November 4, 2019

EP. 6 — The Ukrainan Adoption Switcheroo with Jacquis Neal

How we living, Con-gregation? Welcome back to Scam Goddess, the #1 pod dedicated to all things fraud! This week Laci chops it up with actor, comedian, & podcaster Jacquis Neal (Culture Kings, UCB). Together they discuss the curious case of the family who adopted a 9 year old Ukrianian orphan who might have secretly been a 22 year old adult.

Research Assistant: Sharilyn Vera

Sources:

https://www.thecut.com/2019/10/kristina-barnett-adopted-child-real-life-orphan.html [thecut.com]

https://www.elle.com/culture/celebrities/a29205646/kristine-barnett-natalia-grace-adoption/ [elle.com]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qMDBTcYo-ho

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-7479061/Mom-claims-Ukrainian-daughter-9-adopted-really-22-year-old-dwarfism.html [dailymail.co.uk]

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-7512143/Adoptive-parents-Ukrainian-girl-dwarfism-appear-court.html [dailymail.co.uk]

https://nypost.com/2019/09/23/couple-claims-their-abandoned-child-is-actually-a-scam-artist-with-dwarfism/ [nypost.com]

https://www.wishtv.com/news/crime-watch-8/parents-accused-of-abandoning-adopted-child-in-apartment-mom-says-its-a-scam/ [wishtv.com]

https://www.insider.com/ukrainian-orphan-natalia-barnett-new-family-report-2019-9 [insider.com]

https://www.oxygen.com/crime-time/michael-kristine-barnett-plead-not-guilty-in-ukranian-dwarf-adoption-case [oxygen.com]

https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/clarissajanlim/natalia-grace-ukranian-adoption-orphan [buzzfeednews.com]

This episode is brought to you by Dashlane (www.dashlane.com/scam code: SCAM).

Recent Episodes

See All

October 31, 2024

Miles Gray (The Daily Zeitgeist) joins the Con-gregation to break down the greatest schemer in modern love, conman Simon Leviev who used Tinder to connect with women and manipulate them into supporting his lavish lifestyle.

October 28, 2024

In the first part of our 5-year Scamaversary countdown we covered Shaun King, Anna Delvey, George Santos, Colton Harris Moore, & Caroline Calloway. In this thrilling conclusion, all-star guest Oscar Montoya helps us rank #5 through #1 on our list.

October 24, 2024

Jojo T. Gibbs (Past Lives, BET’s Twenties) sits down with Laci to unpack the Varsity Blues college admissions scandal that involved actors Felicity Huffman and Lori Loughlin.