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The (Not So) Charitable Cheat with Gabe Dunn (Fraud Friday)

Scam Goddess

Hosted by Laci Mosley

1h 10m
Transcript

Original podcast

Summary

Written by a model from the transcript; not yet reviewed.

Host Laci Mosley and guest Gabby Dunn discuss various scams and con artists, focusing heavily on political and charity fraud during the quarantine era. They examine the Donald Trump Foundation lawsuit, the mechanics of pyramid-like blessing circles, and a bizarre pandemic-era ventilator scam where a Twitter user secured $69 million from New York State. The conversation blends humor with sharp critiques of systemic corruption, wealth hoarding, and the lack of oversight for the ultra-wealthy.

  • Verify the financial breakdown of any charity before donating to ensure funds actually support the cause rather than administrative costs. 38:39
  • Be skeptical of crowdfunding and mandala circles that promise unrealistic returns by requiring constant recruitment of new participants. 13:53
  • Always look closely at the fine print and official reports regarding government emergency contracts during crises. 41:58

Chapters

  1. 0:01
    Podcast Intro and Advertisements

    The episode opens with a rapid montage of unrelated ads and a brief intro before the host introduces the show and the guest.

  2. 2:12
    Host Introduces Guest and Podcast Background

    Lacey Mosley welcomes Gabby Dunn, outlining her podcast work and bestselling status before diving into the conversation.

  3. 3:05
    Gabby Dunn Discusses Her Books and Early Scams

    Gabby explains her first book, her co‑author, and how she once wrote a chapter about small scams she pulled in New York.

  4. 13:30
    The Circle Game Scam Explained

    The hosts break down the mechanics of the online pyramid scheme known as the Circle Game, including entry fees and recruitment numbers.

  5. 19:26
    Real‑World Scams During Quarantine

    They share personal anecdotes of scams that surfaced during lockdown, from fake giveaways to the “Left Behind” app, highlighting how easy money can be tempting.

  6. 28:11
    Trump’s Charity Scam and Legal Allegations

    The conversation shifts to the 2018 lawsuit against the Trump Foundation, detailing accusations of misuse of funds and the broader pattern of charitable fraud.

  7. 28:47
    Broader Discussion of Wealth, Scams, and Politics

    Lacey and Gabby critique the intertwining of wealth, political power, and scams, touching on tax breaks, lobbying, and the perception of the wealthy.

  8. 46:00
    Closing Remarks and Final Thoughts

    The hosts wrap up the episode, reflecting on the prevalence of scams, the need for vigilance, and a brief farewell to listeners.

  9. 48:03
    Trump’s Charitable Facade Exposed

    The hosts dissect how Trump’s donations were self-serving, highlighting the largest and smallest gifts and their ties to personal gain.

  10. 50:03
    The Trump Foundation’s Collapse

    They recount the investigation, dissolution, and chaotic shutdown of the Trump Foundation, including shredding documents and burning office files.

  11. 53:34
    Mission Statements and Misuse

    The conversation turns to the vague mission of the Trump Foundation and how it illustrates the broader problem of charities lacking clear purpose.

  12. 1:00:00
    Celebrity Charity Culture Critique

    Hosts critique how celebrities use charity to enhance image, discussing public perception and the disconnect between appearance and genuine impact.

Highlights

  • 5:05

    Hotel Scam Hacksinsight

    The guest explains small scams used to save money in New York, such as claiming to have left chargers or umbrellas at hotels.

  • 9:14

    The Baby Distractionstory

    The guest shares a personal story about meeting a marketplace buyer who used an infant as a prop to steal a bracelet.

  • 13:53

    Pyramid Scheme Loopsdata

    The host explains how mandala circles and loom circles operate as basic pyramid schemes requiring hundreds of new recruits.

  • 16:43

    Crowdfunding Confusioninsight

    The host and guest debate why people confuse the mechanics of GoFundMe with illegal pyramid schemes.

  • 31:52

    Presidential Conflicts of Interestdebate

    The guest highlights how traditional presidents avoided conflicts of interest, contrasting it with modern presidential behavior.

  • 40:29

    The Blue Dog Portraitstory

    The host and guest look up a bizarre and terrifying painted portrait of Donald Trump used in charitable auctions.

  • 1:05:53

    Twitter Ventilator Dealdata

    The host reveals how an electrical engineer with 75 followers secured a $69 million ventilator contract via a single tweet.

Quotes

  • “The whole point is like, okay, you pay a hundred dollars. And then once you round up enough people, you're loom circle, uh, you know, ca- candlelit, whatever the fuck you call it, the, the mandala, you get paid.”
    Laci Mosley · 15:28
  • “The government is a scam wow”
    Unnamed speaker · 36:35
  • “He did. I remember his inauguration speech where he genuinely looked shocked.”
    Laci Mosley · 28:00
  • “However, this is just, it's detrimental in so many ways. And I think people don't understand that we're not saying like, oh, you can't make a lot of money and then you want to take it back because we want socialism.”
    Laci Mosley · 46:22
  • “The smallest donation was seven dollars, which was a foundation gift to the Boy Scouts, which conveniently happened to be the amount required to enroll a boy in the Scouts the year that his son Donald Trump Jr. Was eleven.”
    Laci Mosley · 48:30
  • KISSIMTA 0:54–0:59
  • Zillow 1:00–1:09
  • OnDeck 1:18–1:26
  • KISSINTA 1:03:58–1:04:40
  • OnDeck 1:17:10–1:17:33

About this episode

What's poppin, con-gregation? This week, Gabe Dunn is on the show to discuss donations Donald Trump allegedly gave to charity. And no, charity is not the name of a porn star. Stay schemin! See omnystudio.com/listener https://omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Transcript

0:00
1:10:19

14,599 words · 8 speakers

Speaker names marked are inferred from speaking time and the show’s known hosts — they are not voice-verified.

Topics

  • Twitter
  • Nashville
  • New York State
  • Craigslist
  • Cash App
  • GoFundMe
  • Forbes
  • Trump Foundation
  • ABC
  • Celtic Bank

Page updated · transcript and summary are machine-generated