins
  • Archive Episode: Knock Knock, Where’s My Puppy?
    Jun 20 2025

    In this 2021 episode, Rochelle scores a great deal on a house in northern Virginia, only to have her dream home transformed a few months later into Pet Scam Central. Day after day, strangers show up on her doorstep, claiming they’ve arrived to pick up a puppy they paid for. Some have driven over six or twelve hours with their family. Unfortunately, Rochelle must break the news that she has no puppies to sell, and the hopeful would-be owners leave heartbroken, confused and out hundreds of dollars. Even worse, over the course of a year, Rochelle finds herself accused of being the con artist. Desperate, she turns to a local news station for help in putting an end to the scam.

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    49 mins

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