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Artwork for The Perfect Scam

The Perfect Scam

AARP
Scams
AARP
Identity Theft
Fraud Prevention
Romance Scams
Fraud
AARP Fraud Watch Network
Cryptocurrency
Job Scams
Elder Abuse
Scam Baiting
Tech Support Scams
FBI
Scamming
Financial Fraud
Remote Work
Youtube
Reverse Mortgage
Cryptocurrency Scams
Online Scams

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.

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes321Founded8 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
True CrimeSociety & Culture

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Artwork for The Perfect Scam

Latest Episodes

Bill and Allison are devoted to their dogs, so when they discover their 11-year-old beagle mix Archer missing one evening, they are distraught. They spend hours searching the neighborhood and start putting out alerts online, including their contact i... more

After escaping the Palisades fire in January of 2025, Ellen doesn't know if she and her husband Steve will have a home to return to. Miraculously, their house is still standing, but it needs extensive cleaning and repairs. They move into an apartment... more

Fed up with the rising cost of electricity, Steve shops around and switches to a new provider in his Boston neighborhood. The process is simple, and Steve thinks the matter is settled until a week later, when he receives a call from his previous prov... more

Jeanette moves back to Vermont, expecting a peaceful retirement in a beloved community, but a tech support scam upends her life. She reaches out to her local police, who advise her to report the incident to the FBI. Now faced with an empty bank accou... more

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Recent Guests

Ellen Rudolph
Disaster survivor and scam victim
Palisades community member
Episode: LA Fire Survivor Faces PayPal Impostor Scam
Andrew Gulture
Chief of the Investigation Division, California Department of Insurance
California Department of Insurance
Episode: LA Fire Survivor Faces PayPal Impostor Scam
Jeanette Voss
Victim of a large financial scam in Vermont
Episode: Vermont Woman Recoups $1.3M 4.5 Years After a Scam
Amanda Knox
Bennington, Vermont police officer who helped initiate the investigation
Bennington Police Department
Episode: Vermont Woman Recoups $1.3M 4.5 Years After a Scam
Joyce Beck
AARP Nebraska volunteer coordinator
AARP Nebraska
Episode: Bonus: Meet the Fraud Fighters Taking on Crypto Kiosk Scams
Todd Stubendak
State director for AARP Nebraska
AARP Nebraska
Episode: Bonus: Meet the Fraud Fighters Taking on Crypto Kiosk Scams
Francoise Cleveland
AARP Government Affairs Director
AARP
Episode: Bonus: Meet the Fraud Fighters Taking on Crypto Kiosk Scams
Maurice Sholas
Pediatric rehab doctor in New Orleans, Louisiana
Medical professional
Episode: Deepfake Doctors: AI-Generated Medical Ad Scams
Frank McKenna
Fraud expert, chief fraud strategist of Point Predictive
Point Predictive
Episode: Deepfake Doctors: AI-Generated Medical Ad Scams

Host

Bob Sullivan
Host of the series focusing on scam stories and expert insights into fraud prevention and law-enforcement responses.

Reviews

4.5 out of 5 stars from 1.3k ratings
  • Like it

    Good stories

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Hit the nail right
    New Zealand17 days ago
  • Jeanette

    I’ve listened to this podcast for years and I just have no sympathy for these marks any longer. Jeanette thought that an Indian security team would get her a new US social security number? She also doesn’t seem to know how electricity works. So many of the guests deserve their plights. I can’t believe how these idiots made so much money to begin with. The crime is that these privileged people never had to fend for themselves.

    Apple Podcasts
    4
    Meh9873
    United Statesa month ago
  • Everyone should listen to this podcast! I have had scammers call me and I have never been fooled by them partly because I listen to The Perfect Scam. The only thing is the stories I hear on this podcast make me sick to my stomach that people do these terrible things to other people. My heart breaks for them, but we all need to know about the scammers' tricks so we can avoid them. Thank you, AARP, for this highly valuable information!

    Podcast Addict
    5
    DianeAwen
    a month ago
  • Everyone can be scammed . . .

    But not all scams are equal. 90% of the victims on this podcast fall for the dumbest frauds, sometimes twice. These seniors live whole lives and seem to know nothing about the world. I feel for the families who need to take on these burdens.

    Apple Podcasts
    4
    Meh9873
    United States2 months ago
  • Brian & the Gold Scam

    Brian is courageous and generous to share his story. I appreciate Bob Sullivan’s (the host’s) sensitivity to this good man.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Sanchia W
    United States3 months ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Some critics note audio/music quality or pacing issues in a few episodes.
Listeners praise the host's empathy and storytelling, especially with victims.
Many comments highlight the show's usefulness for real-world scam prevention and reporting.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Apple Podcasts
#203
France/True Crime
Apple Podcasts
#218
Saudi Arabia/True Crime
Apple Podcasts
#246
South Korea/True Crime
Apple Podcasts
#249
Colombia/True Crime

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

LA Fire Survivor Faces PayPal Impostor Scam
Q: What can consumers do to scam-proof themselves after a disaster?
Pause before deciding, verify information with trusted sources, check licenses, contact government offices like the Department of Insurance, and bring in independent advice to counterbalance urgency and pressure after a disaster.
LA Fire Survivor Faces PayPal Impostor Scam
Q: So you get this email. What did it say?
The email claimed PayPal had charged $449 and urged immediate contact if the charge wasn't theirs; it was a setup for a larger refund and then a scheme to have the victim return funds, which spiraled into a legal and financial nightmare.
Bonus: Meet the Fraud Fighters Taking on Crypto Kiosk Scams
Q: When did you first start seeing an issue with these machines, roughly?
They began hearing about the problem around November 2024 and started collaborating with the city of Omaha to address it.
California Woman Warns of Facebook Job Scam
Q: How did Dawn first get drawn into the scam, and what were the early red flags?
Dawn received a seemingly promising work-from-home opportunity; early signs included vague job descriptions, an unusual onboarding call, and a requirement to install software and connect to a development platform, which should have raised questions about legitimacy.
Deepfake Doctors: AI-Generated Medical Ad Scams
Q: How hard is it for a criminal to create a deepfake like that?
It's not hard at all; with short video and audio, criminals can generate convincing deepfakes and AI avatars to push products or misinformation.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
Age Range
Household Income
Social Media Reach

Frequently Asked Questions About The Perfect Scam

What is The Perfect Scam about and what kind of topics does it cover?

A series focused on real people who encountered scams, from intimate victim stories to the methods scammers use and the responses from law enforcement, policy makers, and guardians of consumer protection. Episodes tend to mix personal narratives with expert insights, covering financial fraud, romance scams, SIM swaps, check washing, and deepfake technology, while highlighting practical prevention tips and resources. A notable strength is the breadth of guests, spanning victims, police, prosecutors, researchers, and advocacy organizations, which offers both emotional resonance and actionable guidance. Listeners may find the show especially helpful for recognizing red flags, understanding scam ecosystems, and learning how communities mobilize... more

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Which podcasts are similar to The Perfect Scam?

These podcasts share a similar audience with The Perfect Scam:

1. American Greed Podcast
2. Scamfluencers
3. Swindled
4. The Opportunist
5. PRETEND

How many episodes of The Perfect Scam are there?

The Perfect Scam launched 8 years ago and published 321 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact The Perfect Scam?

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What guests have appeared on The Perfect Scam?

Recent guests on The Perfect Scam include:

1. Ellen Rudolph
2. Andrew Gulture
3. Jeanette Voss
4. Amanda Knox
5. Joyce Beck
6. Todd Stubendak
7. Francoise Cleveland
8. Maurice Sholas

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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