Scams, Hacks and Frauds: Protecting your family from Internet Scams, Con Artists and CybercrimeThe Real SCAMMER of Salt Lake City (Jennifer Shah)
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They called her a Real Housewife of Salt Lake City. She called herself the Wizard of Oz. But from 2023 to 2025, they called her an inmate.
This week on Scams, Hacks and Frauds, we tell the true story of Jen Shah, the RHOSLC star who spent nearly a decade at the centre of a nationwide telemarketing fraud. The scheme targeted thousands of victims, many of them over 55, with worthless "business coaching" and online business services. Jennifer Shah pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud and was sentenced to 78 months in federal prison.
In this episode:
How the scam worked: lead lists, cold calls and "we noticed your website"
Trisha's story: how a $12,000 purchase turned into $47,000, half her retirement savings
Becky White, deleted messages and moving operations to Kosovo and Cyprus
The arrest during filming for the Real Housewives of Salt Lake City
Her guilty plea in her own words, and what she said in her 2026 People interview
Why once you fall for one scam, the scammers keep coming back
Plus: how to screen unexpected calls, and why real business advice never comes from a stranger who "found your website."
Everything in this episode comes from US Department of Justice press releases, court filings and reporting from the courtroom. You'll find the full sources and transcript at www.scamshacksandfrauds.com.
If you've been the victim of fraud: in the US, report it to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov. In the UK, contact Action Fraud.
We (usually) publish new content every other Monday. The short time our episodes save your wallet, and help protect your family.
If you like shows like "The Perfect Scam" or "Darknet Diaries" then this show might be for you.
On our website you’ll find more computer hacking, identity fraud, impersonation, consumer rights and Romance Scams. To find these and to access our transcripts, visit us at www.scamshacksandfrauds.com.
The transcript and spoken audio are available under the Creative Commons, Share Alike, With Attributions license. For more information on this visit creativecommons.org.