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Top Chef All-Scam Edition w Angela "The Kitchenista" Davis (Fraud Friday)

Scam Goddess

Hosted by Laci Mosley

1h 3m
Transcript

Original podcast

Summary

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

This episode of Scam Goddess features host Laci Mosley joined by guest Angela Davis, a self-taught cook and food blogger known as The Kitchenista, to discuss the various frauds and controversies surrounding food personality Darius Williams. The discussion explores how Williams built a following online while allegedly running multiple scams, from illegal credit repair services to shuttered restaurants with severe health and labor violations, and selling questionable pound cakes without proper licensing or physical addresses. Throughout the conversation, the host and guest break down Williams's history of plagiarism, his deflection tactics involving his identity, and the harassment campaigns directed at those who exposed his business practices. It is worth listening to for the specific receipts and detailed breakdown of how online personas can mask extensive financial and business fraud.

  • Check all business credentials and avoid providers who operate without a verified physical address or mandatory health inspections. 39:01
  • Recognize that high sodium levels in commercial recipes can pose serious health risks to vulnerable individuals. 56:05
  • Verify online business backgrounds before investing or purchasing products to protect against fraudulent operations. 50:05

Chapters

  1. 0:01
    Podcast Intro and Ad Read

    The episode opens with a dramatic ad read and a brief introduction to the host, Laci Mosley, and the theme of Fraud Fridays.

  2. 3:08
    Host Introduces Angela Davis

    Laci Mosley welcomes food blogger Angela "The Kitchenista" Davis, setting the stage for a deep dive into her career and alleged scams.

  3. 5:17
    Angela’s Background and Scam History

    Angela discusses her early career, personal scams she’s experienced, and her relationship with fraud, establishing context for the upcoming accusations.

  4. 48:27
    Fresh Go Scam Exposed

    The hosts detail how Fresh Go, a fake grocery delivery service, scammed customers and the subsequent investigation.

  5. 49:17
    Cupcake Mix Investment Scam

    They discuss Darius Williams’ fake cupcake mix venture, how investors were duped, and the pattern of his fraudulent schemes.

  6. 54:58
    Fake Payroll and Online Presence

    The conversation turns to Williams’ fabricated payroll company, deleted websites, and how he manipulates online records to hide crimes.

  7. 56:12
    Plagiarized Recipes and Health Risks

    They expose how Williams copies recipes, uses excessive sodium, and endangers his audience’s health while exploiting black culinary culture.

Highlights

  • 0:15

    Uncovering Recipe Plagiarisminsight

    Angela Davis explains how she discovered Darius Williams copied her holiday ebook concepts and recipes, down to specific menu items and personal storytelling elements.

  • 35:33

    Illegal Credit Repair Schemesdata

    The discussion covers Williams's credit repair company, Above 701, which resulted in a $145,750 settlement with the state of Georgia for illegal practices.

  • 39:01

    The P.O. Box Bakeryinsight

    The guest points out that Carolina Pound Cakes operated without health inspections or a verified physical bakery address, shipping cakes through standard mail.

  • 50:05

    Selling Fake Cupcake Sharesstory

    The host and guest detail how Williams solicited investments for a nonexistent cupcake mix company by selling small percentage shares before abandoning the venture.

  • 51:54

    Denying Digital Footprintsdebate

    The podcast highlights how Williams publicly denied any association with his former grocery delivery venture, Fresh Go, despite posting promotional tweets on Twitter.

Quotes

  • “Move through life with the confidence of a scammer.”
    Laci Mosley · 7:05
  • “I could do robbery. I could do fraud. I don't even need the experience, I can do it.”
    Laci Mosley · 7:13
  • “He said I'm at, I'm at FedEx Kinko's. That's my firm, that's my publishing company, FedEx Kinko's.”
    Laci Mosley · 6:13
  • “He was like a jack of all trades, so, early in the day, he was pretending to be a publisher.”
    Laci Mosley · 6:22
  • “He was just a jack of all trades, so, early in the day, he was pretending to be a publisher.”
    Laci Mosley · 6:22
  • “He had started a fake company. He was gonna sell dry cupcake mix, like a box mix where you could call, this is, this is his plan.”
    Unnamed speaker · 49:29
  • “He sent out like this whole investment proposal. And people invested, and then he just left town. And like, the company never actually existed.”
    Unnamed speaker · 49:52
  • “He even set up a fake Groupon deal for a fake company. Like, that's how far the scam went. The whole, the website is what kills me, though.”
    Unnamed speaker · 53:11
  • “He knows where to get it. Cause he stalks my feeds. The funny thing is now like everything in hindsight, realizing that he's acting like he doesn't know who I am.”
    Unnamed speaker · 1:00:07
  • Rapsodo 1:23–1:52
  • OnDeck 1:56–2:15
  • KISSIMTA 10:32–10:55
  • Scammer of the Week 1:06:21–1:06:29
  • The Kitchenista 1:08:34–1:08:41
  • OnDeck 1:10:33–1:10:39
  • Pepperidge Farm 1:11:02–1:11:07

About this episode

Angela "The Kitchenista" Davis helps Laci cook up a juicy episode on Darius “Crooks” Williams, a chef blogger accused of shady business practices, assault, and plagiarizing recipes. Plus, a man is out $30 million after building a section of “Trump’s” border wall and ending up with no buyers. Content Warning: Physical and sexual assault is mentioned in this episode. Please take care of yourself while listening. (Originally Released 08/09/2021) Follow on Instagram: Scam Goddess Pod: @scamgoddesspod https://www.instagram.com/scamgoddesspod/ Laci Mosley: @divalaci https://www.instagram.com/divalaci/ Angela Davis: @thekitchenista https://www.instagram.com/thekitchenista/ See omnystudio.com/listener https://omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Transcript

0:00
1:03:06

13,208 words · 8 speakers

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

Topics

  • Fresh Go
  • Twitter
  • Better Business Bureau
  • Instagram
  • Black Enterprise
  • Soul Crab
  • Fresh to Go
  • Above 701
  • Celtic Bank
  • Hulu

Page updated · transcript and summary are machine-generated