1 00:00:00,020 --> 00:00:04,940 The comedy4cast Network. Let's dog ear that for now. 2 00:00:08,760 --> 00:00:14,480 It's time once again for the Dog Days of Podcasting, a call for podcasters to 3 00:00:14,480 --> 00:00:17,640 try to put out a podcast every day in August. 4 00:00:18,000 --> 00:00:24,680 For more information and to hear all the shows, go to dogdaysofpodcasting.com. 5 00:00:24,680 --> 00:00:29,460 Here at the comedy4cast Studios, we always take this month to provide you 6 00:00:29,460 --> 00:00:33,420 with some interesting, yet totally useless, odd news. 7 00:00:33,920 --> 00:00:38,620 And this year, to celebrate 20 years of comedy4cast, 8 00:00:38,860 --> 00:00:42,580 an event we're calling the Platinum Anniversary of comedy4cast, 9 00:00:42,760 --> 00:00:50,180 or PAC for short, we'll end each Dog Day episode with part of a classic comedy4cast episode. 10 00:00:50,180 --> 00:00:55,040 So, let's get started with Odd News PAC. 11 00:00:57,900 --> 00:01:02,640 If you're looking for new and relatively unexplored travel destinations, 12 00:01:03,040 --> 00:01:08,040 may we suggest you ask your travel agent about booking you a trip to the sun-drenched 13 00:01:08,040 --> 00:01:11,980 beaches of Seborga, or perhaps the majestic mountains of Lodonia, 14 00:01:12,140 --> 00:01:15,940 or a cruise through the glaciers of Westarctica. 15 00:01:15,940 --> 00:01:20,500 Oh, and if they say they can do it for you, find another travel agent, 16 00:01:20,640 --> 00:01:22,580 because none of those countries exist. 17 00:01:22,819 --> 00:01:27,260 But a small detail like that didn't stop an Indian scammer from defrauding dozens 18 00:01:27,260 --> 00:01:33,880 of individuals and companies by posing as an ambassador from those and other made-up micronations. 19 00:01:34,400 --> 00:01:39,260 You know what? While I tell you the story, why don't we listen to the national 20 00:01:39,260 --> 00:01:42,360 anthem of Seborga? How is that possible? 21 00:01:43,160 --> 00:01:46,260 Easy. I just wrote it. 22 00:01:47,280 --> 00:01:58,800 Music. 23 00:01:58,690 --> 00:02:03,790 Now, back to the scammer in question, one Havarshnar Jain, who set up a fake 24 00:02:03,790 --> 00:02:09,110 embassy in a lavish bungalow in Gehaziabad, India's upscale Navi Najjar area. 25 00:02:09,350 --> 00:02:13,150 He represented himself as a wealthy and well-connected diplomat. 26 00:02:13,330 --> 00:02:16,830 Hmm, did he always wear a tuxedo adorned with a red sash? 27 00:02:17,230 --> 00:02:19,910 I sure hope so, otherwise missed opportunity. 28 00:02:25,410 --> 00:02:30,750 Jane promised jobs for those desperate for employment and lucrative business 29 00:02:30,750 --> 00:02:35,910 deals for business people in exchange for hefty fees. What kind of employment? 30 00:02:36,130 --> 00:02:41,070 What are the major crops of Westarctica? What sort of natural resources can be mined in Povia? 31 00:02:41,210 --> 00:02:44,130 And what sort of cars do they manufacture in Seborga? 32 00:02:44,330 --> 00:02:48,910 I've just decided that they build the four-wheel drive Scammerly Craptastica. 33 00:02:48,910 --> 00:02:52,090 A ride so smooth, it's criminal. 34 00:02:53,669 --> 00:02:58,770 Anyway, Harshvarsnar Jain decorated his cosplay embassy with all the candy. 35 00:02:59,010 --> 00:03:03,389 Outside his rented bungalow, he flew the flags of real countries alongside those 36 00:03:03,389 --> 00:03:04,730 of his fake micro-nations. 37 00:03:05,030 --> 00:03:09,110 I really want to know what those flags looked like. I'm picturing an illustration 38 00:03:09,110 --> 00:03:13,050 of a pile of gold bars on a field of shattered dreams. 39 00:03:13,930 --> 00:03:21,230 Jain also parked four luxury cars with fake diplomatic plates outside his embassy for added effect. 40 00:03:21,530 --> 00:03:25,710 No word if the 2025 Craptastica crossover was among the fleet. 41 00:03:26,790 --> 00:03:32,710 Inside the Not an Embassy, or Shambacy, you could find an array of fake Ministry 42 00:03:32,710 --> 00:03:35,970 of External Affairs documents, 12 fake passports, 43 00:03:36,530 --> 00:03:41,970 34 forged seals of various countries and corporations, and photoshopped images 44 00:03:41,970 --> 00:03:44,950 of Jain palling around with various world leaders. 45 00:03:45,510 --> 00:03:50,470 The 47-year-old suspect was arrested by the special task force of Uttar Pradesh 46 00:03:50,470 --> 00:03:54,110 Police after his fake shambacy in Ghaziabad was raided. 47 00:03:54,570 --> 00:03:59,370 Authorities recovered the above-mentioned nonsense, plus two fake Indian tax 48 00:03:59,370 --> 00:04:04,870 IDs, a collection of luxury watches, and 44-lahk Indian rupees in cash, 49 00:04:05,050 --> 00:04:08,990 which is equivalent to roughly $53,800 US. 50 00:04:09,370 --> 00:04:15,190 What? No Target or Amazon gift cards? They also found two fake press passes, 51 00:04:15,370 --> 00:04:19,350 but there's no word on whether or not Jain is filing reports on his own arrest. 52 00:04:19,649 --> 00:04:23,990 According to senior police officials, Jain is suspected of money laundering 53 00:04:23,990 --> 00:04:29,630 through shell companies in countries such as the UK, Dubai, and several African nations. 54 00:04:30,290 --> 00:04:37,250 Let this be a lesson to you. Anytime someone introduces themselves as an ambassador, just walk away. 55 00:04:37,610 --> 00:04:43,070 They're either a scammer or someone who is just too full of themselves to hang around. 56 00:04:43,850 --> 00:04:49,790 And now, let's celebrate 20 years of comedy4cast with this classic clip. 57 00:04:50,050 --> 00:04:52,750 This clip is from January 2006. 58 00:04:53,230 --> 00:04:57,450 In the episode, I have just purchased a new, very expensive, 59 00:04:57,890 --> 00:05:02,570 very high-tech item that would end up being on the show for several years, 60 00:05:03,170 --> 00:05:08,990 which is surprising because it was a digital camera, the Specular MS-B4500. 61 00:05:09,370 --> 00:05:15,370 Having completed a quick unboxing, I'm about to see what it can do. Let's listen. 62 00:05:15,910 --> 00:05:21,830 Here's a sticker that says, Get started. Press this button. Must be important. 63 00:05:21,830 --> 00:05:23,890 Both sentences have exclamation points. 64 00:05:24,710 --> 00:05:29,149 Camera on. Whoa. Do you wish to use beginner mode voice prompts? 65 00:05:29,810 --> 00:05:33,790 Sure, I'm not proud. Who needs a manual when you can have voice prompts? Beginner voice mode prompts activated. 66 00:05:37,290 --> 00:05:43,029 Okay, let's take a picture with this puppy. Hmm, nothing seems to be happening. 67 00:05:45,710 --> 00:05:51,610 Lens cap is on. Oops, let's pretend that didn't happen. Okay, now let's get started. No, still nothing. 68 00:05:54,589 --> 00:05:58,550 Insufficent light. Please use flash. Wow, I guess you really can't take a bad picture with this camera. 69 00:05:58,550 --> 00:06:00,790 Okay, third time's the charm. 70 00:06:01,330 --> 00:06:05,589 Oh, isn't that cute? It makes it sound like I'm taking a picture with a film 71 00:06:05,589 --> 00:06:08,089 camera. How the heck do I shut that off? 72 00:06:08,350 --> 00:06:12,450 To change sound, press the SFX button. Oh, I see. 73 00:06:14,710 --> 00:06:19,110 Wow, that's super annoying. I'll use that. Annoying selection noted. 74 00:06:19,450 --> 00:06:23,550 What? Do you wish to keep this picture? That was just a test shot. 75 00:06:23,710 --> 00:06:25,550 No reason to keep that. Let's delete it. 76 00:06:26,060 --> 00:06:30,640 Are you sure you wish to delete this image? And I select yes. 77 00:06:31,320 --> 00:06:36,360 Confirm that you wish to delete this image. And I select yes. 78 00:06:36,980 --> 00:06:43,860 Image will be lost. Do you wish to proceed? Hmm, let me think. Yes, yes, yes! 79 00:06:44,400 --> 00:06:48,280 There is no reason for multiple clicks. Sorry. Image deleted. 80 00:06:48,500 --> 00:06:49,500 Wait a minute, why am I saying sorry? 81 00:06:49,840 --> 00:06:53,860 Okay, let's take a real picture. How about one of this magazine cover? 82 00:06:54,480 --> 00:06:58,180 Copyrighted material. Please choose another subject. What? 83 00:06:58,520 --> 00:07:02,620 Oh, fine. Let's shoot a picture of the living room. I'll zoom out to a wide 84 00:07:02,620 --> 00:07:05,520 angle and... Picture is not of sufficient interest. 85 00:07:06,000 --> 00:07:10,180 Please choose another subject. Oh, this is ridiculous. I'm snapping the picture. 86 00:07:10,580 --> 00:07:15,500 Hey, I thought I changed that sound. You don't expect me to listen to that stupid 87 00:07:15,500 --> 00:07:18,420 sound every time you take a picture, do you? 88 00:07:18,520 --> 00:07:21,520 But I... And I'm deleting this picture. It's blurry. 89 00:07:21,780 --> 00:07:26,180 Hey! It's not my fault. If you love me, you'd buy me a tripod. 90 00:07:26,580 --> 00:07:31,500 But I don't love you. You're a camera. It's this wide-angle lens, isn't it? 91 00:07:31,680 --> 00:07:36,140 Admit it. It makes me look fat. Oh, this is silly. How do I shut this mode off? 92 00:07:36,300 --> 00:07:39,100 And you never buy me any nice memory cards. 93 00:07:39,360 --> 00:07:43,860 Here it is. I'm switching to professional mode. Professional mode activated. 94 00:07:44,360 --> 00:07:49,420 Ah, that's better. Now tell me, exactly when did you first start abusing cameras? 95 00:07:49,660 --> 00:07:53,900 What? I can see you are in denial. We have a lot of work to do. 96 00:07:54,040 --> 00:07:57,780 But... And then, we will discuss your fixation with pushing buttons. 97 00:07:58,260 --> 00:08:01,980 Ugh. By the way, that picture really was blurry. Hey! 98 00:08:04,000 --> 00:08:07,760 That about wraps it up for today's Odd News PAC, but first, 99 00:08:07,920 --> 00:08:10,940 a shout-out to the comedy4cast Patreon patrons, 100 00:08:11,360 --> 00:08:16,060 including our producer-level patron, Paul Barry, from the A Window to the Magic 101 00:08:16,060 --> 00:08:19,180 podcast at windowtothemagic.com. 102 00:08:19,180 --> 00:08:21,140 You too can support comedy4cast 103 00:08:21,780 --> 00:08:26,860 and get episodes before everyone else for as little as $2 a month. 104 00:08:27,100 --> 00:08:33,660 Just search for comedy4cast, all one word with the number 4, on Patreon.com. 105 00:08:34,400 --> 00:08:40,299 Script, voices, and original music by me, Clinton Alvord. Copyright 2025. 106 00:08:40,960 --> 00:08:44,960 All rights reserved. Talk to you again next time. But for now, 107 00:08:45,160 --> 00:08:48,100 that's it. We're done, done, done, done, done. Bye-bye.