Con Artists
Anyone can fall victim to a con. But what kind of person intentionally tries to deceive and manipulate someone? Peek behind the masks of hustlers, swindlers, and fraudsters, and explore how far someone would go to gain money, power, and respect. Con Artists is a Spotify Original from Parcast.
26
Joseph Weil Pt. 1: “Financial Fraud”
Better known as “The Yellow Kid,” Joseph Weil was a Chicago con artist in the 1890s who swindled people for over half a century.
36 min
27
Con Artists Bites: Poisoning
Today we’re discussing cases of killers poisoning their victims.
17 min
28
Mark Hofmann Pt. 2: “Religious Forgeries”
In the late 1980s, detectives investigated a string of killings that ultimately led them to unmask Mark Hofmann as one of history's most prolific documents forgers—and a murderer.
40 min
29
Con Artists Bites: Economic Misfortune
Today we’re discussing cases of criminality inspired by economic misfortune. What happens when a person who has fallen on hard times turns to a life of crime?
17 min
30
Mark Hofmann Pt. 1: “Religious Forgeries”
In the mid-1980s, Mark Hofmann was one of America’s most prolific and successful forgers.
42 min
31
Con Artists Bites: Isolation
Today we’re discussing cases of isolation. What kind of effect does living in isolation—with little contact with the outside world, friends, or family—have on the psyche? We’ll take a closer look using clips from shows across the Parcast Network.
17 min
32
Bre-X Pt. 2: “Mining Fraud”
From 1993 until 1997, Bre-X stocks soared from pennies to billions of dollars, all based on steadily increasing estimates of gold beneath the soil in Busang.
40 min
33
Con Artists Bites: Satanism
Today we’re discussing Satanism. What kind of influence has Satanism had on crime and society? We’ll explore this topic using clips from shows across the Parcast Network.
15 min
34
Bre-X Pt. 1: “Mining Fraud”
Founded in Canada in 1989, Bre-X was the last-ditch effort of failed prospector, David Walsh, to literally strike gold.
37 min
35
Con Artists Bites: Crimes That Changed Society
Today we will take you chronologically through three crimes that inspired change in society, laws, or policies.
15 min
36
Lou Pearlman Pt. 2: “Entertainment Mogul”
For over 20 years, music mogul Lou Pearlman perpetrated one of the longest-running Ponzi schemes in history, scamming investors out of more than $300 million.
45 min
37
Con Artists Bites: Political Crimes
Today we’re discussing political crimes. What types of political crimes are there, and what is their impact on society and governments as a whole?
17 min
38
Lou Pearlman Pt. 1: “Entertainment Mogul”
He sparked the rise of the Backstreet Boys and *NSYNC in the 1990s.
35 min
39
Con Artists Bites: Torture
Today we’re discussing cases in which a criminal tortured their victim. What would compel someone to torture another person, and what are the lasting effects on a victim who was tortured?
19 min
40
Steven Russell Pt. 2: “Con For Love”
In 1995, Steven Russell met and fell madly in love with Phillip Morris, a man who inspired his most ingenious cons and audacious prison breaks.
43 min
41
Con Artists Bites: Wealthy Criminals
Today we’ll focus on wealthy criminals. We’ll discuss what leads high-status individuals to commit crimes, as well as the consequences they face once captured.
19 min
42
Steven Russell Pt. 1: “Con For Love”
After cutting his teeth on his family's illegal bid-rigging scheme, Steven Russell branched out into his own criminal enterprises, scamming corporations in Texas out of tens of thousands of dollars.
45 min
43
Introducing SON OF A HITMAN, A Spotify Original...
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13 min
44
Con Artists Bites: Revenge Killings
What makes someone so vengeful, they’re willing to take a human life? Using clips from across the Parcast Network, we’ll search for clues by taking a closer look at some of history’s most infamous revenge killings.
16 min
45
Jefferson Randolph "Soapy" Smith Pt. 2
In the late 1800s, notorious outlaw and con artist Jefferson “Soapy” Smith had created a criminal empire in Denver.
41 min
46
Con Artists Bites: Dead Political Figures
Today we’re discussing the deaths of American political figures. Whether their demise came at the hands of an assassin, or a political rival, the loss of each of these leaders left an indelible impact on U.S. history.
17 min
47
Jefferson Randolph "Soapy" Smith Pt. 1
At the end of the 19th century, Jefferson Smith was just a teenage cowboy who stumbled into the world of shell games and card sharps.
42 min
48
Con Artists Bites: First Murders
Today we’re discussing serial killers’ first murders. What did the murders look like and how does a killer’s modus operandi change after their first slaying?
15 min
49
Barry Minkow Pt. 2: “ZZZZ Best”
In the 1990s, California native Barry Minkow was finally released from jail.
46 min
50
Con Artists Bites: Clues Left Behind
Today we’re discussing the clues that criminals left behind and the ways in which the police used them to hunt down their suspect.
17 min