15 Intense Documentaries About Scams and Fraud

Lists

3 May

Every so often, a story breaks out about a scam or fraud that has taken the world by storm. There are countless cases of individuals and organizations tricking people into handing over their assets, investments, and savings. But there’s a story behind every scam, and many of the best white-collar crime documentaries and TV series about scams and fraudsters have attempted to capture the essence of these stories.

In this blog, we'll take a look at the best movies about financial frauds and scammers that shook the world. These documentaries will leave you on the edge of your seat, questioning how to avoid these fates.

1. The Inventor: Out for Blood in Silicon Valley (2019)

This riveting con man documentary showcases the rise and spectacular fall of Elizabeth Holmes, the founder of Theranos – a once-celebrated Silicon Valley company. One of several audacious fraud movies, it reveals how Holmes became the darling of the technology industry by inventing a blood-testing device that was supposed to revolutionize the medical industry. However, it was all a sham, and the device never worked. The documentary takes you on an epic journey as Holmes and her company become exposed as frauds.

👉 Watch The Inventor: Out for Blood in Silicon Valley on Amazon Prime

👉 Buy The Inventor: Out for Blood in Silicon Valley as DVD on Amazon

2. McMillion$ (2020)

This scammer movie is a detailed look at one of the biggest scams in the fast-food industry's history. The film details the incredible story of how a former cop rigged the McDonald's Monopoly game and made off with millions of dollars. McMillion$ takes a deep dive into the seedy underworld of scams, with fascinating interviews from the perpetrators themselves.

👉 Watch McMillion$ on Amazon Prime

3. Madoff: The Monster of Wall Street (2023)

This movie about scamming money covers the most significant financial scandal in U.S history, which saw former NASDAQ chairman Bernard Madoff swindle investors out of billions of dollars. The film shows how Madoff's infamous Ponzi scheme unraveled and highlights the lengths he went to conceal his fraud.

Madoff: The Monster of Wall Street on Factual America

4. FYRE: The Greatest Party That Never Happened (2019)

This documentary details the disastrous Fyre Festival, which was supposed to be a luxury music festival but turned out to be a complete disaster. The film tells the story of how founder Billy McFarland and rapper Ja Rule tricked a large number of young social media influencers into promoting a festival that never happened. FYRE reveals how social media was used to create a hype that never lived up to expectations.

FYRE: The Greatest Party That Never Happened on Factual America

5. Lords of Scam (2021)

This documentary series is the most comprehensive look at scams and fraud in recent times. The series takes an in-depth look at notorious fraudsters, conmen and women, and corrupt organizations globally, uncovering some of the most insidious scams and frauds of all time.

Lords of Scam on IMDb

6. Bad Vegan: Fame. Fraud, Fugitives. (2022)

Bad Vegan is a documentary about a former vegan influencer who scammed her followers out of thousands of dollars. The documentary dives deep into the world of social media influencers and the dark side of this industry. It exposes these influencers' false claims and promises and the devastating effects they can have on their followers. The documentary uses the story of the Bad Vegan as an example of the potential dangers of blindly following influencers and the need for greater regulation in this area.

Bad Vegan on IMDb

7. Art and Craft (2014)

Art and Craft is a documentary about Mark Landis, a prolific art forger who duped museums across the United States for over thirty years. The documentary explores the motivations behind Landis' actions and how he became so successful. It is a fascinating look into the art world and the lengths some will go to deceive the public. The documentary also highlights the importance of provenance in the art world and how forgers can undermine this fundamental principle.

👉 Watch Art and Craft on Amazon Prime

👉 Buy Art and Craft as DVD on Amazon

8. The Tinder Swindler (2022)

The Tinder Swindler is one of the best con artist podcasts about a charming and elusive con artist who used dating apps to scam multiple women out of money. Documentaries like the Tinder Swindler highlight the impact his actions had on his victims. It is a cautionary tale about the potential dangers of online dating and the need for greater awareness of these risks.

The Tinder Swindler on IMDb

9. Enron: The Smartest Guys in the Room (2005)

Enron: The Smartest Guys in the Room is a classic documentary about the infamous Enron scandal. The documentary delves into the inner workings of Enron, highlighting the greed, corruption, and deceit that led to the company's downfall. It is a fascinating look into corporate culture and the dangers of unchecked power. The documentary also highlights the importance of effective regulation in preventing corporate malfeasance.

👉 Watch Enron: The Smartest Guys in the Room on Amazon Prime

👉 Buy Enron: The Smartest Guys in the Room as DVD on Amazon

10. LulaRich (2021)

LulaRich is a documentary about the multi-level marketing company Lularoe, which was accused of being a pyramid scheme. The documentary explores the origins and rapid growth of Lularoe and the controversial sales tactics it employed. It also highlights the devastating impact these tactics had on the lives of the company's independent consultants. One of several MLM documentaries that serves as a warning about the dangers of multi-level marketing and the need for greater regulation in this industry.

👉 Watch LulaRich on Amazon Prime

11. Operation Varsity Blues (2021)

Operation Varsity Blues is a Netflix show about scammers that traces the admission scandal of the colleges. Wealthy parents paid a college consultant to inflate their children's test scores or falsify athletic achievements, ultimately securing their admissions into elite colleges. The documentary takes an in-depth look at the fraud scheme and its impact on the education system. The documentary highlights interviews with key players in the case and portrays how the scandal unfolded.

Operation Varsity Blues on IMDb

12. Dirty Money (2018-2020)

Dirty Money is a Netflix series that covers different scandals and fraudulent schemes. This documentary includes episodes on Volkswagen's diesel emissions scandal, money laundering, fraudulent payday loans, and a medical scam that led to many unnecessary surgeries. Dirty Money provides insight into different kinds of scams and fraud and how they impact society and the economy. Also, see the Social Security fraud documentary The Big Conn on IMDb.

Dirty Money on IMDb

13. The Woman Who Wasn’t There (2012)

The Woman Who Wasn’t There is a documentary that explores the infamous story of Tania Head, who claimed to have survived the 9/11 attack on the World Trade Center. The documentary traces her rise to fame and the discovery that her story was a complete fabrication. The Woman Who Wasn’t There is a fascinating look at how people can deceive others and themselves with their lies.

👉 Watch The Woman Who Wasn’t There on Amazon Prime

14. Trust No One: The Hunt for the Crypto King (2022)

Trust No One: The Hunt for the Crypto King is an upcoming documentary slated to be released in 2022. The documentary explores the rise and fall of the infamous cryptocurrency company, One Coin. The documentary follows the story of a journalist and his team who embark on uncovering the truth behind the One Coin scam. This documentary highlights the dangers of investing in unregulated and fraudulent cryptocurrency schemes.

Trust No One: The Hunt for the Crypto King on IMDb

15. An Honest Liar (2014)

An Honest Liar is a documentary about the famous magician, James "The Amazing" Randi. The film follows his journey from a professional magician to a renowned skeptic and investigator of paranormal claims. The documentary explores Randi's exposure to fraudulent faith healers, psychics, and others. The documentary is a captivating look at how a magician's critical thinking and skepticism can reveal scams and fraud.

👉 Watch An Honest Liar on Amazon Prime

👉 Buy An Honest Liar as DVD on Amazon

Conclusion

These movies about swindlers, scammers and fraudsters illustrate how they can cause considerable damage to unsuspecting victims. They highlight the intricacies and psychological factors of running a successful scam.

The documentaries offer hope in that by educating ourselves with a documentary about phone scams; for example, we can avoid falling victim to such frauds. In conclusion, they provide unforgettable experiences that will leave you questioning your trust in the world and the systems that govern it.