Scam Goddess Preaches Anti-Fraud Gospel to CFEs

An actress, comedian, author and podcast host may not seem like an obvious choice to headline a general session at the 36th Annual ACFE Global Fraud Conference. But Laci Mosley, known as the Scam Goddess, has turned her fascination with all things fraud into a successful franchise that includes the binge-worthy documentary series “Scam Goddess” (available to stream on Hulu) and a book titled “Scam Goddess: Lessons from a Life of Cons, Grifts, and Schemes.” With a desire to spread the anti-fraud gospel far and wide and a deep reverence for the work of Certified Fraud Examiners (CFEs), Mosley sat down for a chat with the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners’ (ACFE) Vice President of Membership, Ross Pry, CFE. Infusing light and levity into an oftentimes serious subject, Mosley delighted and entertained the audience of CFEs with her quick wit, offbeat humor and endearing personality.

The Origin of Scam Goddess

The idea for the Scam Goddess podcast developed organically, according to Mosley, who said she originally wanted to create a comedy podcast focused on current events. Because those types of podcasts flooded the industry in 2019, Mosley decided to invent a new genre, called “true con,” and give her show a comedic twist. Scam Goddess was born, and Mosley said she’s found laughter to be an ideal vehicle for educating her audience about fraud.

“I always say, ‘If you can make people laugh, you’re both agreeing that something’s true.’ So instead of preaching out a bunch of information, I get to communicate in a fun way where we all learn and walk away with something valuable,” she said.

When determining what scams to highlight on her podcast, Mosley said she has a few criteria, including educational and entertainment value, as well as plenty of story details.

“I'm interested in how the scammers lived, how they chose their targets, what they spent their money on. Those are the kinds of stories I like to choose,” she explained.

Finding Confidence through Con Artists

In Mosley’s book, she imparts tips and wisdom she’s gleaned from con artists. For instance, she reminded the audience that the “con” in con artist is short for confidence.

“I think we could all benefit from being more confident. If you’re in a space where you don't feel prepared or you have imposter syndrome, walk in and act like it’s the worst place you’ve been. People are impressed by that. You know what I mean? If you project confidence, you’d be surprised how far you can get and what you can get,” she said.

Continuing with the fraudster theme, Pry listed three well-known con artists and asked Mosley which one she’d get a drink with, which one she’d ghost (abruptly ending all communication and contact with a person without explanation or warning) and which she’d wish to remain in prison. When deciding among Fyre Festival creator Billy McFarland, Theranos CEO Elizabeth Holmes and disgraced Dixon, Illinois, Comptroller Rita Crundwell, Mosley quipped that she’d get a drink with McFarland who’s “always on Molly, having a great time.” (Molly is slang for stimulant and hallucinogen MDMA.) She’d ghost Holmes, who’d be “stuck at the bar wearing a turtleneck … waiting for me.” Mosley said she’d like to see Crundwell, who embezzled $53.7 million from the city of Dixon over a period of two decades, back in prison. Crundwell had her nearly 20-year sentence commuted in 2024 under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, which allowed people with a high risk of COVID-19 to be released into home detention.

Hate the Scammers, Not the Scammed

The Scam Goddess TV documentary series follows Mosley as she confronts fraudsters and speaks with their victims around the U.S. She recounted meeting Kathe Swanson, the whistleblower who exposed Crundwell’s embezzlement scheme, in Dixon, Illinois.

“When I first covered her on my podcast, I called her a hater. This woman was doing the job of 10 people in the city council while working with the FBI in secret for six months. It drove her to drink, and she missed one of her grandkids being born because she couldn’t get anyone to cover her at work. Rita really harmed her, and it really changed my perspective on fraud victims like Kathe,” she recalled.

Never one to “punch down” at victims, Mosley said she has no problem making fun of the scammers, referring to them as “very unserious people” who “deserve to be made fun of.”

When asked what she’d like to say to the CFEs gathered at the general session, Mosley shared a message of admiration and gratitude.

“Thank you all so much. What you do is so important, and I'm really excited that we're all getting together and sharing information so that we can hopefully protect people from scams. This is really important work, and I really admire it,” she said.