Hoax Hunters cover art

Hoax Hunters

Hoax Hunters

By: Byte & Pieces
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About this listen

 Some stories are too good to be true. And some lies are too good not to believe.

Hoax Hunters is your daily deep dive into the anatomy of a lie. We track down history's most audacious frauds, forgeries, and fakes—from the lost princess who wasn’t lost, to the petrified giant that captivated a nation, to the Martian invasion that never happened.

Each episode is a forensic investigation into a single, masterful deception. We’ll meet the brilliant con artists, the charismatic cult leaders, and the scientific frauds who managed to fool the world.

But the real mystery isn't how they did it. It's why we fell for it. Using the science of persuasion and the study of human psychology, we expose the mental shortcuts and hidden biases that make all of us vulnerable.

This isn't just about the past. Understanding the blueprint for deception is your best defense against the misinformation of today.

Follow Hoax Hunters to uncover the truth behind the world's most fascinating lies.


Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/hoax-hunters--6723538/support.Copyright Byte & Pieces
Episodes
  • The Man Who Sold a Country That Didn't Exist

    The Man Who Sold a Country That Didn't Exist
    Sep 9 2025
    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.

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    32 mins
  • The Con Man Who Sold a Lie About a Lie.

    The Con Man Who Sold a Lie About a Lie.
    Sep 7 2025
    What if the most famous con artist in history, Frank Abagnale Jr., pulled his greatest con after he was caught? What if the movie "Catch Me If You Can" isn't a true story... but is, in fact, his final, perfect lie?

    In this episode, we're diving deep into the art and science of deception. We'll start by questioning the legendary tale of Frank Abagnale, but his story is just the beginning. We'll expose how the same psychological tricks he used are now the basis for modern social engineering attacks, where hackers manipulate you into giving up your secrets without writing a single line of code.

    We'll also uncover the surprising power of a simple uniform, and how authority bias can make us follow orders or trust a narrative without a second thought. This is a deep dive into the psychology of why we believe what we believe.

    Stick with us to the very end to learn the "Three C's"—a simple mental checklist you can use to instantly spot a social engineering attempt.
    It's time to learn the playbook of the manipulators. Subscribe, share this with anyone who's ever been told a story that was too good to be true, and join the conversation about seeing through the lies.


    Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/hoax-hunters--6723538/support.

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    39 mins
  • Your Eyes Are Lying to You.

    Your Eyes Are Lying to You.
    Sep 6 2025
    The era of "seeing is believing" is officially over. Your eyes, your ears, and your gut feelings are now liabilities in a world of perfect, undetectable lies. Welcome to the age of the deepfake.

    In this episode, we're diving headfirst into the technological abyss. You'll learn how Artificial Intelligence is being used to create flawless fakes that even experts can't reliably detect. We'll explore the chilling "uncanny valley" that makes these creations so unsettling, and the dangerous overconfidence that makes us all vulnerable.

    But the real threat isn't just a funny video. We're unpacking the legal and societal nightmare of the "liar's dividend," a terrifying new reality where real evidence can be dismissed as a fake, shattering our justice system. This is the frontline of the war on misinformation, where trust itself is the ultimate casualty.

    Stick with us to the very end to learn the one subtle, biological cue your brain uses to spot a deepfake, even when your conscious mind is completely fooled.

    It's time to upgrade our critical thinking for a new reality. Subscribe, share this crucial conversation, and let's learn how to see the truth when our eyes can no longer be trusted.


    Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/hoax-hunters--6723538/support.

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    27 mins
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