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Comisar later used the alias Brett Champion and promoted himself as a [[fraud prevention]] expert and consultant. He used this name on ”[[Dateline NBC]]”,{{r|Metropolitan News-Enterprise Online 2006}}{{r|Main Justice 2010}} ”[[The View (U.S. TV series)|The View]]”, ”[[Sally (1983 TV series)|Sally]]”, ”[[Leeza]]”, ”[[Crook & Chase]]”, and in other television appearances. He also wrote the book ”America’s Guide to Fraud Prevention” under this name.{{r|Main Justice 2010}}{{r| Independent Newspapers Online}}{{r|articles.latimes.com 11-1999}} Comisar is now legally prohibited from using this alias, and from referring to himself as a consumer fraud expert. His book is considered a “piece of fraud history” by the [[Association of Certified Fraud Examiners]], and is on display in their fraud museum.{{r|acfeinsights}}{{r|accountingtoday}} |
Comisar later used the alias Brett Champion and promoted himself as a [[fraud prevention]] expert and consultant. He used this name on ”[[Dateline NBC]]”,{{r|Metropolitan News-Enterprise Online 2006}}{{r|Main Justice 2010}} ”[[The View (U.S. TV series)|The View]]”, ”[[Sally (1983 TV series)|Sally]]”, ”[[Leeza]]”, ”[[Crook & Chase]]”, and in other television appearances. He also wrote the book ”America’s Guide to Fraud Prevention” under this name.{{r|Main Justice 2010}}{{r| Independent Newspapers Online}}{{r|articles.latimes.com 11-1999}} Comisar is now legally prohibited from using this alias, and from referring to himself as a consumer fraud expert. His book is considered a “piece of fraud history” by the [[Association of Certified Fraud Examiners]], and is on display in their fraud museum.{{r|acfeinsights}}{{r|accountingtoday}} |
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In 2018, he was released from prison and began a podcast titled ”Scam Junkie”. |
In 2018, he was released from prison and began a podcast titled ”Scam Junkie”.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-09-11 |title=Scam Junkie Tops the Charts as Best Podcast on Spotify |url=https://apnews.com/press-release/ein-presswire-newsmatics/crime-fraud-corporate-crime-3e1f9b841859307f23e7ee777aecbad7 |access-date=2025-11-17 |website=AP News |language=en}}</ref> |
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==Filmography== |
==Filmography== |
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Latest revision as of 17:22, 28 November 2025
American con man
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Steve Comisar |
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|---|---|
 Comisar in 2020 |
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| Born |
Steven Robert Comisar (1961-12-30) December 30, 1961 |
| Other names | Brett Champion |
| Occupation | Con man |
Steven Robert Comisar (born December 30, 1961) is an American con man, book author, and podcaster.[1] He has been convicted of fraud and extortion multiple times.[2] He used confidence tricks and other techniques to fool his victims. Comisar was in federal prison, and was released on April 27, 2018.[3]
Career
Comisar grew up in Beverly Hills, California. As a young man he sold a “solar powered clothes dryer” in national magazines for $49.95. Buyers received a length of clothesline.[4] He also pursued an acting career and was cast in several motion pictures including Tough Luck starring Armand Assante and Norman Reedus.[5]
He has been arrested and convicted of numerous crimes.[3][6][7] He was convicted of a variety of frauds in 1983, 1990, 1994 and 1999. All these trials took place in Federal court in Los Angeles.[8] In 1999, he was arrested for swindling investors in a fake television quiz show involving Joe Namath. He was sentenced to thirty-three months in jail.[6]
Comisar later used the alias Brett Champion and promoted himself as a fraud prevention expert and consultant. He used this name on Dateline NBC,[2][9] The View, Sally, Leeza, Crook & Chase, and in other television appearances. He also wrote the book America’s Guide to Fraud Prevention under this name.[9][10][11] Comisar is now legally prohibited from using this alias, and from referring to himself as a consumer fraud expert. His book is considered a “piece of fraud history” by the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners, and is on display in their fraud museum.[12][13]
In 2018, he was released from prison and began a podcast titled Scam Junkie.[14]
Filmography
| Year | Title | Role | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2003 | Tough Luck | Stan | [15] |
References
- ^ “Scam Junkie Podcast Renewed For Third Season on Spotify”. Yahoo Finance Online. July 31, 2025. Retrieved November 23, 2025.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ a b “Prisoner Admits Trying to Extort Money From Two Local Lawyers”. Metropolitan News-Enterprise Online. November 20, 2008. Archived from the original on November 20, 2008. Retrieved February 11, 2018.
- ^ a b “Federal Bureau of Prisons”. Bop.gov. Retrieved May 25, 2011.
- ^ Sandbeck, E. (2007). Organic Housekeeping: In Which the Non-Toxic Avenger Shows You How to Improve Your Health and That of Your Family, While You Save Time, Money, and, Perhaps, Your Sanity. Scribner. p. 221. ISBN 978-1-4165-9570-0. Retrieved February 11, 2018.
Awhile back the brilliant scam artist, Steve Comisar, cleverly exploited the efficiency of line drying laundry by advertising a “Solar Powered Clothes Dryer” for only $49.95. When the suckers, er, customers, opened the eagerly awaited packages, they discovered that the “Scientifically proven, space-age clothes dryer” was a piece of clothesline. I’m sure quite a few of them were amused. The equipment necessary for line drying clothes is usually inexpensive, …
- ^ “The Creep with the Golden Tongue” (PDF). sabrinaerdely.com. August 2003. Retrieved November 28, 2025.
- ^ a b “Purported ‘Former’ Con Man Is Sentenced Anew – Los Angeles Times”. Los Angeles Times. December 7, 1999. Archived from the original on January 7, 2009. Retrieved February 11, 2018.
- ^ “Release No. 07-066 Career Con Man Sentenced To Five Years For Attempting To Extort Money From Attorney Representing Murderer”. justice.gov (Press release). May 15, 2007. Archived from the original on May 19, 2008. Retrieved February 11, 2018.
- ^ Rosenzweig, David (December 24, 2002). “‘Former’ Con Artist Accused of Bilking 84-Year-Old Man”. Los Angeles Times. Retrieved February 9, 2018.
- ^ a b “Schwarzenegger Names Federal Prosecutor To Court”. Main Justice. July 2, 2010. Archived from the original on November 21, 2010. Retrieved February 11, 2018.
- ^ Independent Newspapers Online (July 24, 1999). “The man who can’t stop conning”. Independent Online. Retrieved May 25, 2011.
- ^ “Author of Consumer Fraud Guide Arrested”. Los Angeles Times. November 7, 1999. Retrieved May 25, 2011.
- ^ Barry Minkow Added to the List of Repeat Offenders Archived June 24, 2011, at the Wayback Machine, from Association of Certified Fraud Examiners, Scott Patterson, ACFE Media Relations Specialist
- ^ “ACFE’s Fraud Museum”. Accounting Today. June 29, 2012. Retrieved March 4, 2014.
- ^ “Scam Junkie Tops the Charts as Best Podcast on Spotify”. AP News. September 11, 2023. Retrieved November 17, 2025.
- ^ https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/tough-luck2003
