
Rob Wolchek
Everyone knows me as the guy who puts people in the "HHHHHAAAALLLLL of Shame!" It's a job I never thought I'd end up doing but one that I have grown to love.
As a kid, I only had one ambition: to be a deejay on the radio. In 1978, I got my first broadcasting job playing country music at a radio station in Farmington, New Mexico. I was a terrible country deejay and was almost fired my first week. Luckily, I hung on to that job for a few months and finally got hired at a Top 40 station. The first song I played was "Hot Blooded" by Foreigner and it was such a relief after playing twangy country songs.
I worked in radio for many years and loved it until I got to be about 30 years old, when I decided it was time to get a 'real' job. The problem was, not too many real jobs interested me.
I was working as a traffic reporter for KNX radio in Los Angeles when a friend told me he was running the intern program at a local television station. I signed up but didn't really get anywhere until another intern and I went to San Francisco to cover the 1989 earthquake. I must have done a good job because I sold a bunch of stories to some of the big networks.
I took a job as a full time reporter at KGET-TV in Bakersfield shortly afterward. It was hard work. I had to shoot my own stories, produce, write, edit and report them too. And the pay was horrible. But, I'd convinced my wife to move from the glamour of Los Angeles to sticks of Bakersfield with the promise that someday I'd be a great reporter, so I had to grind it out for three long years.
After that, I went to KJEO-TV in Fresno. During the first week I was there, I was sent on a story about a special park made for disabled children that had been burned to the ground by arsonists. I was really moved by the story and angry with the hoodlums that torched a place that meant so much to kids who'd already had been dealt a tough hand. My stories started a drive to rebuild the park and I got a special award from the city of Fresno. All of a sudden, I got a reputation as an advocate for the people. I was soon dubbed the 'Scambuster' because I went after the bad guys who ripped off and cheated everybody. I won my first Emmy in Fresno for 'Scambusting.'
In 1997, I came to Fox 2. Since then, I've continued to hunt down scam artists and been lucky enough to win 25 more Emmy awards. I'm proud of the accomplishments I've had here in Detroit...exposing all kinds of scams, stopping bad guys and helping send a lot of them to prison. I've worked with lawmakers and the Governor to change laws and worked with police and prosecutors to make sure justice is served. Plus, I get to put all the crazy confrontations I have with the bad guys on Fox 2 for everyone to see!
The latest from Rob Wolchek
Ex-lawyer knee deep in dirty deeds
Rob Wolchek is going to take you on an adventure into dirty deed-land a place where the notaries seem to forget their notes. And the guy who seems to be knee-deep in deeds denies he's the top deed dog.
Former lawyer with dirty deeds claims he doesn't know jack
Meet Jack B. Wolfe, a former attorney connected to a number of deeds including one for a dead man signed by him after he died.
Former lawyer with dirty deeds claims he doesn't know Jack
Meet Jack B. Wolfe, a former attorney connected to a number of deeds including one for a dead man signed by him after he died.
Shady contractors get hammered with criminal charges
He is a contractor that built up a long criminal record and she stood by her man. Now, they will both be standing next to a lawyer in court.
Unlicensed contractors get nailed by Warren police
Rob Wolchek first introduced you to this couple after getting a bunch of complaints that they were taking big money from customers but doing very little work. Now Warren police is involved.
Macomb County contractor and his wife face criminal charges
They were partners in business, partners in life, and now a Macomb County couple is heading to court. accused of being partners in crime.
St. Mary Livonia doctors innovate under pressure, use military training to treat COVID-19
As Michigan's COVID-19 cases hit record highs, doctors and nurses at one Wayne County hospital are using their military training to help fight the virus.
Downriver mayor asked to step down day after winning re-election
A downriver mayor won his re-election bid but was asked to step down the very next day after some allegations surfaced. And now the challenger to his seat says he helped do the dirty work to remove him but doesn't benefit at all.
Ecorse mayoral candidate gets lesson in dirty politics
A downriver mayor won his re-election bid but was asked to step down the very next day after some allegations surfaced. And now the challenger to his seat says he helped do the dirty work to remove him but doesn't benefit at all.
How2Help - If your local restaurant needs a hand during another pandemic pause, we'll get the word out
But you can help keep the doors open. Rob Wolchek shows us some more great places to support with carry-out.