About this season
A dissection of the dark side of the American Dream, a survey of how far some people go to become rich, no matter the cost to themselves and those around them. Real-life cases are reviewed and involve such criminal activity as credit card scams, identity theft, counterfeiting and Ponzi schemes.
Episodes (14)
1. Murder in Memphis
Aired 19 March 2014 • 43 min
A wife finds out her insurance agent husband Joe Caronna has been stealing money from their friends by selling bogus annuities.
2. Young Lust Gone Bust
Aired 26 March 2014 • 43 min
Middle-aged commercial real estate investor Ed Okun is in love with a boat show model almost half his age. He showers her with jewels, cars, even a helicopter. To fund his hormone-induced multimillion dollar spending spree, Okun steals client money to live large and impress his new bride.
3. The Cunning Cowgirl Crook / Dollars for Dumps
Aired 2 April 2014 • 43 min
(1) A small-town comptroller steals $53 million to fund a horse-breeding empire. (2) A crooked real estate developer lures victims to his phony residential oasis.
4. $udden Death / Hip Hop Hustle
Aired 9 April 2014 • 43 min
(1) Feds investigate financial advisor J.D. Salinas and discover a $39 million scam. (2) A Chicago-area rapper convinces a local businessman that he's got a new gig that doesn't exist.
5. Make Me Rich or Die / Kids For Cash
Aired 16 April 2014 • 43 min
(1) A man threatens investment professionals to make him rich. (2) Two judges get rich off a secret deal to build juvenile detention centers.
6. Detroit 'Crime Boss' Mayor
Aired 23 April 2014 • 43 min
A former Detroit mayor and his friends extort city contractors, abuse public funds and turn the mayor's office into their own cash-making machine.
7. The Falcon and the Con Man
Aired 30 April 2014 • 43 min
A man attempts to commit suicide and confesses to an extraordinary fraud that he perpetrated for the past two decades at a leading commodity futures brokerage.
8. Extreme Home Ripoffs / 'Greedings' From Florida
Aired 18 June 2014 • 43 min
(1) Two brothers ripped off millions from homeowners in a remodeling scheme. (2) A serial scam artist tricks Florida retirees into fake New York real estate investments.
9. Insider Trading Trio / Cocaine Cash Cleaner
Aired 25 June 2014 • 43 min
(1) Three friends go to New York to realize their dreams, which quickly turn criminal. (2) A money trail from drug traffickers leads to a suburban dad and firefighter.
10. Lights! Camera! Fraud!
Aired 16 July 2014 • 43 min
An independent film spins out of control when a filmmaker's silent partner and spiritual guru helps himself to investor funds.
11. The Car Con
Aired 23 July 2014 • 43 min
Brothers Darain and Cory Atkinson start a business selling vehicle service contracts, but the warranties prove worthless and the brothers pocket millions.
12. A Wolf in Priest's Clothing
Aired 30 July 2014 • 43 min
A man concocts a $50 million phony international real estate scheme spending millions on his own lavish lifestyle.
13. The Home Invaders / Nashville's Predator
Aired 6 August 2014 • 43 min
(1) Rivertown Financial, a home's equity and owners becoming homeless. (2) A financial planner reaps millions from client accounts, including the 401k of workers at a camp for seriously ill children.
14. Hail to the Thief
Aired 13 August 2014 • 43 min
A former Army intelligence officer known as "Mr. X" stole millions through a fake veterans' charity and eluded authorities by using an array of false identities.