Listen now: Scamfluencers | The Pharmacist Femme Fatale

Scams are everywhere.

On your phone, in your inbox, even on your television screen.

Looking at you, Tinder Swindler.

What is it about scams that has pop culture so obsessed?

Maybe it's because it could happen to anyone.

Or maybe it's because we're all so deeply fascinated by the psyche of someone who can lie with ease, cheat with no guilt, and convince the world that they are who they say they are, even when they're not.

Scamfluencers is a weekly podcast that takes you into the world of deception, sharing the stories of today's most notorious scams.

Like the recent episode of Natalie Cochrane, the pharmacist femme fatale.

It seemed like she had it all.

A good job, loving husband, and two kids.

But behind the scenes, Natalie was scamming friends and family using fake contracts, fake government emails, and she even faked cancer.

But when the walls start closing in, she'll do anything to keep the lie alive until someone ends up dead.

You're about to hear a preview of Scamfluencers.

While you're listening, follow ScamFluencers on Amazon Music, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

Sashi, have you ever watched a movie and just been like so inspired it changed your life?

Oh, for sure.

What was it?

Probably that Helen Keller movie they kept making us watch on junior high.

How did it change your life?

Learned a lot.

Okay, we'll talk about that later.

I mean, the real answer is not better.

It's probably RoboCop.

Yeah, okay, that makes a lot more sense.

RoboCop makes sense.

For me, it was like Harriet the Spy, maybe.

Oh, yeah.

Because I was like, okay, that's me.

I need to be meddling and writing.

Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.

Lizzie Maguire movie, maybe.

True.

Swan Princess.

That was profound.

She rejects him.

It's a great movie.

You're really showing yourself right now.

I really appreciate it.

I know who I am.

Well, today, I'm going to tell you about a woman who, after after watching a movie, felt so emboldened to change the entire course of her life, leading to, you guessed it, a very elaborate Ponzi scheme.

It's a gray overcast day in February 2019.

38-year-old Michael Cochran is working from home in a small town in West Virginia when he hears a knock at the front door.

Michael isn't expecting anyone, but he's not concerned.

He's used to friends and neighbors stopping by.

Michael is athletic and conventionally handsome with brown hair and a magnetic smile.

On the surface, he's living the American dream.

He and his wife Natalie run a successful government contracting business.

They have two kids, a big two-story house, and a large manicured lawn.

They're beloved members of the community.

and are sponsoring an upcoming bingo fundraiser for youth sports.

Their donation, several semi-automatic rifles to use as prizes.

Sure.

I don't see anything wrong with this.

Yeah, I think that's perfect for youth sports.

They have to learn anti-coordination somehow.

Yeah.

But when Michael opens his front door, he doesn't see a friend or neighbor.

Instead, there's an employee from the sewer utility company here to turn off the water because Michael and Natalie haven't paid their bill.

This is the last straw for Michael.

Their company has been bringing in hundreds of millions of dollars, but for the past few months, he and Natalie have been having cash flow problems.

Michael thinks it's ridiculous that they're technically worth millions of dollars, but don't have the cash to pay their sewer bill.

Natalie handles all of their finances, so when she gets home, Michael confronts her about the unpaid bill.

With her soft brown hair and heart-shaped face, Natalie looks like the sweet girl next door.

She says that she's handled it.

The water won't be shut off.

Things have been tough lately, but she reassures Michael it will all be taken care of soon.

She says she'll book them a flight to Virginia the next day so they can meet with the bank in person and sort things out together.

But none of that is true.

Michael doesn't know it, but Natalie has been letting Michael believe that he's rich from running a government contracting business.

In reality, it's a Ponzi scheme.

Natalie has been stealing stealing from their friends and family for months.

Michael's questions threaten to reveal the truth.

So tomorrow, Michael won't be boarding a plane to Virginia.

He'll be in the ICU, thanks to his loving wife.

That was a preview of ScamFluencers.

Listen to the rest of the episode wherever you get your podcasts.