FAKD: Scams, Frauds, Internet Cons

Kim Kardashian's SKIMS is facing backlash over a $148 advent calendar filled with hair ties, bobby pins, keychains, and other inexpensive-looking accessories. But is it actually a scam, or just clever marketing?In this episode of FAKD, we break down what's inside the controversial SKIMS advent calendar, what the contents might actually be worth, and why people are willing to pay luxury prices for everyday items. We also revisit Chanel's infamous $825 advent calendar, explore the surprising history of this Christmas tradition, and uncover the marketing psychology behind mystery boxes, inflated retail values, and holiday hype.Are advent calendars genuinely good deals, or have they become one of the holiday season's biggest marketing gimmicks?

This week on FAKD, we're diving into five wild fraud cases making headlines. Scammers allegedly used AI to impersonate CEOs in a $129 million scheme, a massive bank fraud investigation uncovered accounts holding $373 million, and a counterfeit cash operation unraveled over just $36.15 in change.Plus, a fake loan broker accused of stealing $5 million and a $1.1 million scheme targeting rental assistance funds meant to help struggling families.Five stories, millions of dollars, and some unbelievable ways people allegedly tried to beat the system.

How much of the history you see online is actually true?This week on FAKD, we're joined by archaeologist and content creator Solomonisms to expose the wild world of FAKE archaeology, pseudoarchaeologists, and the viral historical claims misleading millions online.We explore how misinformation about ancient civilizations and archaeological discoveries spreads, why people are so quick to believe extraordinary claims, and how real archaeologists separate legitimate discoveries from outright fiction.From questionable artifacts and ancient conspiracy theories to historical hoaxes, lost civilizations, and the rise of self-proclaimed experts on social media, we dig into the people and stories rewriting history without the evidence to back it up.Plus, we discuss real archaeological discoveries that sound too unbelievable to be true, the mysteries historians are still trying to solve, and how to recognize fake history before falling for it.Follow our guest: @solomonismsFAKD — Exposing the fake, one story at a time.

This week on FAKD with Joseph Rowan, we're breaking down five unbelievable stories involving international fraud, retail deception, fake government websites, romance scams, and a bizarre piece of royal history.YouTubers help expose a $65 million scam operation targeting elderly Americans, while Dollar General faces a federal lawsuit over allegations of overcharging customers at checkout.Plus, the FTC takes action against websites accused of impersonating government passport services, twin brothers from Ghana plead guilty in a $9 million international romance scam, and a bizarre breast-shaped porcelain bowl commissioned for Marie Antoinette resurfaces after more than 200 years.From fake government websites and online romance fraud to royal myths and missing artifacts, these stories prove that reality is often stranger than fiction.Stay informed, stay skeptical, and don't get FAKD.

What if the people running a rehab center made more money by keeping their patients addicted?This week on FAKD with Joseph Rowan, we're diving into one of the most disturbing healthcare fraud cases of 2026.Federal prosecutors have charged a father and son in an alleged $1.6 billion addiction treatment fraud scheme involving dozens of rehabilitation facilities.According to investigators, vulnerable patients were recruited with free flights, housing, cash, and even drugs. Some were allegedly encouraged to continue using substances to qualify for additional treatment, while others were reportedly prevented from leaving.Meanwhile, insurance companies were billed more than $1.6 billion for treatment that prosecutors allege was frequently fraudulent or medically unnecessary.We break down how the operation allegedly worked, who was involved, where the money went, and the federal charges the defendants now face.The most disturbing part isn't the money. It's what allegedly happened to the people who came looking for help.Stay informed, stay skeptical, and don't get FAKD.

This week on FAKD with Joseph Rowan, we're breaking down five unbelievable stories involving counterfeit shipping labels, forged artwork, stolen military identities, a massive investment fraud, and a 1,600-year-old mystery.A man is arrested after allegedly selling more than 5 million counterfeit USPS shipping labels, causing an estimated $126 million in losses. A Miami art dealer is sentenced to prison for selling fake Andy Warhol paintings, complete with forged authentication documents.Plus, an international identity-theft operation targets American military personnel and veterans, the former CEO of 777 Partners pleads guilty in a $500 million fraud scheme connected to professional soccer investments, and researchers at Westminster Abbey uncover the surprising truth about a Roman coffin reused centuries later.From fake postage and fake paintings to fraudulent investments and ancient mysteries, we're exploring the stories that prove appearances can be deceiving.Stay informed, stay skeptical, and don't get FAKD.

Does vitamin C actually prevent you from getting sick, or have we been sold one of the biggest myths in the supplement industry?In this episode of FAKD, we uncover how two-time Nobel Prize winner Linus Pauling helped popularize high-dose vitamin C, why products like Emergen-C and Airborne became household names, and the truth behind a $30 million supplement advertising settlement.We also break down the science behind vitamin C, zinc, vitamin D, and other immunity boosters to find out what actually works, what's overhyped, and whether you can really boost your immune system.Are we protecting our health, or just buying into clever marketing?

This week on FAKD with Joseph Rowan, we're diving into five bizarre stories involving corporate surveillance, online scams, fake investments, international fraud, and ancient mysteries.An OpenAI engineer is arrested after investigators discover a hidden recording device inside an executive meeting room, with one particularly ridiculous detail.A company promising to protect sextortion victims is accused of collecting $60 million through deceptive practices. A Washington pastor allegedly convinces church members to invest $13 million into a supposedly billion-dollar tech company.Plus, North Korean operatives allegedly use fake identities to land jobs at more than 70 American companies, and archaeologists uncover 3,400-year-old tablets revealing an ancient epidemic and a royal tragedy.Five stories that prove reality can be stranger than fiction.Stay informed, stay skeptical, and don't get FAKD.

How do we know the Holocaust happened, why do people still deny it, and what does the historical evidence actually tell us?In this episode of FAKD with Joseph Rowan, we're joined by Jonathan Buchwalter, a Holocaust history expert, educator, and content creator known on TikTok as @jonstertruck, where he breaks down historical misinformation and challenges Holocaust denial.We explore the history of Nazi Germany, the events leading up to World War II, the overwhelming evidence documenting the Holocaust, and some of the lesser-known stories from one of history's darkest chapters.We also discuss why Holocaust denial persists, how historical misinformation spreads online, and why understanding the past matters today.Books Mentioned:- KL: A History of the Nazi Concentration Camps — Nikolaus Wachsmann- The Third Reich Trilogy — Richard J. Evans- The Night Sky Trilogy — Jonathan BuchwalterFollow Our Guest:TikTok: @jonstertruckFollow FAKD with Joseph Rowan for deep dives into scams, deception, counterfeits, historical mysteries, and the stories that challenge what we think we know.

This week on FAKD, we're diving into five bizarre stories involving fake jobs, AI-generated music, stolen checks, Medicaid fraud, and an unusual ancient Inca ritual.First, an international money-laundering operation recruited more than 15,000 Americans through what appeared to be legitimate jobs. Instead, they were unknowingly helping criminals move millions of dollars stolen from bank accounts.Then, a man made over $8 million in fraudulent music royalties by generating hundreds of thousands of AI songs and using thousands of bots to stream them billions of times.We also break down a massive mail-theft operation involving more than 2,600 stolen checks and $55 million in intended losses, plus a Minnesota housing assistance company whose owner was convicted of billing Medicaid for services that weren't actually provided—including employees supposedly working more than 20 hours a day.And for this week's odd-history story, archaeologists discovered coca leaves hidden in the fur of sacrificed Inca llamas, revealing fascinating details about ancient religious ceremonies.Five stories involving fake jobs, fake listeners, stolen identities, government fraud, and ancient rituals.Stay informed, stay skeptical, and don't get FAKD.