tonight, on an all-new "20/20", are they the moochers? >> you're not going run from us he here, are you? >> tonight, they're caught on camera. claiming they're too hurt to work, claiming disability, but working the moves. he's rocking out. does that look like limited mobility to you? >> that's our guy right there. >> worker's comp or worker's con? >> plus, the ripoff realtor. renting and selling houses without the owners knowing it.

>> and, vince and owen, step aside. we have real wedding crashers. but walking away with your wedding gifts. are you a victim of the moochers? here's david muir. >> good evening. "20/20" is on the case tonight. looking out for moochers taking money out of your wallet. you're about to see it. a woman and man, with injuries they say keep them from working until the cameras tell us something else. cecilia vega has this story. >> reporter: beauty contestant shawna palmer appears poised to take home the crown with her

bikini-ready body, winning smile and legs that go for miles. in april, palmer strutted her stuff on a stage in long beach, california, hoping to become the next miss toyota grand prix. >> one more time for shawna! >> reporter: but put on the brakes! can you spot the major foot injury that supposedly kept this contestant from being able to do her day job? palmer claimed she hurt her left big toe working as a supermarket clerk. she said the painful injury left her with, quote, "an inability to bear weight" on her foot. but shortly after going to the doctor, prosecutors say she apparently had no problem working it -- in a pair of pumps, no less! insurance investigators arrested palmer on charges of illegally collecting workers compensation benefits totaling over $24,000. >> she did not lie, whatsoever, regarding her foot injury. >> reporter: she pleaded not guilty to three felony counts of

fraud. >> yes, your honor. >> reporter: why should we care? >> that causes premiums to rise. john and joe public pay those prices. >> reporter: you might think suspected offenders of false claims would want to avoid the spotlight. meet leroy barnes, a professional dancer who claimed total disability after getting hurt on a gig. ♪ yet investigators say he's right here, shaking his tail as one of those dancing hamsters in the kia car commercials. barnes stands accused of fraudulently collecting over $50,000 in disability. for now, this hamster's out of his cage. he pleaded not guilty and is free on bail. then there's the curious case of dan slewoski, a chicago-area man who said he was unable to perform his job at the department of public works due to a nerve condition.

>> are you ready? >> reporter: but city investigators say he had the nerve to perform in an extreme wrestling tournament, doing his best hulk hogan, climbing the ropes and fake-pummeling some poor sap, all while on government-paid medical leave. slewoski might look menacing in that ring, but he hid behind his door while answering questions from abc's i-team in chicago. >> what do you do? >> i talk into a microphone. i have no training. i am not a pro wrestler. >> reporter: he's also no longer employed by the department of public works. he resigned last june. but would you believe someone hired to protect and serve could also be scamming the system? hey, i'm cecilia vega from "20/20." last winter i had to chase down one in a group of new york city cops accused of faking ptsd and anxiety symptoms brought on by 9/11. the prosecutors are saying you're essentially a cop who

scammed the system. >> that's not -- i'm not a cop. >> you were a cop, at one point. >> reporter: vincent lamantia's case stood out to investigators because after claiming disability, he brazenly flaunted pictures of himself on facebook looking like he was living large. >> why don't you give me a quick comment and we'll get out of your hair. >> as you can see, my hair is long and you're in it. >> reporter: well this fall, there's a different case involving a cop. new york port authority police officer christopher inserra was collecting almost $70,000 in disability for a painful, on-the-job bicep and elbow injury that supposedly gave him, quote, "limited mobility." but wait. who's that headbanger? it's our cop fronting a heavy metal band called cousin sleaze of all things, flailing his arms and flexing those muscles. the hunky metalhead has since pleaded guilty to mail fraud and turned in his badge.

rocker, wrestler, beauty queen and dancing hamster didn't exactly make it difficult for investigators to find them. after all, they're hiding in plain sight. but in most cases, the suspects are pretty coy. so when there's someone mooching in your neighborhood, who you gonna call? our duo, the moocher busting p.i.s, bari and bob, who love the thrill of the chase. >> that's our guy right there. that's our mark! >> reporter: bari kroll is part suburban soccer mom, part professional moocher-hunter. and a master of disguise. >> the secret to some of my success is being a woman. it's still pretty uncommon for people to think women are private investigators. >> reporter: she's also not afraid to use her own kid as a decoy. >> it was great having that car seat in the back. it was a great prop. perfect. >> reporter: bari gets hired by

insurance companies to check up on people like this man. she says her client told her the man claimed a limited range of motion in his right knee, and was in constant pain. but here he is, biking all over town. the man's claim was dismissed. but bari says these cases aren't always a full bust. sometimes they're a dead end. >> it's a glamorous job. you sit here and just stare out the window. this job isn't for everyone. but it is for me, because i'm okay waiting for something to happen. >> reporter: there's the sitting-in-your-car approach, and then there's this. >> there's a big tree on the left. i think that's where we should all meet. >> reporter: catching potential fraudsters is no mission impossible for chicago-based p.i. and abc news consultant bob kiehn. in his downtime, bob likes to skydive and swim with sharks, so it's only fitting that he plans his surveillance stakeouts like an adrenaline-fueled military

operation. bob invited "20/20" along as observers on a surveillance job deep in midwest farm country at the crack of dawn. >> let's go, bob, go do this! >> reporter: the mission -- to get the goods on a farmer suspected of fleecing an insurance company. he claims injuries from a car accident are causing him difficulty with his daily farming operation. so the money shot is what? >> anything he does that makes him look like he's working. >> reporter: since we're out in the bush, this job calls for some black ops. can i just say, this seems a little hardcore here. is this necessary? >> here's the exact reason why we do this. we're completely getting into the elements, to where there's no way they're going to be able to see us. they're going to act completely normal, hopefully, and we'll capture everything they do on tape. let's go. >> reporter: i find myself

wading through the woods in 40 degree temps. >> don't put your foot there! >> reporter: we pick our way over treacherous ground -- and clamber up steep muddy embankments. >> put your right foot up here. go. >> reporter: until we reach our surveillance point. so this is the house we're going to be watching. we've literally walked for about a mile plus in the dark. >> this is where we're going to set up. we have a perfect view of his house. >> reporter: it takes four hours, but bob finally spies that supposedly injured farmer lifting an object into his truck. we can't show his face because the case is still active. it hardly feels like enough to call the farmer a fraud, but bob

says the path to catching a moocher isn't always paved in gold. sometimes it's caked with mud. so did you get what you came for? >> we got a start. it's something for us to start building a case on. >> reporter: the case has yet to be resolved and i have yet to thaw out. despite the tireless efforts of p.i.s like bari and bob, countless people each year keep trying to make an easy buck by faking an injury. but our moocher-busting private eyes will be there, waiting behind the curtain and running through the cornfields to get their marks. you've got all this gear, head to toe camo, this seems like a lot of effort. >> you have to have a creative solution. they think they're five steps ahead of us. so to beat that we have to combat it with pretty much extreme surveillance. >> reporter: so you have to outsmart these guys? >> totally.

next, it's morning in maryland. and one woman is about to get the wakeup call of her life. the ultimate squatter. mooching in a mcmansion she doesn't own, police say. forget breakfast in bed. it's busted in bed, when we return. ye- yes! we have the new iphone. how- cause everyone's coming in for the new iphone. wh-what... kind of service plan can you get? well right now if you select the 15 gig plan we'll double your data and make it 30 gigs for the same price. well that- great! you'll take it. in head * are you inside my mind right now? nope where was... albuquerque who was the porcupine what is my fave- hollandaise sauce no way... the new iphone is here and now you get 30 gigs of data to share starting at $160 dollars a month. fyour everyday dishes will only go so far. literally. you had to go deep

into the cupboard. embarrassingly deep. can this mismatched mess be conquered... by a little bit of dish liquid? it can if it's dawn ultra. it's more concentrated... ...just one bottle has the grease cleaning power of two bottles of this bargain brand. here's to the over-extended family gathering. dawn, it's amazing what a drop can do. getting an understanding of what they're looking for. somebody who has sensitivity, they want relief from their sensitivity pain, but they also want the other things that are available in toothpaste. new sensodyne complete protection is designed specifically for sensitivity sufferers, but then, on the other side of the coin, it's also delivering on the other attributes that patients want out of a sensitivity toothpaste,

delivering a complete package. i think dentists are going to want to recommend sensodyne complete protection. it's going to be a breath of fresh air for them. sensodyne complete protection. [eerie music] i am the ghost of cookies' past...residue. oh...so gross. well, you didn't use pam. so it looks like you're stuwith me! bargain brand cooking spray leaves annoying residue. that's why there's pam. not a halloween bag. box, rrrrr...a natural beauty. you're making me melt. shall we?

mini babybel is 100% natural cheese and a whole lot of fun. mini babybel. snack a little bigger. monopoly at mcdonald's. now is your your chance to score fifties, hundreds, or a cool million; or a one-on-one experience with lebron. welcome back. you too. let's play this game.

here's a question for you tonight. is your home for sale or for rent without you knowing it? it's one of the most outrageous squ scams going. people rent your home, only to learn you already own it. the cash they spent, already gone. gio benitez takes us on the police raid. >> reporter: it's probably not every day that you make a phone call like this. >> hi, this is shannon again. i'm being ambushed by a news crew. >> reporter: but for real estate broker shannon lee, business as usual is business un-usual. >> can you please stop recording me?

>> reporter: we're in this parking lot to ask why she's a broker who doesn't sell houses, but allegedly steals them instead. it's a real estate ripoff popular with con artists all across the country. >> a new kind of foreclosure scheme. >> the deals were illegal. >> reporter: in case after case, this scam has targeted houses that owners walked away from after some financial after some financial trouble. stuck in limbo before bank foreclosure kicks in. it wasn't until she received a gas bill addressed to the deceased former owner that she did some research and found a deed, which is not in hodge's name. >> reporter: but few fraudsters were as good as police say shannon lee was. her tale begins here in this prosperous corner of prince georges county, maryland. on the day laverne green walked up to her townhouse mailbox. you came over here to check your mail, to put your key in, and what happened? >> right, it didn't work. >> reporter: laverne had enough trouble already. divorcing and downsizing, she and her husband had abandoned their townhouse and faced losing it to the bank. one day she stopped by to check on things, and walked into an unwelcome surprise.

the locks are changed? >> this lady comes to the door, and she said that she was renting the property. i'm like, "how can you rent this property? this is my house." >> reporter: here's how. the mysterious renters said they got the place through shannon lee, apparently a legit real estate broker. they got her on the phone and minutes later, shannon zoomed up. >> this lady pulls up in this black bmw, she jumps out of the car, and she said, "well, i bought this property through a tax sale." i asked her did she have the deeds and everything to the house, she said, "oh yeah i've got everything." >> reporter: shannon had actually taken control of laverne's house, then turned around and rented it out. >> nobody suspected that someone would actually advertise a property they didn't own and collect rent on it. >> reporter: state's attorney angela alsobrooks says this type of scam only works if the real homeowner isnt around to notice.

but laverne green not only missed her house, she also had connections. >> well, she picked the house of a person who worked for the police department, and that's bad luck. >> reporter: that's right. here's laverne at her desk, working for the prince george's county cops. so forget calling 911. all she had to do was walk down the hall to ask co-worker lt. charles duelley for help. you must have looked at this stuff and said, "this case is crazy!" >> it's the most different case that i've, that i've worked in my career. >> reporter: duelley got a search warrant for shannon's place, and discovered deeds he says were forged for six homes. plus evidence of an even bigger scheme in progress. >> i identified probably 15 to 20 other properties. that had been targeted. >> reporter: duelley believes shannon's devious scheme started with scouting trips, searching for houses that appeared vacant, grass not freshly mowed, no curtains in the windows. all signs of pending foreclosure. so she kept notes of her own

potentially illegal activity? >> yes. >> reporter: he says she compiled these meticulous reports of potential targets, noting here that an owner had passed away, that another property was secured with two lock boxes. and even breaking in to take photos like these. shannon's next step, using a blank deed transfer, adding her name as buyer, bogus seller signatures and a fake notary seal. the final step, walking into the county records department, to officially enter the forged deed into the public record. then, police say, she was ready to cash in. >> we fell in love with it. >> reporter: that's where unsuspecting victims charrise and michael stewart come in. they'd answered an ad shannon lee had posted to rent this house. >> it was everything we wanted in a house and the price was right. >> reporter: so they signed the lease, despite some suspicious red flags. >> from the outside you can see the damage done to the locks of the door. as if someone busted in the door, changed the locks on the door.

>> reporter: shannon's excuse, she had trouble changing the locks. okay, but even stranger, why were there no electric bills arriving from pepco, the local utility company? >> we had been calling pepco every month, like, hey, we're not getting a bill, we're afraid the power's going to be turned off, what's going on? they can't find us in the system. >> reporter: the police investigation later revealed that to keep the house theft from being discovered, shannon had dangerously rigged the meter, pirating the electricity. pretty gutsy. >> yeah, very gutsy. >> reporter: meanwhile police say shannon, along with her alleged partner in crime qiana johnson, were collecting rent from this and other properties they'd stolen and allegedly even sold one for a pile of cash. you believe she really felt like she was going to get away with this? >> yes, absolutely. she had had herself convinced that the paperwork was of good enough quality on the forgeries that she was, i think she thought she was in the clear. >> reporter: and duelley discovered that shannon and

qiana had taken this house hustle to a whole new level. they weren't just renting and selling the pinched properties, they were actually living in some of them too! >> it's bananas. like it's honestly crazy. >> reporter: when we come back, it's time for a house call, with the sherriff's department. so sergeant, it's 6:00 a.m., we're going to that house, she has no idea we are coming? >> that's correct. element of surprise. >> reporter: stay with us. there are treatment options. ask your doctor if once-a-day latuda, lurasidone hcl, may help you. in clinical studies, latuda has been shown to be effective for many people struggling with bipolar depression.

latuda is not for everyone. call your doctor about unusual mood changes, behaviors, or suicidal thoughts. antidepressants can increase these in children, teens, and young adults. elderly dementia patients on latuda have an increased risk of death or stroke. call your doctor about fever, stiff muscles and confusion, as these may be signs of a life-threatening reaction or if you have uncontrollable muscle movements, as these may be permanent. high blood sugar has been seen with latuda and medicines like it, and in extreme cases can lead to coma or death. other risks include decreased white blood cells, which can be fatal, dizziness on standing, seizures, increased cholesterol, weight, or prolactin, trouble swallowing, and impaired judgment. avoid grapefruit and grapefruit juice. use caution before driving or operating machinery. there are paths to treat bipolar depression. ask your doctor if once-a-day latuda for bipolar depression is right for you.

for savings options, visit latuda.com. aso all of the fresh beef we sell comes from cattle who've had room to roam. no antibiotics, no added hormones. third party rated for animal welfare. raised by people with responsible ranching practices on over 1000 us ranches, like hearst ranch. because to us, value is inseparable from values. whole foods market, america's healthiest grocery store. oh wait, oyou got it?falling.... we need nails. with just five minutes' prep, campbell's slow cooker sauces help you cook a real dinner, right in the middle of real life. car insurance companies say they'll save you by switching, you'd have, like, a ton of dollars. but how are they saving you those dollars? a lot of companies might answer "um" or "no comment."

then there's esurance. born online, raised by technology and majors in efficiency. so whatever they save, you save. hassle, time, paperwork, hair-tearing out, and, yes, especially dollars. esurance. insurance for the modern world. now backed by allstate. click or call. esurance. insurance for the modern world. of your daily routine. so why treat your mouth any differently. brushing alone does less than half the job leaving behind millions of germs. complete the job with listerine®. kill up to 99 percent of germs. and prevent plaque, early gum disease and bad breath. complete the job with listerine®. power to your mouth™. also try listerine® floss. its advanc technology removes more plaque.

"20/20" continues. once again, gio benitez. >> here's a picture. >> reporter: police believe they're hot on the trail of two world class moochers. shannon lee and qiana johnson, who've allegedly been amassing an illicit real estate empire on the backs of unsuspecting maryland homeowners. you must have felt pretty powerless. >> i did, i didn't know what to do. >> reporter: after laverne green realized her house had been stolen from under her nose her colleagues with the local police jumped on the case. so, we're talking about stolen houses?

>> yes. >> reporter: what they discovered was a fraudlent real estate scheme as shameless as it was devious. police say the conniving cons shannon lee and qiana johnson not only forged documents to steal vacant homes. they kept the plusher properties to live in themselves. qiana moved into this sprawling 5-bedroom colonial with its big yard. the real owner? donnie small. police say she broke in, changed the locks, says its her house, forged the deed. >> yes. it's bananas. like it's honestly crazy. >> reporter: donnie and her family had been forced to leave their beloved home long ago when her corporate recruiting job was transferred to california. here it is. it's the first time you've been here in three years. >> it's really sickening, because you put your blood, sweat, and tears into buying your dream home, and we had to leave it because of financial situation. >> reporter: struggling to carry

two homes, they fell behind on the payments. police say that's when shannon's co-conspirator qiana johnson used the forged deed to move her whole family in. now even though we've flown donnie back from california to visit, she legally can't go inside. someone's looking from inside the house. >> i see. i see. >> reporter: she's shocked to see how badly the place has been maintained. is this how you left it? >> no. this is definitely not how i left it. >> hi, guys. >> reporter: we cross the street to visit her former neighbors. christole white reveals that qiana and crew sold her a story. >> she came over, introduced herself, we stood on the front porch. we talked and everything. so i was like, "oh good, we got cool neighbors." and they said that they were family members. >> reporter: and this is the first time you're hearing that they claim to be the family members. they're family members. >> that is unbelievable.

>> yeah, i mean, i know why they would do it, because you probably aren't going to say anything if you think it's my family. you know? >> no, i, i wouldn't, i wouldn't say anything at all. >> reporter: she says quiana even invited the neighbors over for a barbecue. still, something just didn't seem right. >> after a couple of the cookouts and stuff, i was like, i do not think that they are related to donnie and david. >> reporter: finally a friend did alert donnie, and police evicted quiana's family. yet hours later they moved right back in, then had the gall to sue donnie's family to keep living in the place for free. now donnie has a plea for qiana. >> stop suing us. because we're not the ones who are doing something wrong, you're, you're doing things wrong to us, and damaging our lives. >> reporter: but today, after a year-long ordeal, help is finally on the way. so, sergeant, it's 6:00 a.m., we're going to that house, she has no idea we are coming. >> that's correct. element of surprise.

>> reporter: sergeant lisa smith's team, from the sheriff's department in prince georges county, maryland, has a warrant for quiana's arrest, for felony theft, burglary, forgery and falsifying documents. so officers are moving in right now, and they're going to surround the house so that when they knock on that door, they're ready for whatever she may do. whether she decides to run or answer the door. let's go. ready for trouble, smith and her officers are wearing bulletproof vests. and we're keeping a safe distance now because as you say anything can happen. >> anything can happen. she's in custody, we can move up a little bit. >> reporter: minutes later, the officers have roused qiana johnson from her bed, and emerge from the house. qiana, gio benitez from abc's "20/20." did you really think you'd be able to convince people this was your house? are you sorry for what you've done? not the way you expected to wake up this morning, huh? i realize its like 3:30 in the morning for you right now, but i

just wanted to let you know that qiana was just arrested. shannon was also cuffed and booked, shutting down their alleged scheme, but leaving behind a mess. donnie small and laverne green had to file expensive eviction proceedings to get their houses back. and that family, who had rented from shannon, they lost thousands of dollars when they had to quickly move out and find a new home. so back at the parking lot the day we caught up with shannon lee, she was out on bail and in no mood to apologize. >> the truth will come out. >> reporter: the truth will come out? >> uh-huh. >> reporter: why'd you steal those houses? >> i didn't steal any houses. >> reporter: that's not what the owners of the houses say. forgery master shannon lee later missed a court hearing, claiming she'd been in the hospital. she handed the judge hospital admission records to prove it. but guess what, they were forged too! so he moved her into this modern multi-unit dwelling, the county

jail, for a six-month sentence. she may face more charges soon. >> she's obviously a very bright woman who chose to use her talent in ways that would have her go to jail. >> reporter: donnie small is thrilled that co-conspirator quaina johnson is currently awaiting trial. >> if somebody was telling me this story, i don't know how much i would believe it. >> reporter: as for scammed renter charisse stewart, what does she have to say to the allegedly duplicitous duo? >> i can't say it on camera. god bless you. we've been reporting this story online, too. already a lot of outrage, nearly 1 million hits already. are you outraged as well? we're live tweeting. use #abc2020. when we come back, the wedding crasher, stealing all the gifts. you have to see this.

>> when we return, wedding crashers. that's no movie. this is for real. and this is the steal. mooching away with the wedding money. >> how much do you think is sitting there? >> $40,000. >> crashing the dance floor. next. for. find stylish savings on great big brands... at kohl's great big weekend sale. find fun and flirty looks from juicy couture. and 30 to 50% off essentials from izod. find girl's columbia fleece - just $20.99. men's and women's watches... from timex, bulova, citizen and seiko. find calphalon cookware and more. friday through sunday. plus - introducing yes2you rewards. earn points. get rewards. no matter how you pay. enroll today at kohl's dot com forward slash rewards. find your yes. kohl's.

yeah, enough for two. gosh. try four, buddy. hmm, i'll take a dark roast. chai tea, please. honey, text the man what you want. french vanilla, make it strong! the all new keurig 2.0 is here.

brew for one, brew for all. first impressions are important. you've got to make every second count. banking designed for the way you live your life. so you can welcome your family home... for the first time.

chase. so you can. my gragets filthy blankie that gets filthy but he's got sworry aboutvein that u what you use in the laundry so i use new tide pods free & gentle to get a deep clean that's gentle on skin. ohhh new tide pods free & gentle you use tide pods? yeh. that little guy cleans, brightens and fight stains so now i can focus on more pressing matters woo your sweet peppers aren't next to your hot peppers. gasp tide pods three times the stain removal power available at target

perhaps you saw the movie "wedding crashers." it's funny, unless it happens to you in real life. tonight, paula faris with people showing up to other people's weddings, and what they got away with. >> i now pronounce you man and wife. >> i'm gonna get drunk! >> who is that? >> reporter: who is that? the three words a wedding crasher never wants to hear. it's bad for business. >> mazel tov!

>> reporter: wedding crashers are skilled at turning your special day into their special day. immortalized on film by vince vaughn and owen wilson, most newlyweds hope to avoid crashers on their big day, but not this bride and groom. >> when they started playing "shout" i thought i heard some champagne popping. i was looking for them. >> reporter: dan and jessica miele got married here in westchester, new york, this week when we decided to soft crash their wedding. they were great sports. the beautiful bride even confessing she might want to dabble in a crash one day. >> you don't mind that we're crashing your wedding, do you? >> no. actually it's on our bucket list. we've always wanted to crash a wedding. we haven't done it yet but it's on our to do list. >> reporter: so what is this fascination some have with going where they're not invited? is it the free food? the open bar? that's what one bride and groom wanted to know after their wedding photos and videos

included these moochers. >> i asked around my side of the family and my husband's side of the family to make sure it wasn't someone i just hadn't met before and nobody had known them. >> reporter: the two can be seen boogying on the dance floor, drinks in hand, practically going out of their way to be noticed. and now the perfect strangers are permanently part of this newlywed's photo album. >> they're all over mine and i can't really focus on the people that i want to focus on. >> krista reilly took to facebook to try and match a name with a face and the local media turned up the drama. >> the mystery of the identity of the wedding crashers has been solved. >> reporter: for krista at least, turns out the wedding crashers themselves noticed they had gone from the hunter to the hunted and reached out privately to the bride to apologize. krista wouldn't reveal their identities -- she says she forgives -- but with this wedding album, how can she forget?

>> think it's tacky. i think it's rude. because that's someone's special day. >> reporter: while you may not know their name, you should recognize the type. wedding crashers are not shy. it's not in their dna. they're here to eat. they're coming to drink. they're coming to dance! and sometimes they're coming for more. watch, as this guy enters the beautiful tustin ranch golf club in california. cops say he swiped up all the cash and gift cards at a wedding reception here a few weeks ago. the suspect checks to see if the coast is clear, then covers the gift box with his jacket and makes a quick getaway. >> the couple is on their honeymoon, but we've sent out these still photos and this video hoping someone can identify this person. >> reporter: does he look familiar to you? because cops say this crasher is still at large. in a separate case, this pennsylvania guy was caught after slipping into receptions and stealing $12,000 in cash,

gifts and even a bride's shoes. he finally got an invitation, but it was to the slammer for a minimum of four years. back at the miele wedding, we spotted their gift box. it was positioned right where the experts say it should be, behind the couple, away from the exits and with security standing nearby. how much do you think is sitting over there? >> 40? 30 maybe? hoping more. >> thousand? wow, so you better have some security guards. >> we do. >> so if i tried to make out with the gift box and make a mad dash out of here, what would you do? >> i'd tackle you. >> but i'm a girl? >> i know but he told me i have to. >> reporter: wedding crashers thrive because most guests at a celebration don't want to ask that awkward question, "who is that?" but when they do things can get pretty heated. just watch this scene from "what would you do?" >> we wanted to see what would happen when guests discovered crashers at a wedding. >> reporter: the bride and groom

were in on it, but the guests were not. >> who do you know? >> who do you know? >> are you here with bridget's side or -- >> with john's. yeah, i know john. >> the bride and groom both don't know you. >> okay. >> you sit down. you sit down. you don't crash people's weddings like that. >> i'm sorry. i can leave right now. >> no, you're not leaving. you're going to be arrested. >> reporter: if wedding crashing seems like a young man's game, don't tell that sherry stanfa stanley. >> i was excited. filled with trepidation. >> reporter: when the writer from ohio turned 52 last year, she decided it was time to break out of her comfort zone and break into a reception, complete with a cover story. >> reporter: my name was shelly. if they asked who i was, i said i was there with jim miller, who used to work with the groom. >> reporter: sherry had planned it all out. socializing with guests, enjoying a cold beer until the bride threw something at her. the bouquet landed at sherry's feet and all eyes were now on

the wedding crasher. >> everyone is staring at me. >> reporter: it was the one thing sherry hadn't planned on. but sherry is a crasher with a conscience. before exiting, she left a card and gift for the happy couple. so if you must crash a wedding, crash with class. >> to wedding crashers -- mazel tov! >> so, here's the question. do you have a wedding horror story? use #abc2020. when we come back, dead beat doctors making lots of money from your surgeries. so, why haven't they paid for their school? >> next, lifestyles of the rich and famous. it's the world of doctors making a fortune, but dodging their debts from med school.

just watch us try to get a doctor's appointment, when we return. makes iusing your miles.a seat that's their game. the flights you want are blacked out. or they ask for some ridiculous number of miles. honestly, it's time to switch to the venture card from capital one. with venture, use your miles on any airline, any flight, any time. no blackout dates. and with every purchase, you'll earn unlimited double miles. from now on, no one's taking your seat away. what's in your wallet? you're playing for more than one million dollars. from now on, no one's taking your seat away. you're playing for greatness. play monopoly at mcdonald's for your shot at millions of prizes. let's play this game. the game you love is back.

♪

it's amanda. hey sweetie. what? [phones rings] okay, i'll send it. one hundred seventy-two dollars for a chemistry book, what is it, made of gold? just use citi popmoney. boom. ah, she's feeling lucky. hey sweetie...cancun, yeah no, you'll be spending spring break with your new chemistry book. with citi popmoney it's easy to send money to just about anyone, anytime. visit your local branch or citi.com/easierbanking to learn more.

when we head to the doctor, we often sit there in the waiting room for hours. it turns out someone else is waiting, too. uncle sam. turns out some doctors haven't paid back their student loans. matt gutman making some unexpected house calls. >> reporter: "20/20"'s on the trail of mooching doctors. apparently living large, operating practices in high rent places like malibu, california, or key biscayne, florida. here in chicago's expensive gold coast area, dentist mladen kralj runs a dental practice in the penthouse of this office building. oh, and there's another thing you should know about the good doctor. the government has dubbed him a deadbeat for defaulting on over

$390,000 in student loans. i'm matt gutman from abc news. so we decided to pay the dentist a call. no, where are you going? come back. we just want to ask you why the government says that you've absconded on about $380,000 worth of loans? wondering why you haven't paid it back. >> i'm actually in repayment form with them. i've had some issues here. >> reporter: kralj is just one of hundreds of doctors outed on this list. part of a public name and shame campaign by the department of education to get slacking doctors to pay up on their defaulted student loans. >> they're absconding with the money and they're being obstinate about not giving it back. >> we're looking for dr. press. are you dr. press by any chance? >> doctor, how are you doing today? >> sir, why don't you talk to us? >> reporter: and all around the country, doctors are coming down with bad cases of "reporter-itis." the symptoms, raised blood pressure, and a sudden difficulty answering why they are on the government's list. >> why is your name on the list? >> i don't know. >> reporter: now a defaulted student loan is nothing new, but we're not talking about young psych majors trying to pay off

their degrees while working at starbucks. the average doctor makes $187,000 a year! all told the government says these mooching medics have defaulted on over $100 million dollars in student loans, and left taxpayers holding the bag. why should people care that these doctors are absconding with government money? >> physicians have a higher calling in the community. a higher responsibility. they provide medical care for people. the hippocratic oath says, "do no harm." why should they be doing harm to taxpayers? >> reporter: why did the government make a big deal out of this? >> public humiliation has largely worked. >> reporter: thousands have paid.

but there are still over 800 holdouts on that list, including podiatrist scott kantro who owes over $287,000 and graduated way back in 1979. dr. kantro has made a name for himself as a medical inventor. check him out on youtube. >> we're just going to place this on the floor in front of you. >> reporter: according to his bio, kantro has been a medical consultant to big names like donna karan, the new york giants, and the jacksonville jaguars. and the doctor's done well enough for himself to live in this upscale home in new york. now kantro refused to talk to "20/20" on camera, but told us it was all just a big mistake. he'd actually paid off his debt 30 years ago. of course, he did refuse to give us permission to verify his story with the government. this loan goes back decades, why don't you talk to us, sir? and there are plenty of other docs who seem to be doing just fine. last month my colleague at wabc-tv in new york, jim hoffer, tracked down doctors on the list who hid inside their huge homes or ran to their luxury cars. like brooklyn dentist, sammy saadia, who owes $156,000. >> this is almost 20 years old,

more than 20 years, you graduated from nyu. sir, sir, just stop and explain to us. >> we made special arrangements. and that doesn't reflect the true value. >> well, why is your name on the list? >> i don't know. >> reporter: hoffer also put the screws on one of doctors with the biggest debt on the list. podiatrist demi turner who drives a brand new car to his practice in montclair, new jersey. >> you owe almost $700,000. >> i am unable to comment on that because that is ongoing litigation. >> sir, why don't you talk to us and explain what's wrong here? >> it's an ambush. >> reporter: dr. turner's lawyer says they are working with the u.s. attorney's office, and while he disputes the amount owed, turner says he really wants to settle the debt. >> you just meet your obligations. >> reporter: now we all know that most doctors are responsible, upstanding citizens

like dr. chantel murrahshe. a podiatrist in ogden, utah. she scrimped and saved to repay $170,000 in student loans. >> we would have to kind of justify every penny i was spending. >> reporter: despite the hardship, murrah's proud she made good on her financial obligation. >> it was such a big accomplishment to know that i paid those student loans off. >> reporter: now to be clear, the government has tried to go after the deadbeat docs over the years. it's seized tax refunds, even garnished bank accounts. and of course those efforts cost taxpayers money too. >> it's a double raw deal. the original loans don't get paid back. but many say, forget it. just come after me. >> reporter: take that dentist in chicago, dr. mladen kralj. he was sued by the justice department years ago and was ordered to pay the money back. but as of today, he owes more than ever because of principal and interest. kralj tells me times have been tough because he's lost a key investor, and hasn't been paid

in months. >> everybody has circumstances in their life. >> that, that's true. >> life is not easy. and you know, millions of americans pay back their student loans. >> yeah. i understand that. there's circumstances in my life that are very sensitive that happened during this part, that i've never been able to catch up properly. >> okay. >> okay. i'm trying to take responsibility for all of this simply because it's caught up. >> a guy telling you that life has gotten in the way of him paying a loan that he's owed for 20 years, you don't buy it? >> there's some level of sympathy, perhaps. but not over this long period of time. that's a really long time to keep fighting, and not paying. >> reporter: dr. murrah certainly understands hard times. but she has little sympathy for working doctors who took the money years ago and still haven't paid up. >> that's just not something i could have done. i would reconsider if i was trying to be a deadbeat on my student loans. you just never know if it's going to get back to you. and have them say, they didn't

pay their loans. next, phony fortune tellers, pay their loans. next, phony fortune tellers, mooching off your money. glade scents evoke the most beautiful feelings. they can inspire and exhilarate. make you smile. calm you down. lift you up to feeling more. our 37 unique fragrances spark every emotion imaginable. what will glade inspire in you? sc johnson, a family company.

hi there! we brought queso! oh my! i'll cube the velveeta. i'll add the rotel diced tomatoes and green chilies. i love it. quesofantastic!

so did you hear the new iphone is out? i'm getting one! sprint is offering this exclusive new plan with unlimited data. the plan is only $50 a month! $50? unlimited iphone! [glass shattering] so should we eat? the new sprint simply unlimited plan, exclusively for iphone 6. unlimited data, talk and text for just $50 a month. switch to sprint and we'll buy out your contract. it's the best value in wireless. we've been chasing down so-called moochers on "20/20" for a while. and this there was a big development recently for someone that said they could see the future, but only saw dollar

signs. >> reporter: in our last moochers episode, we introduced you to private investigator bob nygaard, a man on a mission to stop what he considers the most malevolent moochers around, psychics who prey on troubled people who just really need some comfort and counsel. >> people are going through a very difficult time in their life and they're very vulnerable. >> reporter: people like debra saalfield, who forked over $27,000 to new york city psychic sylvia mitchell, now serving a prison sentence for grand larceny. >> the amount of money that we're talking about is astronomical. >> reporter: how astronomical? in one case, try $900,000. that's the total sum swindled from mary james' retirement savings after her son bryan fell under the spell of california psychic april lee. >> i'm mad at the psychic for how she manipulated my son. >> i want nothing more than my mom to be paid back. >> reporter: that's where nygaard comes in. working with law enforcement, he tracks down his elusive target. she's driving in style in a brand-new mercedes, and now wants an additional $511,000 to help remove a curse on bryan. a meet is arranged.

bryan heads to an office where the supposed money transfer will happen. then, in the parking lot, cops move in to arrest the psychic and her boyfriend. >> april looked shocked. they had no idea they were gonna be arrested. >> it was just really great to see bryan be able to turn the tables on the con artist. >> reporter: and tonight we can report that april lee has accepted a plea deal, pleading no contest to felony grand larceny, and she's promising to into the eyes of a mad

man. a northern california cop killer is caught. >> a full report on a deadly two-co