108 episodes
Scamfluencers Wondery
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- Society & Culture
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4.1 • 5.8K Ratings
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You never really know someone…especially online. In today’s world, the power of influence can be the quickest path to money and fame, and it often ends in ruin. These are the stories of the world’s most insidious Scamfluencers. And we are their prey. On Wondery’s new weekly series, join co-hosts Scaachi Koul and Sarah Hagi as they unpack epic stories of deception from the worlds of social media, fashion, finance, health, and wellness. These influencers claim to be everything from charismatic healers to trusted financial insiders to experts in dating. They cast spells over millions. Why do we believe them, and how does our culture allow them to thrive? From Black Swan Murder to a fake social media influencer to an audacious Hollywood Ponzi schemer, each season will take the listener along the twists and turns, the impact on victims, and what’s left when the facade falls away.
New episodes come out every Monday for free, with 1-week early access for Wondery+ subscribers. Listen ad-free on Wondery+ or on Amazon Music with a Prime membership or Amazon Music Unlimited subscription.
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Leona Helmsley: The Art of the Steal Part 2
This episode comes out for free on 04/22, and is available early and ad-free for Wondery+ subscribers.
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Leona Helmsley’s perch atop the world of Manhattan real estate is threatened by federal tax evasion charges. Her trial gives all the people she bullied a chance to hit back. With her dirty laundry aired out for all to see, the Queen of Mean is served her just desserts. But as she soldiers on without her beloved Harry, Leona will have terrible trouble defending her riches, and her heart. -
Leona Helmsley: The Art of the Steal Part 1
Leona Helmsley escapes Depression-era poverty by marrying billionaire real estate magnate Harry Helmsley. She takes over his Manhattan hotels and declares herself Queen of the Palace, then earns a royal reputation for berating, bullying, and firing employees at the drop of a hat. But when her tax bills come into question, everyone who’s worked under Leona gets their pitchforks ready to take down the Queen of Mean.
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Have Your Cake and Eat It, Too
Sandy Jenkins moves to the gossipy, small town of Corsicana, Texas to work in the town’s world-famous fruitcake factory. Desperate to keep up with his cliquey neighbors, Sandy starts cutting fruitcake factory checks to pay for jewelry, cars, a second home and private jet trips. But this half-baked scheme starts to crumble when a new employee takes a closer look at how Sandy cooks the books.
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Listen Now: The Big Flop
The Wing was supposed to be a model for feminist social clubs, built on activism, inclusion, and self-care. But instead, The Wing became a glaring example of toxic girlboss culture and workplace discrimination. On each episode of Wondery’s podcast The Big Flop, comedians join host Misha Brown to chronicle one of the biggest pop-culture fails of all time and try to answer the age-old question: who thought THIS was a good idea?
This is just a preview of The Big Flop. Listen to the full episode wherever you get your podcasts, or at wondery.fm/the-big-flop.
For more deep dive and daily business content listen to Wondery – the destination for business podcasts. With shows like How I Built This, Business Wars, The Best One Yet, Business Movers and many more, Wondery Means Business.
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The Cell(phone) Block Tango
After a daring bank robbery, Arthur Cofield winds up behind bars as a teenager. But prison doesn’t put an end to his life of crime. Instead, it only emboldens him. From his cell, he becomes the head of a powerful criminal syndicate that targets the bank accounts of billionaires. But when Arthur gets a little too brazen, the authorities realize they know exactly where to find him: He’s already in custody.
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Dial M for Mom
When ex-cop Chris Butler opens a private investigation agency, he recruits some unlikely employees: good-looking soccer moms. His agency starts garnering tons of positive press and even gets a reality T.V. deal. It all seems too good to be true, but Butler is hiding a dirty secret. Pretty soon, his P.I. agency will become the subject of a different kind of investigation – this time, by the Department of Justice.
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Customer Reviews
Could be much better
I enjoy this podcast but can’t get past some things. The reactions seem pretty scripted, it’s just like bad acting.
And unfortunately I’m also a bit of a stickler about people speaking correctly when taking on informative roles. This ad they run has her saying “photogenic memory” — so painful. It’s photographic memory. Photogenic means that you are naturally nice looking when photographed. Also, please get an editor. “Surprisibly” is not a word. It’s “surprisingly.” If you’re out there with a broadcast platform you gotta do better. And mortified means embarrassed, not horrified. I could go on but maybe you’ll see this and fix these constant mistakes? Otherwise your subject matter and breakdown is great! Hence the 4 rating.
Stupid comment
You hate L.A.? L. A. hates you too.
Can’t Say Enough
Ladies,
You two are delightfully, magnificent, while being a professional juggernaut, astutely hilarious, and you both have the unmitigated nerve, to have the voices, like that of angels. We are blessed to have your podcast here on this earth, at this time and place. Your dynamic duo alone started my love of podcasts (scam, first of all). Basically, ladies you are absolutely wonderful!!!