The Perfect Scam

Fraud is a billion-dollar industry affecting people of all ages, across all walks of life. Transnational criminal enterprises target individual consumers every day with growing sophistication. In the fight against fraud, knowledge is the ultimate power. That is why AARP is dedicated to the mission of equipping consumers with the very latest fraud prevention resources. The Perfect Scam, a project of AARP’s Fraud Watch Network, is a weekly podcast hosted by award-winning journalist Bob Sullivan and was created with this mission in mind. The podcast seeks to increase awareness of all types of fraud across all demographics, including AARP members and nonmembers; increase the reach of the Fraud Watch Network’s resources; and arm listeners with the knowledge to protect themselves against scams.

Harnessing the popularity of true-crime stories, The Perfect Scam podcast combines compelling storytelling with information consumers need to know. Each week, host Bob Sullivan introduces listeners to real people who have experienced scams firsthand, as well as professional con artists and leading experts who pull back the curtain on how scammers operate. Experts include members of law enforcement who are working to fight fraud, as well as scholars in fields as varied as finance, psychology and technology. The weekly format allows for the most up-to-date information and advice to reach our listeners. By showcasing many different types of scams in The Perfect Scam podcast, AARP is helping raise listeners’ awareness of new and ongoing forms of fraud.

With millions of downloads since launching in 2018, The Perfect Scam podcast reaches a wide audience of listeners, across demographics. The podcast has clearly resonated with our loyal fan base of AARP members and nonmembers alike. The podcast continues to drive traffic to the Fraud Watch Network Helpline and AARP’s fraud prevention resources. The Perfect Scam equips listeners with reliable, up-to-date information and fraud prevention resources to help them spot and avoid scams and protect loved ones. When a person knows about a specific scam, they are 80 percent less likely to engage with a scammer when they encounter it in their own lives.