Solar Scams, Pig Butchers

In this fast-moving, fraud-fighting episode of Talking Real Money, Tom Cock is joined by longtime consumer advocate Herb Weisbaum (aka The ConsumerMan) to expose two of the fastest-growing scams in the U.S.: predatory solar sales and the “pig butchering” crypto scam. Herb details the dangerous combination of shady sales reps and shadowy financing pushing overpriced, underperforming solar systems door-to-door. Then, the duo dives into long-con crypto scams, deepfake romance cons, and the weaponization of AI for fraud. Herb doesn’t hold back—calling crypto “sheer stupidity” and buy-now-pay-later schemes a gateway to regret. It’s a wild, enlightening ride full of practical advice and a few laughs at the crooks’ expense.

0:44 The ConsumerMan joins the show—cape at the dry cleaner, fraud cape that is

1:30 Solar sales scams: door-to-door hustlers + shady financiers

2:37 Solar “deals” that aren’t: pressure sales, fake savings, buried contract terms

5:35 Solar installations gone wrong—and sometimes never installed at all

6:55 Why good contractors don’t knock on doors

8:20 Know the difference between credits and cash—solar isn’t “free”

9:26 Pig butchering crypto scams explained

10:40 Fake trading platforms that “show” fake returns

11:50 AI-powered fraud: deepfake voices, faces, and video chats

13:26 Romance scams that clean people out—millions lost

14:15 Don’t respond to unsolicited texts or calls—ever

15:11 Former SEC officials: crypto exists for crime and tax evasion

16:44 Crypto isn’t investment—it’s gambling with digital vapor

17:25 Insurance crisis: companies fleeing, premiums surging

18:41 Regulators letting insurers raise rates without scrutiny

19:29 Consumer quiz: what to do first if you’re scammed

21:18 Why you should never pay with Zelle or a debit card

22:30 Getting teens a credit card the right way

23:43 Coming soon: Buy Now, Pay Later scams (Costco’s in now too)

24:48 Where to find Herb’s work—Checkbook, Consumerpedia, and ConsumerMan
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