Some criminals steal for money. These two stole for sport.
Chelsea takes on Victor Lustig, the smooth-talking con artist who “sold” the Eiffel Tower — twice — and even conned Al Capone. From fake government papers to counterfeit money presses, Lustig’s schemes left a trail of humiliated victims from Paris to New York.
Bailey dives into Ferdinand Waldo Demara, the master impostor who bluffed his way through careers he had no business holding — including performing actual surgeries in the Royal Canadian Navy after skimming a medical textbook.
Both men built empires on charm, lies, and sheer audacity. Both pushed their luck until the world finally caught up. And both prove that sometimes, the boldest crimes are the ones so ridiculous… you almost want to see if they’ll get away with it.
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WILDCIDE Podcast and any content posted is presented solely for general informational, educational, and entertainment purposes. The use of information on this podcast or materials linked from this podcast or website is at the user’s own risk. It is not intended as a substitute for the advice of a physician, professional coach, psychotherapist, or other qualified professional, diagnosis, or treatment. Users should not disregard or delay in obtaining medical advice for any medical or mental health condition they may have and should seek the assistance of their healthcare professionals for any such conditions.
References:
CFB Esquimalt Naval & Military Museum. (2019, July 17). Ferdinand “Waldo” Demara. CFB Esquimalt Naval & Military Museum. https://navalandmilitarymuseum.org/archives/articles/characters/ferdinand-waldo-demara/ Time. (2009, May 26). Faking it: Ferdinand Demara. Time. https://content.time.com/time/specials/packages/article/0,28804,1900621_1900618_1900605,00. html Maysh, J. (2016, March 9). The man who sold the Eiffel Tower. Twice. Smithsonian Magazine. Retrieved from https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/man-who-sold-eiffel-tower-twice-180958370/ Ferdinand Waldo Demara: One of the greatest imposters the world has ever seen | The Independent
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