Scamfluencers

A charismatic salesman turns to fraud after finding success on 'Shark Tank.' Preying on vulnerable women, he manipulates and exploits them for personal gain. Through a police sting operation, the extent of his deception is revealed, leading to justice for his victims.

Alexandre Despallieres gets to live out his lifelong fantasy of recording a pop song when he’s just 19 years old. He thinks it’s his chance to achieve everything he’s always wanted, including music industry stardom. But when the single falls flat, Alexandre will have to find other ways of becoming rich and famous – even if it means lying, committing crimes, and swindling the wealthy benefactors who fall in love with him.Listen to Scamfluencers on the Wondery App or wherever you get your podcasts. You can listen early and ad-free on Wondery+. Join Wondery+ in the Wondery App, Apple Podcasts or Spotify. Start your free trial by visiting wondery.com/links/scamfluencers/ now.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Martha Stewart, successful entrepreneur, builds a lifestyle empire and faces an insider trading scandal. Her upbringing, early career, and challenges as a woman in business are discussed. The podcast also covers illegal insider trading, media frenzy, and the fallout on her business empire.

Jim and Tammy Faye Bakker, Christian broadcasting stars, rise to fame and build an empire which includes their own network and a theme park. However, their excessive spending and scandals lead them towards a judgment day. They face high stakes ahead of a live TV interview. Jim's search for a sign from God leads him to devote his life to the church. The rise of the Jim and Tammy Show sets them on a path to popularity. Their emotional performances on the PTL club captivate the audience. Despite being outsiders in the evangelical community, they pursue their ambitions to build a Christian theme park and university. Stay tuned for more on their trial, delays, and chaos in the next episode.

High-powered financial planner Melissa Caddick mysteriously vanishes after friends and family discover her involvement in a massive Ponzi scheme. The podcast explores her fraudulent investment scheme, deception and manipulation, and the impact on her clients. It also discusses trust, conspiracy theories, and financial plans while requesting scam stories tips.

Tom Girardi, a lawyer known for taking on corporations, is revealed to be fraudulent. His extravagant lifestyle with pop star wife Erika Jayne comes under scrutiny. The podcast explores his rise to success, involvement in high-profile cases, and political influence. It also delves into Erika's transformation into a pop star and their extravagant lifestyle. Tom's fraudulent schemes and the threat to their empire are discussed.

David Bunevacz is the king of faking it ‘til you make it. After running a shady Olympics ticket brokering scheme, he moves on to his most lucrative venture yet: A weed vape company that seems to be minting money. David and his family move into a Calabasas mansion once owned by Kylie Jenner. But when David starts enlisting his friends as investors in the company, they can smell that something isn’t right. It won’t be long before it all goes up in smoke.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In the mid-90s, Dr. Mehmet Oz is a rock star surgeon with a reputation for performing on high-profile clients. He eventually scores his own television show, and soon he becomes daytime television royalty. Oprah even dubs him “America’s doctor.” But his drive for stardom has him hawking questionable products, mostly related to weight loss. When his medical reputation is up in the air, he does what past-their-prime reality stars do best: he pivots to politics.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In the early 1980s, Lou Pearlman is riding high… literally. He rakes in millions of dollars from his blimp company — thanks to an insurance scam — and his private jet company is taking off, too. But Lou really starts to make the big bucks when he discovers the next big craze: boy bands. He helps turn the Backstreet Boys and N*Sync into global superstars… and his own personal cash cows. But his shady dealings will soon have the boys saying “Bye Bye Bye.”Need more Scamfluencers? With Wondery+, enjoy exclusive episodes, early access to new ones, and they’re always ad-free. Join Wondery+ in the Wondery App, Apple Podcasts, or Spotify. Start your free trial by visiting wondery.app.link/tgjpc8ryfSb now.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Jason Kurland starts out as a real estate lawyer on Long Island, but everything changes when he gets the opportunity to represent a major lottery winner. He quickly brands himself as the Lottery Lawyer and claims to help new millionaires and billionaires manage their wealth. But once these unsuspecting jackpot winners give Jason access to their bank accounts, their sudden good fortune begins to look like a curse.Support us by supporting our sponsors!See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.