Crime isn't all shovels and rope, ya know. In fact, in the modern age of tech, a bit of technical know-how and an internet connection have been more than enough for some of history's most devious con-artists to pull some truly devious schemes.
So, this week, instead of the grizzly and gruesome, we're focusing in on the hacks and scams that made headlines the world around.
Let's go 💻😎
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The Dropout - Where Have You Been, Elizabeth Holmes
https://open.spotify.com/episode/7K8EI6TGngpdYdRJ7kh9g6?si=PTX82XP5SeOFP0v9v6uQ-g&dl_branch=1
Many already know the story of Elizabeth Holmes; from the world's first female self-made billionaire to a celebrity criminal, Holmes put the lives of thousands in danger when she helmed the creation of a revolutionary healthcare technology (that turned out to be a scam). Now, as she awaits a monumental trial, what has she been busy doing? You might be surprised to find out.
Lazarus Heist - Hacking Hollywood
https://open.spotify.com/episode/1cbEa85IR8X0Zqg8BslTLi?si=1lQUi1zaQ46k8gSi0SSi9w&dl_branch=1
"The Sony Hack", as it's become known, was one of the most ambitious and scandalous heists of all time; and it all took place online. The data of millions, the work of thousands, and the ongoing tension between two countries-- the USA and North Korea-- all put under the pressure of a group of mastermind hackers. The Lazerus Heist goes through every bit of it to get to the bottom.
A Death in Cryptoland - The Body
https://open.spotify.com/episode/5XXBVlKrQ0cBhII80dQ04v?si=UMeNlY_iT1WeUE0hcIwySA&dl_branch=1
When you're a high-profile, multi-million dollar cryptocurrency CEO, it's not generally advisable to fall deathly ill on your honeymoon. Unfortunately, that seems to be exactly what happened to Gerald Cotten, CEO of QuadrigaCX. After a cover-up scheme, a quarter-billion dollars worth of missing assets, and a mismatched timeline, many upset crypto holders began to wonder if Gerald's story was all above-board.
Internet Urban Legends - The Momo Challenge
https://open.spotify.com/episode/0EGsSBneO7OcspWusjsQRj?si=pSRlduPEQvaeVoWgu1-65w&dl_branch=1
Last decade, it was Slenderman. Before that, Bloody Mary. Horror, hysteria, myth, and folklore have fascinated the minds of the youth for generations. This time around, after a horrifying hybrid of a bird and a woman called Momo began to appear on the devices of young children through apps like WhatsApp and Youtube, some very bad things started to occur in both the digital and real world.
You're Wrong About - Y2K
https://open.spotify.com/episode/1V4MHXfRaLkhVagTWQUO0K?si=q7ZjfPFiQ16FOzpVaJynZA&dl_branch=1
The very second that the world's clocks and devices switched from the year 1999 to the year 2000, many predicted a large-scale apocalypse event complete with nuclear bombs and crashing planes. Of course, this didn't happen. Was the Y2K hysteria all due to misinformation about the technology of the time? Or is there a different story behind the mayhem?
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We hope you've had your fill of these digital delinquents, we'll certainly be putting a little bit of tape over our webcams for the foreseeable future...
Looking for more True Crime? Jump into last week's True Crime Tuesday post.