Scamfluencers

The Catholic Conman

In the early 2000s, Raffaello Follieri makes a name for himself among the New York City elite. Fashioning himself as a savvy Italian businessman – it doesn’t hurt that he’s dating movie star Anne Hathaway – he hobnobs with billionaires and brags about his connections to the Catholic Church. Pretty soon, he lands a multi-million-dollar deal that funds his yacht trips, private jets, and personal chef. But when it turns out his supposed ties to the Vatican are flimsy, he’ll need more than a prayer to save himself.Support us by supporting our sponsors!See Privacy Policy at <a href="https://art19.com/privacy" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://art19.com/privacy</a> and California Privacy Notice at <a href="https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info</a>.

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. On Wondery’s new weekly series, 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.Listen to Scamfluencers on the Wondery App or wherever you get your podcasts. You can listen early and ad-free on Wondery+. Join Wondery+ in the Wondery App, Apple Podcasts or Spotify. Start your free trial by visiting <a href="https://wondery.com/links/scamfluencers/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">wondery.com/links/scamfluencers/</a> now.