Scam Goddess: Lessons from a Life of Cons, Grifts, and Schemes by Laci Mosley – 5⭐

Everyone knows America was built on scams. We became an economic powerhouse providing two-thirds of the world’s cotton by scamming (enslaving) my ancestors. And the same old white dudes who set that up got together and made up all these laws. Why couldn’t I have been there to put in my two cents? Seems unfair. I was class president! I love planning! Why didn’t all y’all white dudes tag me in?

I’ve been a big Laci Mosely fan since 2021, and it’s been really cool seeing her go from strength to strength! I’d been saving this book for a month where I needed a quick and fun read, February was all kinds of crazy and I didn’t get to my non-fiction book until late in the month, so it was time for Laci to be on deck. It will be a super light and breezy I thought, and look, it mostly was, but Laci also got super deep, and shared parts of her life that I was not expecting.

Each chapter of this book starts with Laci telling us about a particular scam artist, all of whom have been featured on her podcast, Scam Goddess, and TV show. She then uses those stories as a launching off point to tell us stories about her life from her childhood up to current day.

With Laci’s star continuing to rise, it’s no surprise that a lot of the later chapters focus on the scam of Hollywood, she is incredibly forthright, and doesn’t cover up the fact that she herself has almost fallen for some of the current Hollywood scams. She gives a very transparent account of her almost falling for Ozempic hype, and she does it in a really non-judgmental way. It seems to be almost impossible to live in that environment and not fall for at least some of the craziness.

What was surprising was how open she was about her being a victim of that most common of scams, the relationship scam. Laci comes across as incredibly savvy and you would think she isn’t a bit like us mere mortals who have fallen for this age old scam. What Laci also is, is a chronic people pleaser, and that definitely had a role to play in her falling for the abusive piece of shit was unfortunate enough to be in a relationship with. Her retelling of that story could not have been easy, and her sharing it, so that it may help people who are currently going through something similar, what incredibly brave. The role that female friendship played in her ending that relationship was particularly powerful. I’m so glad she has the support that she does, I would hate to think where she’d be now without those people in her life. I hope that man never finds happiness!! I hate him.

As for Laci, I can’t wait to see her continue to shine bright. I hope we get lots more of the Scam Goddess podcast and TV show (and those amazing outfits), and more Going Dutch, which is filmed here in Ireland, and means she spends a good chunk of time on our little island. I would never EVER want to meet her (meeting famous people is not a thing I ever want) but she does talk very highly of Ireland, and goes to the gym in my favourite spa, and that’s cool!