I'm not sure if it was the intention of the director or not, but by allowing Scott Tucker and his family to talk extensively about the financial and emotional problems from their new financial woes and how it affected them it perfectly showed how totally in denial a person can be about how their own actions affects other people. All their hardships he goes on and on about are almost EXACTLY the same as the hardships HE CAUSED TO 1.5 million people with his predatory lending practices. His brother committed suicide and that's tragic, but I guarantee the crushing stress he caused millions of people led to plenty of self harm and suicides. Crushing debt is a big contributing factor in suicide. It's tragic all around but that's not surprising ... savage selfishness usually leads to tragedy all around.
The fact that Scott Tucker goes on and on about his problems without any self awareness of the same misery he caused to millions of Americans is a perfect case study of the denial a person can have about their own behaviour when they focus on what others are "unjustly" doing to them despite the same massive financial misery he was spewing out on others for years.
It's kinda depressing but very interesting at the same time. Anyways, I thought it was definitely worth watching.
22 Reviews
F U Scott Tucker
korrayabousquet16 July 2019
Warning: Spoilers
It was great to see Scott Tucker crying about his "hardships", as if he didn't cause much higher strife for so many working day Americans. I agree seeing more of the victims would've been better but at the same time you get to see just how arrogant him, his attorney, and his wife are. When the attorney said that with the financial implications of the federal lawsuit would mean a life sentence for them, all I thought was, "great! You deserve to suffer every second for every person you screwed over! I'm so glad they were convicted. I just wish it was a longer sentence.
America, land of the for sale and home of the greedy.
LnineB11 June 2018
Warning: Spoilers
This is an excellent episode within an already great documentary series. Scott Tucker and his brother started a business lending money to poor people ,who normally couldn't get loans. These payday loans have 300 to 600 percent interest as shown on one of the real documents and later is found to be illegal and predatory. Let's stop right here for a second, and forget that I said illegal and predatory. The biggest and clearest sign that these people are living in an alternate reality is their idea that what they did is normal. It is mentioned in this documentary that Scott Tucker was an intelligent and clever business man. On the surface, he looks like a go getter, a person who sees what he wants and accomplishes that goal. With that said, him and his brother's goal was not banking, contracting, law, real estate or any of the multidue of careers that usually intellengent people pick. They pick the payday loan businesses . Who sits around and says "hey that's what I want to do with my life, lend people money at mobster interest rates and on the top of that charge origination fees monthly. " " oh, and let's get native Americans involved ,even though we aren't native americans, just so we can avoid state regulations". Let me tell who would say that. Someone who is only looking at profits. Someone who can care less what they do and how they do it as long as they experience the riches from it.
Now, the payday loan part isn't really why they were indicted. Many people get payday loans knowing that they will be paying high interest rates. Many do not want to do it, but they have to. It's bad enough that they are forced to go to such measures just to survive. It just makes it even worse that a company would pretend like they are debiting your account for payments but are actually debiting renewal fees every month when you don't pay the loan off in full. After paying enough fees that are almost the amount of the loan, they then finally start debiting the loan amount. Then they were practicing in states that didn't even allow payday loans. That was the part that was illegal. They did this until they built up a 2 billion dollar company, so much so that Scott could fund a race team. Not one time did they sit down and ask themselves if this was ethically right at minimum much less legal? Not once????
Even on the documentary everyone around him fails to see that they did anything illegal but more importantly, not a single person around him mentions a single customer and how all of this affected them. It's as if they don't care or don't realize the turmoil they caused. Like I said , they all were living in an alternative reality.
Now, the payday loan part isn't really why they were indicted. Many people get payday loans knowing that they will be paying high interest rates. Many do not want to do it, but they have to. It's bad enough that they are forced to go to such measures just to survive. It just makes it even worse that a company would pretend like they are debiting your account for payments but are actually debiting renewal fees every month when you don't pay the loan off in full. After paying enough fees that are almost the amount of the loan, they then finally start debiting the loan amount. Then they were practicing in states that didn't even allow payday loans. That was the part that was illegal. They did this until they built up a 2 billion dollar company, so much so that Scott could fund a race team. Not one time did they sit down and ask themselves if this was ethically right at minimum much less legal? Not once????
Even on the documentary everyone around him fails to see that they did anything illegal but more importantly, not a single person around him mentions a single customer and how all of this affected them. It's as if they don't care or don't realize the turmoil they caused. Like I said , they all were living in an alternative reality.
Zero remorse
resitan27 November 2019
It's fascinating that Scott Tucker has zero remorse. His feeling of entitlement has no end. His wife echos his sentiments. They are entirely focused on themselves. Completely self-centered. They actually have the nerve to complain about the inconvenience. His partner, complains that "his little girls were getting ready for school." Wow, he even uses the phrasing that they are "little girls" to invoke more sympathy because little girls are a symbol of innocence. If they were not shown by the police how terrible their parents are, they probably would have grown up to be like the parents -- caring zero about other people and entirely self-centered. Felons should not have custody of their children. What about the millions of little girls and boys who's parents were screwed over by their business? They probably had to forgo dinner at least a few nights because of this scheme. Yet the Tuckers complain that their child" saw an armed police man." Our government needs to punish these white collar criminals more often, because as it is they just continue to have children who become sociopaths just like their parents. We cannot reward sociopathy by letting white collar criminals get away with their crimes. It's truly unreal how these people -- Kim and Scott and the other self righteous sociopath -- have no remorse for their actions. I can't believe this man is allowed to cuddle his child like it is shown in the film. How is he not locked up? Their nerve just goes on and on. They are truly demented people.
It's good that the documentary allowed them to talk -- it showcases what these kinds of people are like. They never apologize. They continue to blame others. They take no responsibility. They do not care about others. The people in their lives - their children - say they support them because they have been manipulated by their constant lies. These sociopaths are the people who are running most businesses, schools, courthouses, hospitals. These are the people hiring and firing and calling the shots. We need to end the domination and procreation of sociopaths by enforcing the law. People need to see examples of these people - how they talk, how they demand sympathy - through their endless justifications and unfounded belief in themselves.
It's good that the documentary allowed them to talk -- it showcases what these kinds of people are like. They never apologize. They continue to blame others. They take no responsibility. They do not care about others. The people in their lives - their children - say they support them because they have been manipulated by their constant lies. These sociopaths are the people who are running most businesses, schools, courthouses, hospitals. These are the people hiring and firing and calling the shots. We need to end the domination and procreation of sociopaths by enforcing the law. People need to see examples of these people - how they talk, how they demand sympathy - through their endless justifications and unfounded belief in themselves.
Hoist by his own petard!
johnfpfallon9 February 2020
Insightful
GarethPeterW11 June 2019
Warning: Spoilers
As other reviews have touched on, the storytelling could have been a little better. More time spent towards telling the stories of Tucker's victims would have gone a long way. That being said, I still choose to rate this episode eight stars as, for its running time, it packs a good amount of information, and I don't feel that the documentary is particularly biased.
Any programme which includes a loan shark crying is a pretty good one in my opinion. Whilst I thoroughly despise Scott Tucker, I appreciate the insight into his point of view and, altogether, I enjoyed my viewing experience.
Any programme which includes a loan shark crying is a pretty good one in my opinion. Whilst I thoroughly despise Scott Tucker, I appreciate the insight into his point of view and, altogether, I enjoyed my viewing experience.
No remorse
cymylog20 October 2021
Warning: Spoilers
Scott tucker at his entire family during this episode showed no remorse what so ever. His wife still lives in a big posh house and things they are being done wrong. And the worst offender was the attorney, he definitely deserves to be in jail. I also believe that the tribe leader knew exactly what was going on and he also shows no remorse it was just a money-making machine for him.
Tucker cried all the way to PRISON!
The_Boxing_Cat29 August 2019
Warning: Spoilers
Shady businessman, Tucker talks about the government applying relentless pressure on his brother and that's why he killed himself. HIS COMPANY did the exact same thing to the people who were taken in by their predatory lending practices. What goes around comes around.
His brother killed himself because of the guilt, knowing that he profited by taking advantage of other people's struggles.
The red neck driver trainer said that it was the government who is responsible for taking a life.
The Indian tribe was nothing more but one of Tucker's pawns
He takes credit for being a great businessman, but when incriminating documents come to light- he knows nothing about them.
They wanted special treatment, but the FBI treated them just like any other common criminal. Ha ha He should have gotten more prison time for sure.
The red neck driver trainer said that it was the government who is responsible for taking a life.
The Indian tribe was nothing more but one of Tucker's pawns
He takes credit for being a great businessman, but when incriminating documents come to light- he knows nothing about them.
They wanted special treatment, but the FBI treated them just like any other common criminal. Ha ha He should have gotten more prison time for sure.
Its rare to get a first hand account from the Fraudster
jason-knox1 November 2021
Warning: Spoilers
This documentary does not take a lot of time explaining whether usery is moral. A small amount of time is taken to detail the pain inflicted upon millions of people.
It is clear from this documentary that Scott Tucker is a borderline psychpath. He is unrepentant. Has zero empathy for his victims.
The only thing he seems to be sorry about is that federal law can override indian sovreignty, the loss of his cars, and his friend.
I beleive it is one of the few cases where a white collar criminal gets an appropriate sentence but that is probably because the government denied him the funds he stole to get great legal talent.
It is clear from this documentary that Scott Tucker is a borderline psychpath. He is unrepentant. Has zero empathy for his victims.
The only thing he seems to be sorry about is that federal law can override indian sovreignty, the loss of his cars, and his friend.
I beleive it is one of the few cases where a white collar criminal gets an appropriate sentence but that is probably because the government denied him the funds he stole to get great legal talent.
Portrait of a sociopath
NORDIC-214 August 2019
Warning: Spoilers
Scott Tucker is an extremely loathsome specimen. As this episode of 'Dirty Money' ("Payday") recounts, Tucker and his two brothers (Blaine and Joel) founded an online business in 2001 that made payday loans (even in states where these super-high-interest, low-principal loans were restricted or illegal). Tucker's clientele were working-class Americans at the bottom of the social heap - vulnerable, desperate people who needed cash advances in order to stay afloat. Tucker set up usurious loans (with lots of strings attached) that would make mafia loan-sharks blush. He took ruthless advantage of millions of poor people to enrich himself, live a lavish lifestyle, and indulge his passion for amateur car racing. Happily, after about 12 years, the Feds eventually got wind of Tucker's shenanigans, busted him on RICO and other charges, slapped him with a $1.3 billion fine, and sent him to off to federal prison for 16 years (too short a sentence, actually). It's heartwarming to see this human piece of slime brought low but "Payday" is nonetheless a frustrating viewing experience. It spends far too much time with Tucker, his wife (who looks like an aging, Botox-ed Joey Heatherton), his naive daughter, and his sleazy lawyer-partner, Tim Muir (also convicted and now serving a 7 year sentence). Tucker and Muir are utterly unrepentant about their crimes. Quite naturally, they cast themselves as aggrieved victims of government overreach, never admitting that they were greedy thieves preying upon the weakest members of society. This TV doc should have spent more time with a number of Tucker's victims, to show in a vivid way the incredible misery he caused. Too bad hell is a myth; it's a pleasing image to imagine Scott Tucker burning in agony in its fiery furnaces forever.
Whiote privilege on display
johnnmilw24 July 2019
This is an interesting episode. In it's totality, it shows America for what it fundamentally is...entrepreneurs who seek to use 'certain social privileges' to capitalize on desperate people. The fascinating element is how these people love to be perceived as victims of the government, instead of recognizing that in order for a society to survive, dangerous predators within it have to be controlled...and thanks to the only entity to enforce these controls, the government, are on the case.
Love watching them Fall
jessewhunter21 December 2021
Warning: Spoilers
One of the only episodes that the guilty party willingly participates, and it is so clearly out of sociopathic narsocism. It brings me so much joy watching these clowns try to extract pity for their own actions and try to explain that they were just doing the lords work by helping the less fortunate when they needed it most. I loved watching him and his wife cry about how poorly the government was treating them, Karma is Great, I hope they live miserably for the rest of their pathetic lives. (anyone else think his mom and wife looked very much alike........same)
There is a lot of ignorance that comes along with these characters too; such as Scott's Racing coach "Ed Zabinski" who claims that the government put so much pressure on Blaine Tucker that it forced him to kill himself, and that the government is responsible for his death. This man does not realize that the Tucker's literally did the exact same thing to millions of people and who knows how many people they caused to commit suicide based on the pressure their loan company was putting on the consumers.
But I love the fact they kept all of his ignorance in the documentary and I love that it shows the process of the Tucker families demise.
I feel truly sorry for anyone who has ever been wronged in this scam, I know this documentary doesn't give back any of the money you lost or possibly loved ones you lost due to the circumstances they were forced into because of this scam. I know these scams still exist to this day and unfortunately there are plenty of Scott Tuckers out there, hopefully this documentary can bring awareness to those in a similar situation.
But it is great to see how a "Businessman" with absolutely no self awareness and no sense of responsibilty for his own actions can be deminished to the lowest place on the totem pole and I hope he suffers in prison, and upon his release never regains any power at all.
There is a lot of ignorance that comes along with these characters too; such as Scott's Racing coach "Ed Zabinski" who claims that the government put so much pressure on Blaine Tucker that it forced him to kill himself, and that the government is responsible for his death. This man does not realize that the Tucker's literally did the exact same thing to millions of people and who knows how many people they caused to commit suicide based on the pressure their loan company was putting on the consumers.
But I love the fact they kept all of his ignorance in the documentary and I love that it shows the process of the Tucker families demise.
I feel truly sorry for anyone who has ever been wronged in this scam, I know this documentary doesn't give back any of the money you lost or possibly loved ones you lost due to the circumstances they were forced into because of this scam. I know these scams still exist to this day and unfortunately there are plenty of Scott Tuckers out there, hopefully this documentary can bring awareness to those in a similar situation.
But it is great to see how a "Businessman" with absolutely no self awareness and no sense of responsibilty for his own actions can be deminished to the lowest place on the totem pole and I hope he suffers in prison, and upon his release never regains any power at all.
Unrepentant
baynerj10 March 2019
How is this different than credit card APR?
danrail7913 November 2019
Sob story for the wrong side
malmcgaffin2 February 2021
Only one payday victim interviewed, yet a half dozen more in defense of Tucker? Like I cared what his personal assistant thought. Was his hair dresser unable to be interviewed as well? Please. I hope he gets life and someone actually tells this story the way it should be. Unapologetically
Love this series, hate this episode
spacemnky-122 July 2019
There's a ton of times where they can dip the narrative back to all the people f'd up and instead they paint up this fall from grace story. These dudes ruined so many lives. This is an unrepentant predator who puts business above people. They deserve none of the "woe is me" parts this episode focuses on.
If you told me Tucker funded 80 percent of this episode I'd believe you.
Disgusting and boring
pmpmn913 January 2019
Warning: Spoilers
If I had to listen to one more of these disgusting, greedy crooks whine and carry on about how hard done by they think they are because the legal system Went after them for the fraud they perpetrated against honest, hard-working low income people, I swear I was going to vomit!
What an awful program! All they did was tell the story and then allow these spoiled, dishonest, greedy parasites go on and on about how they thought they were running an honest business and the law was all wrong for holding them accountable and charging them for cheating people and robbing them blind! Nobody needs to hear that over and over again, ad nauseum! These crooks got what was coming to them and that doesn't happen nearly enough. If they didn't want large numbers of police showing up at their homes and arresting them in front of their children, they shouldn't have been ripping people off the way they were! They actually expect people to pity them? Not a chance! They don't deserve anyone's pity for what they did! They knew exactly what they were doing and they set it up to hide the business and be protected and insulated as well as they could be from the normal legal consequences. And shame on that Indigenous Chief for getting involved! He's a disgrace to First Nations people everywhere! He did it for the money and that makes him just as greedy and parasitic as the rest of them! Decent Indigenous people don't do things like that! If they want to make money for their people, they look into things and make sure that the money comes from an ethical source.
And if one guy committed suicide to escape justice, you know what? Who cares?! He was a gutless, narcissistic coward who couldn't be bothered taking responsibility for his actions. The world can always use a lot less of them because there's far too many of them hurting vulnerable people on this planet.
In my opinion, this documentary wastes far too much time on the crooks babbling and whining about how unfair they think all this was on them and it needs to be a LOT shorter.
What an awful program! All they did was tell the story and then allow these spoiled, dishonest, greedy parasites go on and on about how they thought they were running an honest business and the law was all wrong for holding them accountable and charging them for cheating people and robbing them blind! Nobody needs to hear that over and over again, ad nauseum! These crooks got what was coming to them and that doesn't happen nearly enough. If they didn't want large numbers of police showing up at their homes and arresting them in front of their children, they shouldn't have been ripping people off the way they were! They actually expect people to pity them? Not a chance! They don't deserve anyone's pity for what they did! They knew exactly what they were doing and they set it up to hide the business and be protected and insulated as well as they could be from the normal legal consequences. And shame on that Indigenous Chief for getting involved! He's a disgrace to First Nations people everywhere! He did it for the money and that makes him just as greedy and parasitic as the rest of them! Decent Indigenous people don't do things like that! If they want to make money for their people, they look into things and make sure that the money comes from an ethical source.
And if one guy committed suicide to escape justice, you know what? Who cares?! He was a gutless, narcissistic coward who couldn't be bothered taking responsibility for his actions. The world can always use a lot less of them because there's far too many of them hurting vulnerable people on this planet.
In my opinion, this documentary wastes far too much time on the crooks babbling and whining about how unfair they think all this was on them and it needs to be a LOT shorter.
Sympathy for a Loan Shark?
tadted24 July 2022
This guy got exactly what he deserved but there were a few who escaped punishment. He was asked "are you a moral person?" he said "I'm a business person" - that reply tells you all you need to know. The thousands who got ripped off will have some sense of closure.
Silly, biased and ideological portrait of a repugnant individual
chow8615 June 2020
Warning: Spoilers
Whilst other episodes follow a left-wing anti-capitalist perspective, this one reproduces right-wing tropes in which Tucker is portrayed as a victim of Big Government. It's rather obviously manipulative - sad music when Tucker and friends and family talk about his downfall, lots of "heartrending" images of his cars being taken away, and only 1 of the multitude of victims of his given air time, in contrast with the extensive airtime Tucker is given.
How is this worse than Wells Fargo, Malaysian PM, or any real estate mogul?
rks113 May 2020
Warning: Spoilers
I'm confused by this episode and people hatred. Banks does this, and a lot worse for years. Malaysian PM stole billions of dollars from suffering people, and tax payers with help from Goldman Sacks... Wells Fargo got maybe 100 million fine, Goldman only apologized, and this guy gets charged with 1.34 billion fine and over 10 years in prison? Haha I guess it all depends how powerful and how many connections you have. But I don't understand, why no one does anything about banks, credit cards, scammy politicians, or big scammy companies like Formosa, but complain about a guy, where the people made their own choice to get payday loan, because none of the banks and credit cards would give them any more money. Crazy.
One sided documentary with sympathy for dirty millionaire conmen
cathalmc-129496 May 2020
Very interesting episode but so much of this episode was family interviews of this scam family, sad music and loom lighting of his mansion and how this poor Millionaire was torn down from grace by an evil government.
When the reality is this guy was a deceptive business man who robbed people in poverty. I feel this episode tarnishes the theme of Dirty Money (Bringing awareness to immoral actions of people who try get rich by cutting shortcuts at sake of others) and it was very disappointing.
When the reality is this guy was a deceptive business man who robbed people in poverty. I feel this episode tarnishes the theme of Dirty Money (Bringing awareness to immoral actions of people who try get rich by cutting shortcuts at sake of others) and it was very disappointing.
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