Documentaries and TV shows based on true crime are definitely a guilty pleasure of ours, but over the past few months, one type of criminal has risen above them all: con artists.
There’s just something about an intricately planned crime that captures your attention. Most of the time it’s outlandish and completely farfetched, but you only realise how obvious the fraud was once the con artist is caught.
From the Tinder Swindler, to Inventing Anna, here are the best shows about scammers you need to watch.
The Dropout
Starring Amanda Seyfried as Theranos founder Elizabeth Holmes, The Dropout tells the story of how a promising startup that claimed to run hundreds of medical tests from a few drops of blood was quickly exposed to be a scam. Holmes, who was once the youngest self-made female billionaire and was expected to become the next Steve Jobs, is now facing up to 20 years in prison.
Tinder Swindler
Prepare to feel red with rage because the Tinder Swindler is possibly one of the most infuriating documentaries you’ll ever watch. The dating world is already terrifying enough, but men like Simon Leviev are the reason women have trust issues. This two-hour feature film recounts the story of the Israeli con-man who took advantage of women emotionally and financially by pretending he was the son of a wealthy diamond mogul.
Inventing Anna
Inventing Anna is the latest Shonda Rhimes TV series to take flight. Just like the name suggests, the story revolves around Anna Sorokin, a Russian-born con-woman who fooled the world into thinking she was a German heiress named Anna Delvey. She went on to scam New York’s elite as well as different banks and hotels.
WeCrashed
Coming to Apple TV+ soon, WeCrashed not only features a star-studded cast, but also a gripping storyline. Based on the rise and drastic fall of international co-working brand WeWork, the series takes viewers inside the actual events and life of disgraced CEO and co-founder Adam Neumann and his wife Rebekaj Neumann.
The Eyes of Tammy Faye
Jessica Chastain gave an Oscar-worthy performance in The Eyes of Tammy Faye alongside the ever-so-talented Andrew Garfield. The movie is about a real Christian televangelist power couple who rose to fame in the ’70s, after founding the conservative PTL “Praise the Lord” Television Network. But after allegations of financial fraud and sexual harassment, the couple’s status in society rapidly starts to decline.
