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.
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Nov 13, 2026 · 45:57
In this special episode, Bob welcomes back investigative journalist Mariana van Zeller. She has spent years venturing into some of the world's most dangerous places, chasing…
Nov 6, 2026 · 46:19
Mike and Cathy are preparing for retirement and a move from New Jersey to Florida. During the stressful period of downsizing and transitioning their business, Mike is caught off…
Oct 30, 2026 · 1:02:06
Chris and Raquelle Judge market themselves as the next Chip and Joanna Gaines, showcasing custom homes and renovation projects across their social media channels. But behind the…
Oct 23, 2026 · 35:47
When Sheratan Johnson receives a call from an unknown number, she's startled to hear the man on the other end of the line claim he's kidnapped her daughter from gymnastics class.…
Oct 16, 2026 · 46:07
In part two, residents of the upstate New York hamlet of Hamilton learn of a financial scandal that touches nearly every corner of the community. Burt Marshall offers investment…
Oct 9, 2026 · 29:34
In the charming small town of Hamilton, New York, home of Colgate University, Burt Marshall is a well-known figure. He prepares taxes and sells insurance to many residents,…
Oct 2, 2026 · 44:45
In this 2024 episode, Daniel no longer lives in his hometown of Fairfield, Connecticut, but he still owns a plot of land that was essentially his childhood backyard. When he…
Sep 25, 2026 · 35:47
On Gale's 70 th birthday, she is just finishing her shift at work and looking forward to a special dinner with her husband, when the celebration is suddenly cut short. Among the…
Sep 18, 2026 · 42:39
Daniel is a New Orleans firefighter starting a second career as a realtor. Before he even gets his first listing, he discovers that someone has stolen his identity and is setting…
Sep 11, 2026 · 54:53
Larry and Barbara have issues with their Amazon account, so they welcome a call from "Amazon" customer service. They learn that their personal information has been compromised…
Sep 4, 2026 · 45:18
In this 2023 episode, Penny takes an online training course in social media marketing, hoping to build her hobby into a business. After this initial small investment, she is…
Aug 28, 2026 · 45:44
David is a seasoned traveler who has visited over 30 countries. He and his wife are looking forward to a trip to Budapest when he receives an email from Lufthansa about a…
Aug 21, 2026 · 32:29
Writing is Barbara's retirement hobby and her passion. She has several self-published books, but she dreams of her stories reaching a wider audience. So when a company called…
Aug 14, 2026 · 51:51
A late-night call from their son Brian has Barry and Joan concerned. Brian sounds panicked and says he urgently needs $280,000. They do not have that kind of money available, and…
Aug 7, 2026 · 43:29
In Part 2 of this 2023 episode, criminals are running the grandparent scam all over the San Diego area. Often crimes like this go unsolved, but FBI agent Brady Finta and his law…
Jul 31, 2026 · 25:56
In this 2023 episode, when Susan gets a frantic call from her "grandson" saying he's been in a terrible accident, she doesn't waste any time. She rushes to get him the $9,000 he…
Jul 24, 2026 · 46:00
Eunice, a busy mom of four, discovers what appears to be the perfect work-from-home job opportunity with flexible hours and the chance to make some extra income for her family.…
Jul 17, 2026 · 55:16
Linda Coble is retired from a storied career as Hawaii's first female news anchor, but she stays active in her community through charity work. So when she receives a phone call…
Jul 10, 2026 · 47:59
After a long day as a school bus driver, Nate checks his voicemail and finds a message from "AT&T" offering a discounted rate and a new phone. He has been a loyal customer and is…
Jun 26, 2026 · 46:36
In part 2, nearly a decade after Pat received the first phone call from a woman believing to be in a relationship with him, he continues to receive regular cards, gifts, calls…
Jun 19, 2026 · 35:03
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…
Jun 12, 2026 · 22:53
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,…
Jun 5, 2026 · 18:47
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…
May 29, 2026 · 45:20
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…
May 22, 2026 · 55:10
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,…
May 15, 2026 · 50:35
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…
May 8, 2026 · 54:32
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…
May 1, 2026 · 47:04
In this bonus episode, Bob meets some Fraud Fighters working to make their Nebraska community a little bit safer from scammers. When Omaha passes a city ordinance requiring all…
Apr 24, 2026 · 50:38
Dr. Maurice Sholas, a pediatric rehabilitation specialist based in New Orleans, discovers that his likeness is being used in an ad when a friend sends him a TikTok clip that…
Apr 17, 2026 · 53:39
After taking a break from her tech career to care for her aging mother, Dawn is reentering the workforce in her mid-50s, and she isn't having much luck. She takes a chance on an…
Apr 10, 2026 · 37:19
It's tax time, and that means it's also tax scam season. The Federal Trade Commission warns about a recent surge in fake IRS calls to taxpayers. Personal finance columnist…
Apr 3, 2026 · 1:01:02
When Anola returns home from a picture-perfect trip to France, she finds an unexpected flirtation with a man who reaches out to her on LinkedIn. He showers her with love and…
Mar 20, 2026 · 51:38
Richy and Terri send a check to their son and daughter-in-law for their anniversary, but it never arrives. After a tough year of medical issues and the death of a close friend,…
Mar 13, 2026 · 47:45
When Brian receives an email from "PayPal," he thinks it must be the refund he's been waiting for, but he is instead drawn into a scam that has him running all over town feeding…
Mar 6, 2026 · 43:07
Patricia is enjoying a quiet night babysitting when she discovers that her phone has no service. When she switches to Wi-Fi, a sudden barrage of notifications shows that someone…
Feb 27, 2026 · 47:49
Eric's day-to-day interactions at the gas station where he works have taught him to recognize when something isn't quite right with one of his customers. He's also aware that the…
Feb 20, 2026 · 1:02:55
Joyce is a retired teacher who works part-time with special needs kids. She's recently divorced after a long marriage, facing a cancer scare, and acting as the primary caregiver…
Feb 13, 2026 · 56:36
Josh loves his job as a full-time novelist, but writing and working from home don't give him many opportunities to meet people. So he decides to try a dating site and connects…
Feb 6, 2026 · 47:47
When Manny, an Air Force veteran living in Las Vegas, loses his wife of 62 years, he turns to playing Publishers Clearing House online games to help ease his loneliness. He is…
Jan 30, 2026 · 49:21
David is a retiree who remains active in his Florida community, but he would like to have someone to share his life with. When an Indiana woman named Bonnie strikes up a…
Jan 23, 2026 · 42:59
Employment scams are one of the fastest growing types of fraud. The recent surge can be traced to several post-pandemic factors that make these crimes even easier for criminals.…
Jan 16, 2026 · 50:38
Have you ever thought about who might be on the other end of those scam calls and messages we all receive? The answer could be far more sinister than you might imagine. The…
Jan 9, 2026 · 53:09
Remote work, which was a necessity for many during the pandemic, is now commonplace. While it's hard to beat the commute, criminals are paying close attention to this trend too.…
Dec 12, 2025 · 29:14
Amy Nofziger, Sr. Director of Victim Support for the AARP Fraud Watch Network™, stops by The Perfect Scam to discuss some new variations on old scams and the tactics criminals…
Dec 5, 2025 · 52:41
Hilarie, a dedicated Philadelphia sports fan, plans a weekend doubleheader to attend both a Phillies and an Eagles game with a friend. After successfully purchasing Phillies…
Nov 21, 2025 · 53:44
A call from someone claiming to be from the Federal Trade Commission sends Linda on a quest to transfer $25,000, believing that she is assisting them in catching a criminal. The…
Nov 14, 2025 · 22:06
A prominent philanthropist and the center of New York society, Brooke Astor lived a tumultuous yet glamorous life. Left a fortune by her third husband, Vincent Astor, Brooke…
Nov 7, 2025 · 51:34
Jana always tries to do the right thing, so when she receives a call from the sheriff's office stating that she missed jury duty, she panics. She thinks back to studying for her…
Oct 31, 2025 · 1:00:35
After several years of investing in crypto, Glen has built up a sizeable nest egg. The money means security and the ability to buy a home. One day, when trying to log in to…
Oct 24, 2025 · 49:58
When a couple pulls up to Gene's North Carolina home looking for their beagle puppy, he is not sure what to make of it. But soon, a steady stream of would-be pet owners arriving…
Oct 17, 2025 · 56:02
Dorothy is looking for a part-time job that will enable her to work from home and accommodate her medical disability. After applying for numerous jobs and posting her résumé…
Oct 10, 2025 · 58:00
Wall Street Journal reporter Robert McMillan and FBI agent Joe Hooper recount the story of Christina Chapman, a Minnesota woman who is drawn into the world of laptop farming. She…
Oct 3, 2025 · 40:05
In part 2, victims of a nationwide fraud scheme join forces on a Facebook group and share their stories with investigative journalist Lou Raguse of KARE in Minneapolis. Someone…
Sep 26, 2025 · 26:48
Job seekers all over the country answer ads for sales positions at a water filtration company. The offer is promising, and the contracts look professional. The only catch is the…
Sep 19, 2025 · 54:48
Online criminals love cryptocurrency for many reasons – it's anonymous, can't be traced, and payments are irreversible. So when Paul discovers he has been targeted by a crypto…
Sep 12, 2025 · 51:01
A tech support scam leads to criminals stealing one woman's life savings in gold bars. Gold bar scams have exploded in popularity as gold prices hit all-time highs. In this…
Sep 5, 2025 · 1:09:33
In part 2, a call from Reuters journalist Brian Grow confirms Diana's worst fears about what really happened to her stepfather's remains. As Brian digs deeper into the story, the…
Aug 29, 2025 · 40:34
Planning a loved one's burial or cremation is a difficult experience under the best of circumstances. When Diana's stepfather, Cactus, gets sick during the early stages of…
Aug 22, 2025 · 39:42
In this 2023 episode, Huntington, West Virginia, is an idyllic college town on the Ohio River, but it's also the epicenter of a massive international internet crime ring. Federal…
Aug 15, 2025 · 32:14
In this bonus episode, Bob talks with two of the nearly 150 trained volunteers who answer calls on the AARP Fraud Watch Network Helpline. Dee and Mike, both scam survivors, draw…
Aug 8, 2025 · 47:52
When Joe can't get his Apple Pay payment to go through, he does a quick search for their customer service number and reaches an operator named Daisy. Daisy informs Joe that his…
Aug 1, 2025 · 51:44
A trusted friend introduces Taylor to a man named Sylvein William Maximilian D'Habsburg XVII, a tech whiz and the inventor of a fascinating new robotic technology. His gigantic…
Jul 25, 2025 · 53:00
Diane is still mourning the death of her boyfriend when a game of Words With Friends leads to a connection. The man claims to be actor Keanu Reeves. While initially skeptical,…
Jul 18, 2025 · 43:31
John is in the market for a pickup truck when he comes across a Facebook Marketplace ad for a 2021 Dodge Ram. It needs a little TLC, but it's a reasonable price, and he's had…
Jul 11, 2025 · 37:30
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.…
Jun 27, 2025 · 43:06
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,…
Jun 20, 2025 · 48:40
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…
Jun 13, 2025 · 28:28
In part 2, as 72-year-old Steve Steele is released from jail, not only can he hardly stand or walk, but he is worried about how he will recover the property stolen by Elizabeth,…
Jun 6, 2025 · 23:30
In this 2021 episode, after 72-year-old Steve Steele's life partner passes away, his housekeeper, Elizabeth, offers to work as his caregiver. Over time, Elizabeth takes over…
May 30, 2025 · 51:45
Longtime homeowners on Chicago's West Side trust Mark Diamond to help them access funds and carry out necessary home repairs. However, they are often unaware that they are…
May 23, 2025 · 44:57
Douglas is enjoying a second career as an artist, selling his paintings online and in gallery shows. People occasionally ask about non-fungible tokens (NFTs) of his work. Still,…
May 16, 2025 · 55:16
When Chloe's mom experiences a medical emergency, Chloe rushes to be by her side. Amid the stress and chaos of the following days, her mother's cat, Percy, slips out one evening.…
May 9, 2025 · 50:15
In part two, law enforcement narrows in on Kota Youngblood and his scheme to steal millions of dollars from neighbors and fellow hockey league parents. His cruel lies have many…
May 2, 2025 · 47:14
Kota Youngblood is known as a larger-than-life character in his small Texas town, spinning wild tales of military service and work as an undercover federal agent to his neighbors…
Apr 25, 2025 · 34:08
In this bonus episode, Bob sits down with Josh Margolin, writer and director of the action and comedy film, Thelma, to discuss Josh's real-life inspiration – his 104-year-old…
Apr 18, 2025 · 58:01
Jordan is a star athlete and homecoming king who is packing for a beach vacation when he receives a message on Instagram. The account is of an attractive girl named Dani. Jordan…
Apr 11, 2025 · 45:37
In part 2, US Postal Inspector Cory McManus is hot on the trail of criminals running an elaborate romance scam network. After identifying dozens of victims, he arrests two…
Apr 4, 2025 · 33:13
When Debbie's mother passes away suddenly, she is not prepared for what she finds. While sorting through financial records and paperwork, she discovers correspondence with the US…
Mar 28, 2025 · 25:07
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…
Mar 21, 2025 · 25:51
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…
Mar 14, 2025 · 44:48
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…
Mar 7, 2025 · 39:53
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,…
Feb 28, 2025 · 43:42
In part 2, Chris and his family try without success to stop their father, Alfred, from sending money to a series of criminals he met online – some claiming to need medical care…
Feb 21, 2025 · 36:59
When Alfred's sons notice unusual transactions on their dad's bank statements, they start asking questions. But Alfred's reaction tells them that there is much more to the story…
Feb 14, 2025 · 58:23
After 25-year-old Niki Hutchinson loses her mother, she uses some of her inheritance to start fresh in California. Not knowing anyone, she does what many people do today and…
Feb 7, 2025 · 40:38
When Cathy's disabled husband loses his Medicaid coverage, she must look for a job to help pay the rent. The retired Army Reserve veteran has impressive work experience, so when…
Jan 31, 2025 · 50:07
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…
Jan 24, 2025 · 48:50
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…
Jan 17, 2025 · 54:18
Ray is retired but always looking for interesting opportunities. So, when he gets a cold call from a whiskey brokerage firm asking if he wants to invest in some of the world's…
Jan 10, 2025 · 57:10
In this 2023 episode, YouTube star Kitboga has turned scam baiting into performance art, delighting his 3.6 million followers with his many characters and laughs at the expense…
Dec 20, 2024 · 29:55
In this 2022 episode, host Bob Sullivan welcomes special guest Alexis Conran. Conran's insight into the mind of a con man comes from acting as one on the popular BBC show The…
Dec 13, 2024 · 30:53
We use our smartphones for just about everything these days, and that makes them a prime target for scammers. Online banking often relies on a code sent in a text message to…
Dec 6, 2024 · 38:02
Imagine you've just had everything stolen from you by a ruthless scammer. You are wondering how you will pay your bills, maybe even have enough money to buy food. And then a bill…
Nov 22, 2024 · 43:17
Thanksgiving is a time for sharing food with family and feeling grateful. It means a lot to Georgete, a struggling mom who just wants to make the holiday special for her kids.…
Nov 15, 2024 · 39:47
Alice hires a local handyman, Joey, as a live-in caregiver after her shoulder surgery. She recovers, but soon COVID-19 hits, and Joey, who is down on his luck, stays on to help…
Nov 8, 2024 · 59:14
Debbie, a Colorado native and mother of three adult children, leads a fulfilling life of travel, salsa dancing and volunteer work. While her life is full, she would like to have…
Nov 1, 2024 · 48:20
It's a typical busy day for Amanda as she sees her teenaged daughter off to work. But five minutes later, everything changes when she receives a call from a local number and…
Oct 25, 2024 · 53:28
Dennis, an 82-year-old proud father and grandfather, makes a connection with a woman he meets on Facebook named Jessie. Jessie claims to have made a lot of money through crypto…
Oct 18, 2024 · 24:51
In this 2019 episode, Marlene is enjoying the Atlantic City boardwalk with a friend when a young woman approaches her. The woman introduces herself as Savannah and offers to give…
Oct 11, 2024 · 44:50
In Part 2 of this 2022 episode, Darlene Asher, as the head of her local dart league, has been leading the charge to help Jeremiah Jon Smith, who they believe is dying from…
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