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Carlos Barragan Shows Us Why Online Scams Work

June 18, 2026 · 38 min

Show notes

Carlos Barragan’s book The Yahoo Boys schooled us on the huge and terrifying world of online moneymaking scams. From the romance scams (pretending to be a man or woman you are not, wooing others into sending you money), to celeb scams (pretending to be a celebrity for money), all the way to adoption scams (send us money, we will get you a baby). As horrible as these schemes are, Barragan takes an in depth look at the scammers, specifically in the community of Ikotun, Nigeria, painting a thorough portrait of the scammers and the loneliness in our world that allows them to thrive.

Find books mentioned on The Book Case: ⁠https://www.goodmorningamerica.com/shop/story/book-case-podcast-reading-list-118433302 Books mentioned on this week's episode:

The Yahoo Boys: Love, Deception and the Real Lives of Nigeria’s Romance Scammers by Carlos Barragan


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