This alumna is protecting people from cons, one podcast episode at a time

Kingdoms built on duplicity. A $53 million embezzlement from President Ronald Reagan’s hometown. Masters of manipulation. Welcome to Laci Mosley’s world.

Before the actor and comedian became known for TV roles like the “iCarly” reboot and “A Black Lady Sketch Show,” she was first the creator and host of “Scam Goddess,” an award-winning podcast that examines notable scams through a comedic lens.

“It’s a true con, not crime, podcast where we discuss the latest grifts, schemes and scams,” said Mosley (A&S ’12). From Anna Delvey to the Tinder Swindler, “you name it, we probably covered it.”

At its core, the project is about protecting people against scams, which can happen to anyone, regardless of age, education, IQ or income. In 2023, more than $10 billion was reported as being lost to fraud by consumers.

“The thing that always warms my heart is when people email me to share, ‘I listened to this episode and warned my mom about this scam, so she didn’t fall for it.’ Or ‘I almost fell for this but remembered what you said.’ We share information that helps, and that’s amazing.”

Though her storytelling focuses on the stories and perspectives of real scammers — or as she calls them, members of the “con-gregation” — Mosley also recognizes the devastating aftermath for victims.

“Never, at any point, have I made fun of victims,” she said. “It’s a traumatic experience. But I do make fun of scammers. I think they're very unserious people.”

Hence, her use of comedic relief. “I like making people laugh. When it happens, I think two people are agreeing something is true, and it always leads to such great connections” and greater understanding, she said.

“When you sit down with people, you start to realize how close these scams are to our doors and how people can make something so outlandish in a headline seem believable in the day-to-day,” she said. “‘Scam Goddess’ is all about context, erasing shame, sharing information and having a good laugh when appropriate. And very fun outfits. But know you’re not a fool if you fall for a scam.”

Mosley shares that message with close to 1 million monthly listens through her podcast, which also planted the seeds for the TV series and memoir of the same name. The consistency keeps Mosley’s brand strong, a lesson she attributes to Robert S. Atkin, clinical professor emeritus of business administration.

“Atkin was a brilliant man and taught us to hustle and think outside of the box,” she said. “I never realized how useful that degree would be but I learned so much that has helped me propel my career and show.”

Mosley was aware of her onscreen ambitions from age 5 and had long prepared her parents and herself for a “broke, starving actor” era. But it was at Pitt that the Texas native began cultivating her comedy career.

At Pitt, Mosley discovered stages and opportunities to hone her craft. In Pitt Stages shows like “Sweeney Todd,” she built endurance performing seven or eight shows each week. She also worked at the August Wilson Center and, through a Pitt study abroad program, at the Camden People’s Theater in London. “I was also a Pitt Pathfinder, so I found ways to do stand-up on the bus tours. They should have never given me a microphone,” she laughed.  

She was also active in the Black Action Society, modeling in fashion shows and producing events that offered “me such a sense of entrepreneurship and freedom to create, build and take an idea from incubation to reality.”

On Mosley’s journey of leaving the world “a little bit better than how I find it,” she wants to encourage people to do two things:

One, be cautious.

“I always say that there is bait out there for everyone, because we all have needs, and when you have needs, there’s always someone willing to exploit those needs. I just pray you don’t meet your fishermen. You don’t have to be paranoid, but you can take on skill to ensure you don’t look like a mark.”

Two, scam only for good.

“You can scam in a positive way. I call it being a competent artist,” she said. “Yes, there are people who defraud and do bad things, but I take from them the confidence to walk into any room without any credentials or skills and act like they belong there. As someone with the skills, I will act like I belong there too, even if people assume or believe that’s not the case.”

Photography courtesy of Johnny Marlow