Con Artists

By 1925, 28-year-old Franziska Schanzkowsky had forged a new life for herself posing as the long lost Russian monarch, Anastasia Romanov. For decades she would bounce from the palaces and mansions of her wealthy supporters across Europes and America, honing her skills as a master manipulator. But when a series of events threatens to unmask her, Franziska will go to great lengths to maintain her con at any cost.

Parcasters - Watergate forever changed the way Americans look at the presidency, but could there be more to the story? Find out today on Conspiracy Theories! Subscribe to Conspiracy Theories on Spotify to listen now!

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Franziska Schanzkowsky always thought she was destined for something bigger than the life of a Polish peasant. In 1921, after the fall of the Romanov Empire, 24-year-old Franziska claimed she was the Grand Duchess Anastasia, the youngest daughter of deposed Tsar Nicholas II. But to maintain the lie, Franziska would have to surrender more of herself than she ever realized...including her sanity. 

Parcasters - This week on Crimes of Passion we take on the infamous case of Lorena and John Bobbitt! You won’t want to miss this one! Listen today on Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts.

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In May of 1998, rock-star journalist Stephen Glass tried to break into the burgeoning field of reporting: digital technology. He wrote an article that impressed his colleagues, his editor, and the general public. Unfortunately, not a word of it was true. 

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In the 1990's, young writer Stephen Glass left college and entered the journalism world, quickly becoming a rising star. At the New Republic magazine in Washington D.C., Stephen dazzled his editors and captured his readers with compelling pieces written in specific, colorful detail, but it was all false. 

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For decades, Bernie Madoff ran one of the largest Ponzi schemes in history, stealing billions of dollars from thousands of people, all under the guise of savvy investment techniques. But in the early 2000s, the wrong people finally asked the right questions and took a closer look at his money management. Madoff scrambled to fool the SEC - again - and hold onto the fortune he built on lies.

Parcasters - This week on The Dark Side Of, we move on from Hollywood and start our exploration of the music industry. Our first episode details the myth of the 27 Club, you won't want to miss it! Subscribe to The Dark Side Of on Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts.

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He stole from retirement funds, charities, and Holocaust survivors. And from the 1960s to 2008, people handed over their money willingly. In our first episode, we’ll see how Bernie Madoff turned his Manhattan broker-dealer firm into a vehicle for international fraud, and created the world’s largest Ponzi scheme.

Parcasters - Don’t miss all of our special Summer of ‘69 episodes by subscribing to Parcast Presents: Summer of ‘69, on Spotify, or anywhere you listen to podcasts!

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Parcast’s Original Show, Con Artists, peeks behind the masks of hustlers, swindlers, and Nigerian Princes. We’ll dive into their psychology, and teach listeners how to spot a con. Every week tells the story of a different scammer, someone like Gregor MacGregor, who sold investments in a fictional South American colony. Or fake MI5 agent Robert Hendy-Freegard. Or Charles Ponzi, inventor of the eponymous scheme. What kind of person runs a scam? And why do we trust them? Con Artists premieres Wednesday July 24th. New episodes available every Wednesday on Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts. Subscribe today!

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