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Reuters
Anna Sorokin has swindled hotels, banks and friends
The story of Anna Sorokin, the German who claimed to be a billionaire heiress, swindle hundreds of thousands of dollars, intrigued the American people.
Although sentenced and sentenced to at least four years in prison, the story of Sorokin has inspired a line of t-shirts – and at least two television series about its history are being prepared.
A magazine reporter Elle even devoted an article to Sorokin's makeup, with an article titled "How to get a summer look for scammer without ripping off anyone".
So, why do high-end crooks intrigue so many of us?
Dangerous charisma
Men – and women – have always fascinated people.
The 1970s movie, The Sting, starred Robert Redford and Paul Newman as professional scammers, while more recent movies, such as Catch Me If You Can, Ocean's Eleven and Can You Over Overgive Me ? have all featured star actors as charismatic – or at least sympathetic – fraudsters.
Jerri Williams, a former FBI agent who has focused on fraud investigations, admits that she herself is "fascinated by the scammers.
"The main thing is that they are very sociable, very sociable and know what to do to make people love them.
"The public sometimes admires its ability to use only its charm to persuade people – especially in this country where we love wealth and success."
But this charisma is also dangerous.
Williams argues that the portrayal of crooks in movies and the media can be "problematic" when they are not portrayed as criminals.
"The crimes they commit are far worse and much more important than those who stole a bank or stole a stock market.We must understand that the wrongs they caused to the people and their pension fund are much more important and sustainable. " . "
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Michael Schweisheimer
Jerri Williams worked at the FBI for 26 years and is now an author of crime novels
She remembers investigating the Foundation's scam for a new philanthropic era – a Ponzi scheme that defrauded organizations of more than $ 100 million in the 1990s – and said that some Victims were almost "suicidal" when they realized that they had invested and encouraged other people. invest, in the scam.
"When you're a scammer, you're engaged with that person – so you're not just a victim in the sense that you've lost something, but you can also be ashamed and embarrassed because you're n & # 39; Did not see what was happening.
Robin Hood's stereotype
Another reason behind the fascination of crooks is that they are not only "intelligent and charismatic", but also perceived as "non-violent" criminals, says Dr. Tim Holmes, Senior Lecturer in Criminology at Bangor University.
"We always think that it's about a Robin Hood character, not a criminal," he said, adding that many movies, such as adaptations from Ocean's Eleven, described this scammer as "a thief who stole someone who deserved it".
It also helps that "generally, crooks do not seem threatened," he says, pointing out that Frank Abagnale, the scammer whose story inspired Catch Me If You Can, was a teenager when he played his downsides.
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Frank Abagnale, who imitated an airline pilot, was played by Leonardo DiCaprio
However, he criticizes the cinematographic and televised depictions of fraudsters who "often suggest that the victim is somehow credulous or naive".
"There are so many aspects of our lives that are simply based on trust, and strangers tell us the truth – it's not that people are stupid if they're deceived, they're doing it." just what we all do instinctively. "
Javier Leiva, who runs Pretend Radio, a podcast that interviews "real people pretending to be someone else", shares the same point of view.
"Everyone thinks it will not happen to them, but those who think they are not being fooled are the ones who do it."
He interviewed more than 10 scammers and explained that the victims' challenge is that "you want to believe them – they are very friendly".
"I've never met anyone who is introverted … they are very warm and friendly," he says, though he adds that he's also discovered that he's not the only one. they were "narcissistic and very proud of their crimes".
He compares the interest for crooks to the desire to see a magician's trick.
"Just like with a magician, we want to be fooled – we really want to get close to it, just to see what happens – but we do not want to become the victim."
The American dream?
During the trial, Sorokin's defense lawyers described her as an ambitious entrepreneur who was simply trying to succeed in New York.
Many believe that the notion of the American dream – where everyone can succeed – also contributes to the fascination of the Sorokin case.
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AFP
Bernie Madoff convicted of fraud – and his case inspired The Wizard of Lies
The Swindled moderator, a podcast about crooks and white-collar criminals, says that "in an extremely competitive capitalist culture, people can feel some kind of pressure: if you do not succeed, you will not be able to." are nobody ".
As a result, people find it "fascinating to see someone trying to look for success at any cost, as immoral as it is," said the host, who tells anonymous story and asked the BBC not to publish his name.
The irony is that the modern successful scammers are the ones who do not get caught – and many of them will have a lower profile.
While "the classic swindler" is described as an "attractive and lovable character", most modern frauds are committed remotely, says Dr. Holmes.
"Now you can victimize thousands of people and not have face-to-face contact.You do not have to charm them.The fraud has changed and has become much more aggressive."
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