MATERIUM- MATERIUM
- Cases
Cases. The full story behind every episode.
Figures, dates and sources for each fraud, plus the sign to recognise the same trap today.
The archive
Episode 3 · 6 min read
Ponzi Scheme: How Charles Ponzi Turned His Name Into a Crime
What a Ponzi scheme is and how the original worked: Boston, 1920, 50% in 45 days, about 40,000 investors, and the warning sign that still exposes the trap.
Episode 2 · 6 min read
Gregor MacGregor and Poyais: The Fake Country Sold in London
Gregor MacGregor invented Poyais, sold £200,000 of its bonds in London and sent 250 settlers to an empty jungle. How the fake country scam really worked.
Episode 1 · 6 min read
Victor Lustig: How He Sold the Eiffel Tower for Scrap
In 1925 Victor Lustig posed as a senior French official and sold the Eiffel Tower for scrap. How the con worked, how he fell, and the Law of Deception No. 1.