Harebrained Schemes

Bibi and Sibel are off this week, so enjoy this absolute comedy of a story from the archives!

No matter how outrageous or outlandish the scheme, Timmy D could not lose! Hop onto perhaps the most hilarious episode yet with Bibi and Sibel as they tell you about the legendary Massachusetts "nobleman", Timothy Dexter! Clearly especially blessed by the gods, the man defied all logic , making millions on gut instinct and a second-grade education, much to the consternation and chagrin of the Newburyport elite.

Podcast Socials:

https://linktr.ee/hairbrainedschemes

Pitch A Podcast Idea:

https://thepodpirenetwork.com/pitchapod

Episode References:

Timothy Dexter https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timothy_Dexter

Timothy Dexter, the Ridiculous Millionaire Who Sold Coals to Newcastle https://www.newenglandhistoricalsociety.com/timothy-dexter-ridiculous-millionaire-sold-coals-newcastle/

The Strange Life Of ‘Lord’ Timothy Dexter, The Eccentric 18th-Century Millionaire Whose Success Defied Reason https://allthatsinteresting.com/timothy-dexter

Timothy Dexter: The Dumbest Rags-to-Riches Story https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ChSUvdU_Sbk

The Absolute Legend That was Lord Timothy Dexter https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s2uEwDTHwnU

The Strange Life of the LUCKIEST Millionaire Ever | Timothy Dexter https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HVVojh7_u7k

Warning: This episode is not funny. What it is, is a look at the greed that exists in the world of hedge funds and big pharma, as embodied by one Martin Shkreli, the guy who took a life-saving drug and inflated its price by several thousand percent. However, as disgusting as that was, it was entirely another scheme that landed him in prison.


Episode References:

Martin Shkreli: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Martin_Shkreli#Criminal_prosecution_and_conviction

Martin Shkreli Sentenced to Seven Years’ Imprisonment for Multi-Million Dollar Fraud Scheme: https://www.justice.gov/usao-edny/pr/martin-shkreli-sentenced-seven-years-imprisonment-multi-million-dollar-fraud-scheme

SEC Charges Martin Shkreli With Fraud: https://www.sec.gov/news/press-release/2015-282

At an age when most people are contemplating or already deep into retirement, this group of aging and aged gentlemen decided to rob a prominent London safe deposit fortress during a bank holiday. Apparently, 60 is the new 30!


Episode References:

Hatton Garden safe deposit burglary: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hatton_Garden_safe_deposit_burglary

THE HATTON GARDEN CRIMINALS: https://www.crimeandinvestigation.co.uk/article/the-hatton-garden-criminals

How does a streetwise kid transform himself into an Arabian Prince without a genie? Ask Anthony Gignac who successfully passed himself off to some of America's wealthiest people as a royal prince of Saudi Arabia!

Fast cars, penthouses, fake DSS agents and a chihuahua named Foxy are just some of the details that make this over-the-top story a treat to listen to. Come join the tomfoolery delivered the way only Bibi and Sibel can!

Podcast Socials: https://linktr.ee/hairbrainedschemes

Episode References:

How a fake Saudi Prince conned investors out of nearly $8 million: https://www.cnbc.com/2020/01/06/how-fake-saudi-prince-anthony-gignac-conned-investors-out-of-millions.html

How the Fake Saudi Prince, Anthony Gignac, Was Exposed: https://www.vanityfair.com/style/2018/10/how-the-fake-saudi-prince-anthony-gignac-was-exposed

If you thought Anna Sorokin's shenanigans in New York as the heiress Anna Delvey were epic, wait until you get a load of Sarah Wilson, AKA Princess Susanna Caroline Matilda, true-born sister of Her Royal Magesty, Queen Charlotte of England!

From common thief to indentured servant, to touring English princess in 1700's America, this woman lived a life and a half! Bibi and Sibel are back with their infectious humor and undeniable chemistry in this opening salvo of Season 2 of your favorite comedy podcast!

Podcast Socials: https://linktr.ee/hairbrainedschemes

Episode References:

Princess Susanna: Colonial Con-woman: https://thecasualcriminalist.com/podcasts/princess-susanna-colonial-con-woman/

Sarah Wilson (impostor): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sarah_Wilson_(impostor)

Down on your luck and hatching a plan that involves kidnapping the crown prince of music and Ol' Blue Eyes' son and namesake? Don't. First, don't do crimes, people! And second, Barry Keenan and his group of would-be criminals-of-the-century found out in 1960s' California that a plan is not only as good as its execution, but also what happens afterward. After initially getting away almost clean with the crime, ransom in hand, one particularly unforced error gets them all rounded up and thrown in jail.

This ridiculous story is the perfect final episode for what has been a fantastically hilarious and eye-opening first season of Hairbrained Schemes! Bibi snd Sibel will be back July 8!

Podcast Socials: https://linktr.ee/hairbrainedschemes

Episode References:

Barry Keenan (Wikipedia): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barry_Keenan

FIFTY-ONE YEARS LATER, FRANK SINATRA JR.’S KIDNAPPING STILL RAISES QUESTIONS: https://themobmuseum.org/blog/fifty-one-years-later-frank-sinatra-jr-s-kidnapping-still-raises-questions/

The True Story of the 1963 Kidnapping of Frank Sinatra Jr.: https://worldnewsera.com/news/entertainment/the-true-story-of-the-1963-kidnapping-of-frank-sinatra-jr/

Frank Sinatra, Jr., Kidnapping: https://www.fbi.gov/history/famous-cases/frank-sinatra-jr-kidnapping

The Bizzarre And Terribly Executed Kidnapping Of Frank Sinatra Jr.: https://allthatsinteresting.com/frank-sinatra-jr-kidnapping

If you thought the Tinder Swindler was bad, you really should meet Ramesh Swain, who's been dubbed India's Tinder Swindler. However, Bibi and Sibel seem to think that Ramesh is somehow worse because at least, the Tinder Swindler didn't marry anyone as part of his schemes (that we know of). Ramesh on the other hand, marries 27 women in a bid to defraud.

Podcast Socials: https://linktr.ee/hairbrainedschemes

Episode References:

Who Is Ramesh Kumar Swain? Know More About India's 'Tinder Swindler' Who Defrauded & Married 27 Women: https://in.mashable.com/culture/27780/who-is-ramesh-kumar-swain-know-more-about-indias-tinder-swindler-who-defrauded-married-27-women

Story Of India’s Tinder Swindler, Man Who Married 27 Women From 10 States & Stole Their Money: https://www.postoast.com/ramesh-kumar-swain-india-tinder-swindler/

‘I Hope He Rots in Jail’: Man Who Married and Swindled 18 Women Arrested: https://www.vice.com/en/article/xgd5ek/marriage-swindler-swain-india-scam-18-wives

This episode is a public service effort by your two favorite podcast hosts, to warn you about the dangers of falling for the allure of so-called "wellness influencers".

About a decade ago, Belle Gibson decided she would capitalize on the desperation of people going through cancer and cancer treatment. Lies, greed, deceit and pure evil ensue in this tale of yet another wildly unqualified individual posing as an expert in the health and wellness space.

There are way fewer things than usual to laugh about on this episode, but if you were ever going to listen to an episode that covers something so grim, you'd be hard-pressed to find a duo to present it better than Bibi and Sibel.

Podcast Socials: https://linktr.ee/hairbrainedschemes

Episode References:

Belle Gibson - Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Belle_Gibson

Belle Gibson: The influencer who lied about having cancer: https://www.bbc.co.uk/bbcthree/article/b2538e04-87f5-4af5-bd6f-f6cf88b488c4

Cancer conwoman Belle Gibson’s home raided to try to recoup unpaid fines: https://amp.theguardian.com/australia-news/2021/may/21/cancer-con-woman-belle-gibsons-home-raided-to-try-to-recoup-unpaid-fines

If you've had a Netflix subscription over the past couple of months, you've probably heard of the Tinder Swindler. This week, we take a look at the romance scams across Europe run by Shimon Hayut AKA Simon Leviev and the man behind them.

It's another fun episode you'll thoroughly enjoy!

Podcast Socials: https://linktr.ee/hairbrainedschemes

Episode References:

Simon Leviev: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Simon_Leviev

Simon Leviev: Everything we know about The Tinder Swindler after Netflix hit: https://news.yahoo.com/simon-leviev-everything-know-tinder-135040663.html?guccounter=1&guce_referrer=aHR0cHM6Ly9kdWNrZHVja2dvLmNvbS8&guce_referrer_sig=AQAAAELtTeRJMSujZDkDoCb1DbwN2V6LOWW0MToWFS0dFlSYeCJYOaxnLOHc_Q-W3qOYGfQk4vs-VyADNMSl3C2Tc8OLhnFUYnITn3r7bGEna7wXuZbueS9EiylbsbSzD1dDQ6fEE0FYpYQFK8nkaMAA9TK8Klpj_iVzg-m6Jz4x4unR

Simon Leviev Says 'I Am Not the Tinder Swindler' in New Interview Airing Next Week: https://people.com/crime/simon-leviev-says-i-am-not-the-tinder-swindler-in-new-interview-airing-next-week/

Bibi and Sibel had so much fun last episode, they decided to keep the fun going this week by bringing you another story of someone selling monuments they didn't own. Enter, George C. Parker, a con man so prolific, he was at one time known as the greatest conman in America. With exploits almost rivaling last week's Victor Lustig, Bibi and Sibel have a heck of a time taking you back in time to 1800's through early-1900's New York.

Podcast Socials: https://linktr.ee/hairbrainedschemes

Episode References:

George C. Parker: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_C._Parker

George C. Parker – The Man Who Sold Brooklyn Bridge: https://theirishmob.com/george-c-parker-the-man-who-sold-brooklyn-bridge/

The Man who Sold the Brooklyn Bridge: http://www.historynaked.com/man-sold-brooklyn-bridge/

The Brooklyn Bridge — “If you believe that, I have a bridge in Brooklyn to sell to you”: https://nycwalks.com/blog/the-brooklyn-bridge-if-you-believe-that-i-have-a-bridge-in-brooklyn-to-sell-to-you/

Con Artist George Parker Sold Brooklyn Bridge And Famous Monuments: https://racingnelliebly.com/strange_times/con-artist-george-parker-sold-brooklyn-bridge/