Top 20 TV Series About Scams and Con Artists

About this gallery:

For this list, we’re diving into the world of TV shows – both fictional and documentary – that tell the wildest stories of scammers and con artists who fooled everyone… and, in most cases, paid the price. To keep things interesting, we’ve ranked them from oldest to newest, so you can see how scams (and storytelling) have evolved over time.

Think we missed a must-watch con artist series? Drop it in the comments and let us know! We promise we won’t scam you out of a reply...

Leverage (2008)

Think Robin Hood, but with a modern, tech-savvy twist. Leverage follows a team of former criminals – led by the slick and brooding mastermind Nathan Ford – as they use their skills to take down corrupt corporations, con the conmen, and make the world a little fairer (one heist at a time). With a hacker, a grifter, a hitter, and a thief working together, every episode is a perfectly crafted puzzle of deception, high-tech wizardry, and social engineering. The chemistry between the crew is electric, the cons are ridiculously clever, and the "bad guys" always get what’s coming to them. If you love a good underdog story with a side of stylish trickery, this show is pure gold. | © Electric Entertainment

White Collar (2009)

Who doesn’t love a con artist with a heart of gold (and a wardrobe full of designer suits)? White Collar introduces us to Neal Caffrey, a suave art forger turned FBI consultant, who teams up with Special Agent Peter Burke to catch white-collar criminals. The catch? Neal is always just one step away from slipping back into his old ways. This show is the perfect blend of crime-solving, wit, and a cat-and-mouse bromance that keeps you rooting for both the cop and the con. Plus, it doesn’t hurt that Matt Bomer’s charm could probably scam you out of your life savings without you even noticing. | © 20th Television

Banshee (2013)

Gritty, violent, and packed with more twists than a conman’s alibi, Banshee is not your average scam-centric show. When an ex-con assumes the identity of a small-town sheriff, you’d think his biggest challenge would be keeping up the act. But no, in the town of Banshee, there’s a corrupt businessman, the local Amish mafia (yes, really), and a whole lot of unfinished business from his past. The scams here are less smooth-talking and more bare-knuckle brawling, but make no mistake – deception is key to survival. It’s a show where every con has violent consequences, and every fake identity is one step away from disaster. | © Cinemax

Sneaky Pete (2015)

When your life depends on a lie, you better make it a good one. Sneaky Pete follows a con artist who, fresh out of prison, assumes the identity of his former cellmate to escape a debt-collecting gangster. The problem? His “new family” has secrets of their own. Giovanni Ribisi absolutely nails the role of a fast-talking, quick-thinking grifter who’s always one wrong move away from being exposed. The scams here are layered, the tension never lets up, and the show’s ability to make you almost root for a lifelong liar is truly impressive. A hidden gem for anyone who loves high-stakes deception with a side of dark humor. | © Sony Pictures Television

The Catch (2016)

Slick, stylish, and full of twists, The Catch is a high-stakes game of cat and mouse between a brilliant private investigator and the one man who managed to scam her – her ex-fiancé. Ouch. With a mix of romance, betrayal, and glamorous cons, this show leans into its soapy, fast-paced fun without ever taking itself too seriously. If you like your deception served with a side of luxurious lifestyles, designer outfits, and steamy tension, The Catch is a delightfully over-the-top ride. Just don’t get too attached – much like a con artist’s promises, it didn’t last as long as we hoped. | © ABC Studios

Imposters (2017)

Imagine marrying the love of your life, only to wake up one day and realize they’ve vanished – along with all your money. Imposters takes this nightmare scenario and turns it into an addictively fun ride, following Maddie, a con artist who makes a career out of seducing, marrying, and robbing unsuspecting lovers. But when three of her victims team up to track her down, the game gets even more complicated. With sharp humor, slick scams, and a little romance sprinkled in, this show delivers deception at its most entertaining. And let’s be real – if Maddie ever set her sights on you, you know you’d fall for it, too. | © Universal Cable Productions

Dirty John (2018)

If you’ve ever watched a true crime story and thought, “That could never happen to me,” Dirty John is here to make you second-guess everything. Based on the real-life con of John Meehan, this psychological thriller follows a seemingly perfect romance that quickly spirals into a nightmare. Connie Britton plays the hopeless romantic who falls for John’s smooth lies, while Eric Bana is so convincing as the charming-yet-sinister scammer that you’ll probably start side-eyeing every charismatic guy you meet. The fact that it’s all based on a true story makes it even more unsettling – because some cons aren’t just about money, they’re about control. | © Universal Content Productions

Dirty Money (2018)

Who needs fictional con artists when real life is this shady? Dirty Money is a docuseries that dives into some of the most outrageous financial scams and corporate corruption stories of our time. From money laundering empires to fraudsters running billion-dollar schemes, this show proves that truth really is stranger than fiction. Each episode is a deep dive into a different scandal, featuring whistleblowers, investigative journalists, and, of course, the audacity of the ultra-rich. It’s eye-opening, infuriating, and weirdly addictive. Just be warned: after watching, you might start questioning every major corporation, bank, and CEO you’ve ever trusted. | © Jigsaw Productions

The Act (2019)

Not all scams are about money – some are about rewriting reality itself. The Act tells the harrowing true story of Gypsy Rose Blanchard, a girl who was forced to pretend she was severely ill by her mother, Dee Dee, in one of the most twisted cases of Munchausen by proxy ever exposed. Joey King and Patricia Arquette deliver mind-blowing performances that make this psychological thriller equal parts disturbing and fascinating. It’s a slow-burn con, built on years of deception, manipulation, and control. The scariest part? This wasn’t just a scam – it was a life stolen in plain sight. | © Hulu

Cropped Fyre The Greatest Party That Never Happened

Fyre: The Greatest Party That Never Happened (2019)

Ah, the scam so ridiculous, it needed two documentaries to cover it. Fyre pulls back the curtain on the infamous Fyre Festival, where influencer culture, blind ambition, and straight-up fraud combined to create one of the biggest disaster events in modern history. What was promised as a luxurious, star-studded music festival turned into stranded guests, FEMA tents, and those now-iconic sad cheese sandwiches. The doc captures every jaw-dropping detail, from the delusional confidence of its mastermind Billy McFarland to the desperate last-ditch efforts to salvage the scam. If you ever needed proof that social media hype can sell anything, this is it. | © Netflix

Scams (2019)

If you’ve ever wondered just how far people will go to cheat the system, Scams has the answer – and it’s farther than you’d think. This Japanese drama follows Seijitsu, a down-on-his-luck young man who gets roped into a phone scam targeting the elderly. What starts as a desperate attempt to make money quickly spirals into a dangerous underworld of deception, greed, and high-stakes crime. The show is gripping, intense, and serves as a reminder that one bad decision can lead to a web of lies that’s nearly impossible to escape. Let’s just say you might think twice before answering an unknown caller after watching this. | © MBS

Great Pretender (2020)

Who said scams can’t be fun? This vibrant anime series takes the classic con artist story and turns it into a visually stunning, fast-paced adventure. Great Pretender follows Makoto Edamura, a small-time Japanese swindler who accidentally finds himself mixed up with an international crew of master scammers. Each arc plays out like a Hollywood heist movie, complete with mind-blowing twists, larger-than-life characters, and cons so elaborate you’ll wonder how they even pulled them off. Plus, the jazzy soundtrack and slick animation make this one of the most stylish takes on con artistry you’ll ever see. | © Wit Studio

Operation Varsity Blues (2021)

Rich people scamming their way into elite universities? Shocking. Operation Varsity Blues is a documentary that exposes the infamous college admissions scandal, where wealthy parents (including some celebs – hi, Aunt Becky) used bribes, fake athletic resumes, and sketchy loopholes to get their kids into top schools. But instead of just telling you what happened, this Netflix doc gets creative, using reenactments starring Matthew Modine as the scam’s mastermind, Rick Singer. It’s part true crime, part social satire, and entirely proof that sometimes, real con artists don’t even need to break the law – they just need the right connections. | © Netflix

Murder Among the Mormons (2021)

What do rare historical documents, religious deception, and a series of bombings have in common? A conman named Mark Hofmann. Murder Among the Mormons tells the wild true story of a forger so skilled, he managed to shake the foundations of the Mormon Church – until things took a deadly turn. This docuseries dives deep into one of the most bizarre fraud cases ever, mixing mystery, history, and true crime into one gripping watch. If you thought scamming people out of money was intense, wait until you see what happens when forgery, faith, and murder collide. | © Netflix

The Thing About Pam (2022)

The Thing About Pam is a six-episode true crime miniseries that aired on NBC in 2022. The show delves into the perplexing case of Betsy Faria's 2011 murder, spotlighting her friend Pam Hupp's unexpected involvement. Renée Zellweger takes on the role of Pam Hupp, delivering a chilling and transformative performance that showcases her versatility as an actress. The narrative unravels the twists and turns of the investigation, highlighting how appearances can be deceiving in the quiet suburbs. With its darkly comedic undertones, the series offers a fresh perspective on the true crime genre, blending suspense with moments of unsettling humor. The inclusion of real-life Dateline NBC journalist Keith Morrison as the narrator adds an authentic touch, bridging the gap between documentary and dramatization. | © Blumhouse Television

The Dropout (2022)

Ever wonder how a Silicon Valley darling went from revolutionary entrepreneur to infamous fraudster? Enter The Dropout, the series that chronicles the meteoric rise and catastrophic fall of Elizabeth Holmes and her company, Theranos. Amanda Seyfried delivers a captivating performance as Holmes, capturing her ambition, charm, and the unsettling depths of her deception. As you watch, you'll find yourself torn between admiration for her audacity and disbelief at the lengths she went to maintain her façade. It's a wild ride through the world of biotech, where one woman's dream turned into a multi-billion-dollar scam. | © 20th Television, Searchlight Television

Inventing Anna (2022)

Meet Anna Delvey, the fake heiress who took New York's elite for a glamorous, high-fashion ride. In Inventing Anna, Julia Garner transforms into the enigmatic socialite who convinced Manhattan's upper crust that she was a wealthy German heiress. Spoiler: she wasn't. The series, created by Shonda Rhimes, delves into Anna's elaborate cons, her knack for slipping past the velvet ropes, and the journalist determined to uncover the truth. It's a tantalizing tale of ambition, deception, and the blurred lines between reality and the stories we tell ourselves. | © Shondaland

Super Pumped: The Battle for Uber (2022)

Buckle up for a wild journey through the cutthroat world of ride-sharing startups. Super Pumped takes you behind the wheel with Travis Kalanick, the controversial CEO who drove Uber to dizzying heights – and catastrophic lows. Joseph Gordon-Levitt embodies Kalanick's relentless drive and hubris, while the series explores the tumultuous road of innovation, scandal, and the high cost of disruption. It's a fast-paced, high-octane look at how ambition and arrogance can steer a company off course. | © Showtime Networks

Cropped The Puppet Master Hunting the Ultimate Conman

The Puppet Master: Hunting the Ultimate Conman (2022)

Prepare to be astounded by the real-life exploits of Robert Hendy-Freegard, a conman so manipulative he convinced his victims he was an undercover MI5 agent. The Puppet Master is a docuseries that unravels his decades-long spree of deception, theft, and psychological control. As you watch, you'll find yourself questioning how one man could weave such intricate lies and maintain his grip over so many lives. It's a chilling reminder of the power of manipulation and the vulnerability of trust. | © RAW

Apple Cider Vinegar (2025)

In the age of influencers and wellness gurus, Apple Cider Vinegar stands out as a cautionary tale of how far someone will go for fame and fortune. The series stars Kaitlyn Dever as Belle Gibson, an Australian wellness blogger who falsely claimed to have cured her terminal cancer through natural remedies. Spoiler: she never had cancer. The show delves into her rise to social media stardom, the empire she built on lies, and the inevitable unraveling of her deceit. It's a gripping exploration of the dark side of the wellness industry and the perils of blind faith in online personas. | © See-Saw Films, Picking Scabs