How Edward Smog Scammed a Retired Nurse Out of $150K
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07/28/26
•36m
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My friend Joe sells real estate. He called me about one of his clients, a retired nurse who was selling her house, because something about her story wasn't sitting right with him. She'd lost her savings to a man named Edward Smog. Found her online, quoted her scripture, told her he was her way out of debt.
By the time I got involved, she was out a hundred and fifty grand. Now a new scammer is coming after her. She believes he's an offshore oil rig worker, and they're going to get married. I'm trying to stop him before he takes any more of her money.
If you or someone you love is being targeted, here's where to go.
- To report it, the FBI runs the Internet Crime Complaint Center at ic3.gov, and the FTC takes reports at reportfraud.ftc.gov.
- If you want to talk to a real person for free, call the National Elder Fraud Hotline run by the Department of Justice at 833-372-8311, seven days a week, 6am to 11pm Eastern. You can also reach the AARP Fraud Watch Network Helpline at 877-908-3360.
Tips for your elderly parents:
- No real grant, agency, or lottery ever asks you to pay a fee to get money.
- Gift cards, wire transfers to strangers, and crypto are how scammers get paid. Full stop.
- If you've never met someone in person on a live video call, assume you don't know who they are.
- Ask for that video call right now, not later. Take a screenshot of their photos and run a reverse image search. The excuses will tell you everything.
- And before any money moves, tell one person who loves you. Out loud. The scam only survives in the quiet.
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Previous Episode
Chain of Command: An Inside Man Speaks
July 21
•28m
Darnell Emanuel spent years inside Rony Denis's inner circle at the House of Prayer Christian Church. His name is on documents. His credit was used to buy houses he never lived in. But when the fraud finally caught up with the church, Darnell wasn't indicted.
In this bonus, Darnell walks us through the burner phones, the code names, and how the whole scheme worked. Plus, an update on Marjorie Denis. And what's happening at NTCC since the series aired.
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Next Episode
William Ruzich's father stole his identity while he was deployed in Afghanistan. He came home from war at 21 to find bills, liens, and creditors in his own name. He turned his own dad in for fraud.
Then he went to work catching people just like him.
William is a private intelligence operative now, tracking down scammers, fraudsters, and people who vanish with other people's money.
Coming August 11th: The Gypsy Rose Obsession, a new free series from PRETEND. Watch the trailer and subscribe:
Kingdom Forge, a book by Anders Edwards that teaches kids about online safety, Diary of a Wimpy Kid meets Ready Player One. Check it out:
https://a.co/d/0hpgdcYx
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