Scaachi Koul

Anytime there's like a story about a man in furniture, I'm like, what is he going to do? Is he going to pee on it? So I'm relieved in that way. This is really impressive. To steal a couch. And get away with it. That should be the next Oceans movie. So true.

Anytime there's like a story about a man in furniture, I'm like, what is he going to do? Is he going to pee on it? So I'm relieved in that way. This is really impressive. To steal a couch. And get away with it. That should be the next Oceans movie. So true.

On Scam Factory, we uncover the people who bend the rules, the ones who break them entirely. But sometimes, the biggest deception comes from the very person enforcing the rules. Billy Mitchell wasn't just any gamer. He was a legend, the first person to achieve a perfect score in Pac-Man.

On Scam Factory, we uncover the people who bend the rules, the ones who break them entirely. But sometimes, the biggest deception comes from the very person enforcing the rules. Billy Mitchell wasn't just any gamer. He was a legend, the first person to achieve a perfect score in Pac-Man.

the reigning Donkey Kong champion, and a self-appointed guardian of integrity in the video game world, helping to expose players who faked their high scores. But when the documentary King of Kong, A Fistful of Quarters came out, cracks started to form in his carefully built image. The film showed a different side of Mitchell, one that used intimidation and manipulation to maintain his reign.

the reigning Donkey Kong champion, and a self-appointed guardian of integrity in the video game world, helping to expose players who faked their high scores. But when the documentary King of Kong, A Fistful of Quarters came out, cracks started to form in his carefully built image. The film showed a different side of Mitchell, one that used intimidation and manipulation to maintain his reign.

And when accusations surfaced that some of his own Donkey Kong scores were achieved using edited footage, the gaming world turned on its king. Was Billy Mitchell a true champion? Or was he playing a different kind of game? I'm about to play a clip from Scamfluencers. Follow Scamfluencers on the Wondery app or wherever you get your podcasts.

And when accusations surfaced that some of his own Donkey Kong scores were achieved using edited footage, the gaming world turned on its king. Was Billy Mitchell a true champion? Or was he playing a different kind of game? I'm about to play a clip from Scamfluencers. Follow Scamfluencers on the Wondery app or wherever you get your podcasts.

Like the people in Scam Factory, today's scammer also moved to a new country for the promise of a better life, but she actually worked her way up to running an illegal rideshare empire. She was giving immigrants like her a chance to make a living, but it wasn't without risk, both for her workers and for their customers.

Like the people in Scam Factory, today's scammer also moved to a new country for the promise of a better life, but she actually worked her way up to running an illegal rideshare empire. She was giving immigrants like her a chance to make a living, but it wasn't without risk, both for her workers and for their customers.

We sometimes have scammers on this show who we empathize with because at least at the beginning, their hearts are in the right place.

We sometimes have scammers on this show who we empathize with because at least at the beginning, their hearts are in the right place.

Well, Sarah, today's story is about what lengths people will go to in order to survive and who they're willing to sell out in order to thrive. That's right. It's time for another Hashtag Girlboss. It's late May 2020, and Priscilla Barbosa is at a park in Los Angeles. She's wearing a short white sundress and a flower crown and standing under a tree of purple blooms.

Well, Sarah, today's story is about what lengths people will go to in order to survive and who they're willing to sell out in order to thrive. That's right. It's time for another Hashtag Girlboss. It's late May 2020, and Priscilla Barbosa is at a park in Los Angeles. She's wearing a short white sundress and a flower crown and standing under a tree of purple blooms.

Priscilla is in her mid-30s and barely five feet tall. She's Brazilian with long brown hair and lots of curves. And right now, she's gazing up into the eyes of a man named Mario Medrano. A reverend stands between them in a mask. It is the height of the pandemic, after all. And he's here to officiate their wedding. It's an intimate ceremony.

Priscilla is in her mid-30s and barely five feet tall. She's Brazilian with long brown hair and lots of curves. And right now, she's gazing up into the eyes of a man named Mario Medrano. A reverend stands between them in a mask. It is the height of the pandemic, after all. And he's here to officiate their wedding. It's an intimate ceremony.

Priscilla's family is back in Brazil, so she has only one friend with her. And on the groom's side is his girlfriend.

Priscilla's family is back in Brazil, so she has only one friend with her. And on the groom's side is his girlfriend.

Well, Sarah, this is not a polycule situation. This whole wedding is actually a sham. Priscilla and Mario actually just met each other. And if all goes well, they'll never have to see each other again after today. Priscilla is in this for a green card, and Mario is in it for $10,000. Among the few guests at the park is a staffer from the sham wedding agency that put Priscilla and Mario together.

Well, Sarah, this is not a polycule situation. This whole wedding is actually a sham. Priscilla and Mario actually just met each other. And if all goes well, they'll never have to see each other again after today. Priscilla is in this for a green card, and Mario is in it for $10,000. Among the few guests at the park is a staffer from the sham wedding agency that put Priscilla and Mario together.