Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:01):
You are about to hear a feature that was created
to expose the scammers, thieves, and con artists among us.
The dialogue and temperament about to be used by Hollywood
Hamilton does not necessarily reflect the views and opinions of iHeartMedia.
This is Fraud Friday.
Speaker 2 (00:19):
We've helped so many people on Fraud Friday, each and
every Friday, right here on this radio facility. And Samantha
brought to my attention after she read a letter from
this William kid that you're about to meet in second
multi level marketing scams are continuing to be strong and
continue to take people for lots of money. Samantha, why
don't you tell Marie and I who's our guest this
(00:40):
week on frid Friday. What do we got going on here?
Speaker 3 (00:42):
We have a young college student. His name is William,
and he was recruited on his college campus in an
MLM multi level marketing scam.
Speaker 2 (00:52):
All right, let's go to William right now. William are
you there? Yeah, welcome to Fraud Friday. We understand I
have well, first of all, I have a couple notes
in front of me. Number one knives you were yes,
you were approached on your college campus to sell a
set of knives. Can you go into what that was
all about?
Speaker 4 (01:12):
Yeah?
Speaker 5 (01:12):
Of course they weren't really advertised as knives, more so
tool something that I could use to cut through anything with.
Speaker 2 (01:19):
Uh.
Speaker 5 (01:20):
You know, I sawt fire around my campus and it
was kind of like make money quick during your summer.
You get to be your own boss and your spare
time makes some cash, and it sounded great, but it
just really was not what it seemed.
Speaker 2 (01:34):
Right, and we're talking about NYU. You go, you're an
NYU student right now? Yes, sir, so tell me you
can call me Sean. You're not on the stand here.
I know it might sound like I come across. I
respect though, Sean. I like that too. All right, So William,
how much did you have to buy into this thing?
And what were you led to believe? And what happened?
Speaker 5 (01:57):
Uh? So it was it was one guy and the
knives were one, three and fifty bucks that I had
to buy it. I was basically given no training and
I had to go around and sell these knives myself.
Speaker 2 (02:15):
And man, what did this guy promise you? Why would
you spend that kind of money on a knife set
when I can get on Amazon for fifty five dollars.
What What did he tell you to lead you to
believe that you were going to make a lot of
money on this scam.
Speaker 5 (02:26):
He led me to believe that these things were flying
off the shelves and they were the best knife you
could buy on the market. He told me I could
make a lot of money from selling them, promised me
a bunch of leaves, And none of the leads came
through to my email. I didn't get any of them,
and I've kind of just been been stiff here, Anthony.
Speaker 2 (02:43):
Last night you called Marco. Did he pick up the phone?
You did the pre call? Yeah? Yeah, he picked up,
still in business. He was all excited about, you know,
trying to get obviously somebody else to fall for the scheme.
I guess he's a recruiter campus ad, so I told
him the same thing. That's how I found out right
that you were at school.
Speaker 4 (02:59):
Right.
Speaker 3 (02:59):
These guys are recruit the college kids for a reason. Young,
hungry and looking to make some money during the summer.
Go sell your friends and family, is what they tell you.
Go sell grandma set of thirteen hundred dollars knives.
Speaker 2 (03:12):
Can you imagine I.
Speaker 5 (03:13):
Found the same knives on Amazon for about one hundred
and thirty bucks. And you know, the same material, same build,
same structure everything this guy.
Speaker 6 (03:23):
So, this guy Marco just made a sale on this
young kid, William.
Speaker 2 (03:27):
Yeah, they probably do it over and over and over again.
That's how the guy makes his money, all right, William,
Before we call this Marco guy up, anything to add
personal information about this Marco guy? Is there anything about
Marco you could tell me that can help us and
convince car that he drives or.
Speaker 5 (03:44):
Your producer in the pre interview asked me the same question.
And actually when I went over to his car, I
had my phone out already, so I was able to
snap a picture of his license plate.
Speaker 6 (03:55):
Oh right right, why yes, thank you for keeping that
one in the dark.
Speaker 2 (04:04):
Sammy, that's a home run right down. Consider you're getting
your money back. I mean that is golden, right, that
is gold. You haven't gotten to the police or anything.
Speaker 6 (04:12):
Why.
Speaker 5 (04:13):
I don't know why. A friend of mine just told
me about your your radio show.
Speaker 2 (04:17):
Oh so you're not a listener.
Speaker 6 (04:18):
Thank you appreciate that this Yeah, he will be now
held me to get his money back.
Speaker 2 (04:24):
Do you promise if I get your money bag, you're
going to become a listener. William, please tell me.
Speaker 1 (04:31):
You're listening to Fraud Friday with the KTU Morning Crew.
We'll be right back with part two when Hollywood and
Marie make the call. Buckle up because things are about
to get rough. Welcome back for part two for this
week's Fraud Friday.
Speaker 2 (04:57):
Hello, Hi, I am calling for Marco.
Speaker 4 (05:01):
Who's this?
Speaker 2 (05:03):
Hi Marco.
Speaker 6 (05:04):
My name is Stephanie, and I'm calling about your ad.
Speaker 4 (05:09):
Okay, Uh, it's.
Speaker 6 (05:11):
A sales position and it's about selling knives. I think
my girlfriend Monica gave me the flyer.
Speaker 4 (05:20):
Can you can you tell me a little bit about yourself?
Speaker 6 (05:23):
Oh? Yeah, okay. I am in college and.
Speaker 2 (05:32):
What else?
Speaker 6 (05:32):
I'm single, totally not attached to anybody.
Speaker 2 (05:37):
I drink but not too much.
Speaker 4 (05:40):
What okay? And what school did you say you want to?
Speaker 5 (05:44):
Yeah?
Speaker 6 (05:44):
I go to Hunter and my girlfriend Monica, who's like
my bestie, told me about this because she saw your
flyer and she showed me and she's like my best friend.
Right now because we're being rooming.
Speaker 4 (05:57):
What do you have any do you have any sales experience?
Have you done this before? Oh?
Speaker 2 (06:02):
Yeah, I worked at the Gap okay and I did.
Speaker 6 (06:08):
The color coordinating with.
Speaker 4 (06:10):
The What hold on? Have you ever done like door
to door sales? You pitch a product and and you
got to get them hooked. Have you ever just sold
to somebody?
Speaker 6 (06:18):
I have lots of friends that will just buy anything
from me because I'm really good and I'm really popular.
Speaker 4 (06:25):
What do you have a large family? You think they'd
be open to helping you out with sales?
Speaker 6 (06:31):
Well, what are we talking about?
Speaker 4 (06:34):
So it's it's mostly kitchen knives, and and you know
they will last a lifetime. You really want these cool
so I mean you'll you'll purchase a starter set from us.
That's you, that's your display set. Now, everybody wants these knives.
We're gonna We're gonna give you some leads. And I
mean they're they're high quality, they're chef approved. And you know,
a lot of people I work with they make so
(06:54):
much money that they don't have to work the rest
of the school year. Which, by the way, everyone that
works for us, we call them our partners. So you
will be my partner. And it's it's a lot of
like minded, business driven individuals.
Speaker 6 (07:07):
Do I get business cards?
Speaker 5 (07:10):
You?
Speaker 4 (07:12):
I mean, it's a good way. They're not interested in knives, right, now,
but you get in the business card, you come back,
you make that sale.
Speaker 6 (07:19):
How much is a demo set?
Speaker 4 (07:21):
Yeah? So, I mean, I mean there's a little bit
of upFrom cost. I mean, you can do it without,
but you need the show set to show people what
the knives can do. And it's it's a quick thirteen
to fifty that gets you going. A lot of people
make that money back here.
Speaker 6 (07:35):
That's like little, that's not a lot of money.
Speaker 4 (07:39):
No, So it's just thirteen.
Speaker 6 (07:40):
Dollars and fifty cents is what I have to pay you.
I can sell you or demo you the thirteen dollars.
Speaker 4 (07:46):
Oh no, it's like one and fifty. It's you know, no, no,
I mean, where can you get a good set of knives?
Speaker 2 (07:53):
Do you think William would be calling us for thirteen
dollars and fifty cents?
Speaker 6 (07:56):
True?
Speaker 2 (07:56):
Right, come on, thirteen hundred and fifty dollars, you know
what I mean? And Marco thirteen fifty Marco?
Speaker 4 (08:05):
Hello, can you hear me?
Speaker 2 (08:08):
My name is Sean Hamilton. I am a private investigator
here in New York City. I've been hired by William
carp William are you there? First of all, let's identify
the voice. Is this the voice? Is this the person
that you've been doing business with?
Speaker 5 (08:22):
Yes, it is Marco.
Speaker 2 (08:24):
I'm a state licensed private investigator. Stephanie is not a student.
Stephanie works for our office. We want to know a
little bit more about you. We know exactly where you work.
We have your license plate. We know a great deal
about you. You've approached William to sell these knives, and
it turns out to be some sort of multi level
marketing scam going on. No, well, it seems like it
(08:47):
is because he was promised a number of things. Okay, okay,
whatever he can't sell him. Hey, hey, give me a minute.
This the same practically, the same knife set is on
Amazon for one hundred and fifty two hundred bucks.
Speaker 4 (09:03):
It's not the same, it's not the same brand. There's
no way.
Speaker 2 (09:06):
He also tells us it's tough to get you on
the phone.
Speaker 4 (09:08):
Now, Well, I'm busy, I mean I'm working.
Speaker 5 (09:11):
I didn't get any leads at all. I didn't get
any direction, I didn't have anywhere to go, and now
I'm out thirteen to fifty for this demo set.
Speaker 2 (09:18):
Here's the deal. We want the thirteen hundred and fifty
dollars back. Or we're going to go to everything from
the Federal Trade Commission to the New York State Department
of Consumer Protection Bureau. Tomorrow I have a meeting with
Thomas doll In, the New York City Police Commissioner, the
Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, the State Attorney General's office. Letitia James,
we have your license plate. Yeah, because we have your life.
(09:39):
What is the license plate? Tell him the license plate,
give him his license plate, Give it to him.
Speaker 5 (09:42):
Yeah, I've got it here.
Speaker 2 (09:43):
Okay, what is it. You're in a world of hurt. Okay, okay,
you know no, there's no okay. You're in a world
of hurt. Right now. You're fraudulent, you're bogused, You're running
a scam, a piece of fraud, and now we're getting
ready to turn you in.
Speaker 3 (10:00):
Marco. This is very simple to avoid a lot of
headaches and future possible litigation and criminal inquiries.
Speaker 2 (10:07):
I think you should Venmo. Him is thirteen fifty.
Speaker 4 (10:11):
So you want me to just give him money for nothing?
He gave me money for a real thing, and I'm
giving him money for nothing. I'm trying to run a business.
Speaker 2 (10:18):
What business is it? To explain your business model to us?
Explain the explain it to.
Speaker 6 (10:24):
Give this college student back as money.
Speaker 2 (10:27):
Yeah, and we'll get you the knives back.
Speaker 4 (10:29):
Okay, okay, yeah, I mean it's his loss.
Speaker 2 (10:33):
Okay, well yeah, this guy's this guy's yeah, his loss. William, Uh,
how do you, Samantha, Samantha, how do you want to
handle it?
Speaker 5 (10:40):
Now?
Speaker 3 (10:41):
Sure it's Venmo, it's Is it under your cell phone?
Speaker 2 (10:45):
William? Is it under your cell phone?
Speaker 5 (10:47):
Yeah?
Speaker 2 (10:48):
Okay, okay, I have the number. Let's do this. I
got it.
Speaker 4 (10:50):
You got the number, prob I have to veno him
right now, and just trust that he's going to send
it back when he isn't. He isn't making money so far. Yes,
it's quality. If I money, I hearde.
Speaker 2 (11:02):
Gift, I could care less about the quality. We want
our client to have his money back right now, and
we're willing to let everything go.
Speaker 3 (11:10):
We'll be waiting, Marco. Crack open that app and let's
get going.
Speaker 2 (11:14):
We're waiting right now. We're waiting right now, William. Can
you let us do it as soon as it comes through? Okay,
I will okay, all right, we're waiting, Marca. We're waiting.
Speaker 4 (11:26):
Jesus, give me a minute.
Speaker 2 (11:28):
We're not going anywhere yeah about it. Just just about
another minute.
Speaker 4 (11:34):
Okay, Samantha, what's the I just sent it.
Speaker 3 (11:38):
Okay, you'll get an alert.
Speaker 5 (11:40):
Usually it just came through. It is one.
Speaker 4 (11:46):
When do I get my knives back?
Speaker 3 (11:48):
Stay on the line.
Speaker 2 (11:48):
I'll get your address and we will ship you these nights. Exactly.
We have to, because we said it on the air
that we would and Marco, we will do it. You've
been put on warning. Actually because my name is Sean
Hollywood Hamilton, I'm a radio personality on w KTU Radio.
I'm not actually a private investigator. William was a listener
of ours who called in. We'd put him on a
feature we call Fraud Friday. And that's what you're on
(12:09):
right now.
Speaker 4 (12:10):
I mean, so you were a liar the whole time
to go, oh, I'm not a liar like you, and
you're a liar?
Speaker 2 (12:15):
Yes, exactly, yes, exactly.
Speaker 4 (12:17):
Why Yeah?
Speaker 1 (12:18):
Have you been a victim of fraud? Have you been
taken by a scam? The Hollywood Hamilton Show and the
KTU Morning crew would love to hear from you. Text
us at six nine nine three five, that is six
nine nine three five. This is Fraud Friday.