Scamfluencers
Audible
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. 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.Audible subscribers can listen to all episodes of Scamfluencers ad-free right now. Join Audible today by downloading the Audible app.
Episodes
Mentioned books
Mar 23, 2026 • 46min
ENCORE: Ozy Media: Pivot to Fraud | 206
A high-flying media startup built on flashy promises and shaky numbers. Tales of fabricated contracts, identity impersonation on fundraising calls, and staged audience metrics. Inside accounts of toxic newsroom pressure, ill-fated festivals, and investors walking away. The unraveling accelerates after a major exposé and leads to arrests and heated public denials.
9 snips
Mar 16, 2026 • 42min
ENCORE: Melissa Caddick: Trouble Afoot | 205
A true crime revisit about a financial planner who lived large on fake returns and then vanished. The story tracks how friends were recruited into a Ponzi style scheme and how forged statements and stolen licenses masked the fraud. It covers the dramatic raid, frozen accounts, a mysterious discovery that captivated the public, and the long fallout for victims and loved ones.
Mar 9, 2026 • 57min
Bernard Lafferty: The Billionaire Butler | 204
A tangled life-and-death wealth struggle unfolds around a reclusive heiress and the controversial butler she trusted. Power plays, legal fights, and shocking decisions in her final years drive the drama. Themes of isolation, betrayal, and the strange ecosystem that forms around immense wealth take center stage.
Mar 2, 2026 • 54min
Pat Nolan: Here Comes the Bribe | 203
A rising conservative powerbroker gets caught in an elaborate FBI sting involving fake shrimp companies and pay-to-play checks. The story tracks a dramatic fall from political prominence to a racketeering conviction and prison. Then comes a surprising rebound as he pivots to prison reform, navigating pardons and a tangled legacy.
10 snips
Feb 23, 2026 • 54min
The Salt Path: A Long Walk From the Truth | 202
A bestselling memoir's rise and the tangled truth behind its origin. A couple’s dramatic long walk and the health claims that captivated readers. Allegations of past theft, financial schemes, and hidden property complicate the narrative. Journalists dig into inconsistencies and the ethics of memoir writing.
19 snips
Feb 16, 2026 • 54min
Jerry Jacobson: The Real Hamburglar | 201
A secret theft behind a beloved fast-food promotion is uncovered. The story follows a security insider who redirected winning pieces and enlisted organized crime. Undercover stings, high-stakes raids, and courtroom fallout unfold. The scandal's long ripple effects on victims and the company are explored.
10 snips
Feb 9, 2026 • 43min
Matt Bergwall: Return to Sender | 200
A college tech prodigy discovers and exploits a refund-system vulnerability to run a massive return-fraud operation. The story follows the rise of an online service that scaled fake returns, the pressures of managing an illegal business, and a lifestyle of luxury built on stolen money. It traces law enforcement's counterstrike, legal fallout, mental health questions, and the consequences of online deception.
15 snips
Feb 2, 2026 • 56min
Napoleon Hill: The Self-Help Scammer Scion | 199
A deep dive into the rise of a self-help impresario who built wealth on tall tales and clever marketing. Listeners hear about fabricated biographies, shady recruitment schemes, and fraud investigations. The story traces how one bestselling book shaped the modern positive-thinking industry and influenced later motivational movements.
26 snips
Jan 26, 2026 • 47min
Brittish Williams: Out of Bounds | 198
A reality TV star's rise from a troubled childhood to international romance and a storefront drama. Financial schemes, student loan and pandemic loan fraud, and a purchased credit privacy number. Arrests, guilty pleas, sentencing and restitution dominate the legal fallout. Fame, social media and a contested narrative of accountability round out the story.
10 snips
Jan 19, 2026 • 1h 4min
Charlie Javice: Fake It Til You Make It | 197
In this riveting discussion, the rise and fall of Charlie Javice unfolds, revealing her ambitious journey from privileged student to startup founder. The hosts dive into her initial microfinance venture, the controversial claims of her financial aid platform, and the perilous fabrications that ensued. As J.P. Morgan investigates, Charlie’s creation of fake user data leads to disastrous outcomes. Legal battles culminate in her arrest and conviction, highlighting the risks and realities of startup culture.
