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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.

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes324Founded8 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
True CrimeSociety & Culture

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Artwork for The Perfect Scam

Latest Episodes

When Pam decides it's time to find love again, she signs up for a dating site and soon meets "Pat." He's charming and very kind; they hit it off right away. "Pat" works overseas and can't tell Pam much about his high-security job, but when he needs h... more

Beloved Vermont children's entertainer-turned-filmmaker Mac Parker has been raising funds for his film Birth of Innocence for nearly a decade. The film has yet to be completed, and what investors were promised — a three-year, $1 million project — has... more

Malcom "Mac" Parker aspires to be a filmmaker. In Vermont, Mac is known as a beloved children's entertainer, appearing on public television and performing around the state. Mac is so well respected in his community that when he begins to raise funds ... more

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

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Recent Guests

Bill Kerrigan
Lead investigator on the Mac Parker case
FBI
Episode: Archive Episode: Million Dollar Movie Ponzi Scheme, Part 2
Dan Raychek
Supervising Special Agent, FBI Burlington office
FBI
Episode: Archive Episode: Million Dollar Movie Ponzi Scheme, Part 2
Jerry Walsh
President of the FINRA Investor Education Foundation
FINRA
Episode: Archive Episode: Million Dollar Movie Ponzi Scheme, Part 2
Petey O'Brien Brisson
Invited investor in the Birth of Innocence project
AARP's The Perfect Scam interviewee
Episode: Archive Episode: Million Dollar Movie Ponzi Scheme, Part 1
Sean McGregor
Harvard University fellow working on AI safety
Harvard University
Episode: Scammers Use AI to Make Lost Pet Scams More Believable
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

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
  • More crucial tips, please!

    Great show, very important. However, you have missed some important opportunities: for example, with the woman and the fake Facebook job, I wish you would’ve said, “if somebody asks you upfront for money as part of applying for a job, or after you have landed the job, IT IS A SCAM!” 100%.

    Also, I heard on another scam podcast that if somebody asks you to transfer money to and from crypto or use a crypto ATM, IT IS A SCAM! 100%.

    Putting money into a crypto ATM is ONLY USED FOR SCAMS. 100%. I l... more

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Deborah K., Portland OR
    United States18 days ago
  • Important!

    Such a timely and compassionate podcast. Must listen for all especially our older friends and relatives.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    SqKat42
    United Statesa month ago
  • Like it

    Good stories

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Hit the nail right
    New Zealanda month 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 States2 months 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
    2 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
#223
United States/True Crime
Apple Podcasts
#237
United Kingdom/True Crime
Apple Podcasts
#114
Finland/True Crime
Apple Podcasts
#150
Argentina/True Crime
Apple Podcasts
#179
Ireland/True Crime
Apple Podcasts
#182
Colombia/True Crime

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Archive Episode: Million Dollar Movie Ponzi Scheme, Part 2
Q: Jerry, what defines a Ponzi scheme and why is it so hard to spot in the moment?
Ponzi schemes hinge on a central hub operator who promises high returns while using new investor money to pay old investors, often masking the lack of a real business with plausible but misleading narratives and appearances of progress.
Scammers Use AI to Make Lost Pet Scams More Believable
Q: Why do we need a police blotter for AI, and how can people protect themselves from AI-enabled scams?
Sean explains that AI safety requires documenting incidents to learn from them, and recommends practical steps like verifying identities, being skeptical of urgent requests, and avoiding payments through non-reversible channels.
Scammers Use AI to Make Lost Pet Scams More Believable
Q: Has all this work on the police blotter changed Sean McGregor's views on AI safety?
Sean emphasizes measured optimism about technology, while underscoring the need for robust mitigation, investment in safety databases, and proactive safety cultures.
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.

Audience Metrics

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

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
Age Range
Household Income
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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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How many listeners does The Perfect Scam get?

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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 324 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on The Perfect Scam?

Recent guests on The Perfect Scam include:

1. Bill Kerrigan
2. Dan Raychek
3. Jerry Walsh
4. Petey O'Brien Brisson
5. Sean McGregor
6. Ellen Rudolph
7. Andrew Gulture
8. Jeanette Voss

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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