Masterminds — Season 1

Aired 16 July 2003

The story of master forger Mark Hoffmann, who created numerous falsified documents relating to the founding of the Mormon church, and fooled experts all over the world

Aired 16 July 2003

Mark Hoffman fabricates more than 600 American historical documents.

Aired 29 September 2003

Britain's largest heist in history netted the culprit $90 million in jewels, cash and drugs.

Aired 6 October 2003

The criminal acts committed by Scott Scurlock, who robbed 19 Seattle banks between 1992 and 1996

Aired 3 November 2003

A woman who managed to con over $185,000 out of the residents of Colorado Springs

Aired 17 November 2003

Profile of America's most successful robber Amil Dinsio, who made history in 1972 when he raided the richest bank in the US

Aired 24 November 2003

Profile of Brian O'Dea, who used his job as a fisherman to import marijuana into America during the 1980s, making himself $200million in the process

Aired 8 December 2003

Two Americans discover the man who pulled off the biggest art fraud in U.K. history.

Aired 15 December 2003

On New Years Eve 1972, Bobby Comfort and his gang pulled off the largest hotel safe heist in U.S. history. It happened at the Pierre Hotel in New York City. After rehearsing a number of scenarios and planning their getaway, Comfort and his gang swooped into the hotel at 4am on New Years Eve. After two and a half hours, they greeted the New Year with more than $10 million dollars in cash and jewels.

Aired 22 December 2003

Profile of robber William Smarto who hid inside an Illinois bank until closing time and walked away with over $1,000,000 in loot

Aired 19 January 2004

Fraternity brothers use computer trickery to scam the horse-racing world.

Aired 14 February 2004

The criminals who won over $3million by forging winning horse racing tickets on the Breeders' Cup before being caught

Aired 20 February 2004

How the FBI tracked down notorious robber Paddy Mitchell and his gang of thieves who were capable of carrying out heists within 90 seconds

Aired 6 March 2004

Investigating the capture of Bill Dhaliwal and his gang of elite car thieves who were responsible for stealing high quality cars and selling them to unsuspecting buyers

Aired 26 March 2004

Albert Spaggiari's robbery of the Societe Generale bank in Nice in 1976, in which he stole gold, cash and gems worth millions

Aired 23 April 2004

They were the craftiest cat burglars of the 20th Century. For years, Peter Salerno and his partner Dominick Latella plagued the wealthy along the East Coast. In the summer, they struck homes in the ritzy suburbs of New York and Connecticut. When winter came, they trailed their prey to Palm Beach, . There, waterfront properties gave them a great advantage in avoiding police patrolling the roads by approaching their target homes by boat. Over the years they made millions pilfering from the elite of society. The heirs to multimillion dollar businesses such as DuPont, Macy's, Gimbles, the Vat 69 whiskey distillery and others were easy targets for the duo. Salerno and Latella were at the top of their game, and one of the keys to their success was a technique that other thieves would consider suicide. They broke in and carried out their robberies at a time when they knew security alarms would be inactive - while the families were at home having dinner.

Aired 16 April 2004

An insight into the sophisticated gang of thieves, including a jeweller and a former detective, who stole more than $6million in cash and gems over a 10 year period

Aired 25 April 2004

A profile of John Drewe, who was caught in 1997 for dealing in forged paintings that had fooled art experts across the world and earned him millions

Aired 5 May 2004

A recreation of the Bre-X goldmine scam in Indonesia that swindled thousands of investors out of their life savings.

Aired 19 May 2004

How Judy Amar baffled Florida police with a string of robberies in mansions that had strict security measures

Aired 22 May 2004