In case you weren’t aware, there seems to be a recent trend in TV shows right now focusing in on scammers and frauds. First, Netflix’s “The Tinder Swindler” came out, a documentary-styled movie detailing women who were scammed by a man pretending to be the son of Lev Leviev, an Israeli businessman known as “King of Diamonds.” “Inventing Anna” came soon after this on Netflix, a limited series detailing Anna Sorkin, a woman who pretended to be an heiress in New York. “The Dropout” came next, a Hulu series following the scam of Elizabeth Holmes and her company Theranos. All of these stories are incredibly different, but they have a few things in common: they detail stories so shocking you cannot believe they are true and are all trending online.
Who is Tyler Schultz? @DylanMinnette discusses taking on the role of the Theranos whistleblower. #TheDropout pic.twitter.com/S6YsSWdDgE
— The Dropout on Hulu ???? (@TheDropoutHulu) March 15, 2022
What makes these shows so popular?
Since there seems to be a common theme in these shows, it begs the question, what makes these shows so interesting to watch? Why did all three, as opposed to just one, of the shows become so popular? “Inventing Anna” outperformed shows like “You” and “Maid” which both performed increasingly well. In an article from NY Post, it is theorized that it just feels good to watch something that is SO bad. And, while the person is watching the show and judging the perpetrator, this increases intrigue and forces people to watch. Plus, as horrible as it sounds, people like a good story, and it becomes even more shocking when the watcher realizes that the crazy story they’re watching is based on truth.
can’t watch inventing anna because i know i’ll be on her side
— lemon (@thatbitchlemon) March 12, 2022
It is also theorized that people watch because they do not want to also fall victim to these scams and hope to watch these in order to deter the chances of this happening to them as well. This is the same reason a lot of people watch true crime, as they feel that they are gaining knowledge in how to avoid horrible things happening to you as well. Watchers believe that they are increasing their awareness and this makes them more secure, meaning that they will watch other media document scammers as well.
I now want a fictional show that brings together Anna Delvey, Theranos girl, Uber dude, tinder swindler and wework douche — like marvel CM/avengers style
— Bráulio Amado (@BraulioAmado) March 13, 2022
All in all, if you like these shows, you’re in luck, as the shows touched on are just the basics. Netflix’s newest show “Worst Roommate Ever” discusses scammers, and there are plenty more in the work as well.
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