The Teenager Who Invented a Fake Country to Get Rich

What if you could invent a country... and get rich doing it? It sounds like a teenager's fantasy, but 200 years ago, one man actually did it, pulling off one of the most audacious and devastating scams in history.This is the unbelievable story of the Poyais scam, a "too good to be true" lie that sold a dream and delivered a nightmare. We're unpacking the dark genius of Gregor MacGregor, the master con artist who created a fictional paradise on a map and conned hundreds of investors and settlers out of their life savings. But this isn't just a history lesson. We're diving into the psychology of fraud to answer the burning question: why are our brains so easily tricked by an appealing lie? We'll expose how con artists exploit our deepest desires for wealth and a better life, turning our own hope into their most powerful weapon.This story of a fake country reveals a timeless truth about the stories we choose to believe.Stay until the very end, because after we expose the heartbreaking reality of the lie, we explore a fascinating alternate history: what if the country of Poyais had actually been real?Ready to learn the secrets of the world's greatest con artists (so you never fall for one)? Subscribe, share this unbelievable true story, and let's explore the fine line between a brilliant dream and a devastating lie.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/hoax-hunters--6723538/support.You May also Like:🚑MyDisasterPrepKit.comCreate Your Perfect Disaster Preparedness Kit🤖Nudgrr.com (🗣'nudger") - Your AI Sidekick for Getting Sh*t DoneNudgrr breaks down your biggest goals into tiny, doable steps — then nudges you to actually do them. 🎁ThePerfectGift.appFind the Perfect Gift in Seconds⭐SkyNearMe.comLive map of stars & planets visible near you✔DebtPlanner.appYour Path to Debt-Free Living