Social Scammers | Belle Gibson, Coco Berthmann and Brittany Dawn
True Crime Society3 Maalis 2022

Social Scammers | Belle Gibson, Coco Berthmann and Brittany Dawn

The rise of social media has led to it being easier for us to make new friends, keep in touch with friends and family all over the world. Technology has given us access to any information we could ever need, all within seconds.
With this increase in social media use comes some downsides too. People are now more easily able to take advantage of others and money is able to change hands so easily.
In this episode of the True Crime Society Podcast, we chat about three Social Scammers – women who have been in trouble with the law after obtaining funds fraudulently from unsuspecting social media followers.
  • Belle Gibson is one of Australia’s most prolific social scammers. She managed to deceive huge corporations. Apple planned to include her health and wellness app on all iPads and Apple Watches. She told lie after lie about her health – she claimed to have terminal cancer that she cured by using holistic therapies. She also claimed that she underwent multiple heart operations and had endured strokes. None of this was true. When her deception was uncovered, she was dropped by Apple and Penguin Books. Belle has been ordered to repay hundreds of thousands of dollars – so far, none of the repayments have materialised.
  • Coco Berthmann had a troubled start to life. She has claimed that she managed to escape Germany as a teenager and that she had been trafficked by her parents for years. She moved to America and became a human rights activist. She established the Coco Berthmann Scholarship Fund and spoke about her ‘experiences’ publicly. In early 2022, Coco told a friend that she had stage 3 mantle cell lymphoma cancer. A GoFundMe was started for Coco, and it raised thousands of dollars. In February 2022, Coco was arrested on suspicion of communications fraud. Police investigated her ‘cancer diagnosis’ and found no evidence that Coco ever had the illness. Many of Coco’s other claims have now been questioned. There have been allegations that she was not actually a victim of child sex trafficking, said police, who could not verify her claims of working with the FBI.
  • Brittany Dawn has had a long, troubled run as an Influencer. She started out as a fitness influencer with her company BDawnFit. She got into trouble with her followers years ago after her ‘personalized’ eating plans, that people paid up to $500 for, turned out to not be so personal. She was also accused of triggering people with eating disorders by using tags such as #skipdinnerwakeupthinner. Brittany refused to refund most members and tried to move on with her life as a ‘Christian’ influencer. She married Jordan Nelson, a man who lost his job as a police officer after he used ‘excessive force’ during an arrest. She also faced much backlash after she released a tearful video, detailing how her husband shot her dog after it was hit by a car. The dog was still alive and breathing, but the couple decided to shoot it instead of taking it to a vet. In February 2022, the Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton announced that the state of Texas was suing Brittany for between $250,000 and $1 million in penalties and court fees for misleading customers.

You can read our blogs on these cases:
https://truecrimesocietyblog.com/2022/02/28/the-deception-of-coco-berthmann/

https://truecrimesocietyblog.com/2022/02/28/social-scammer-belle-gibson/

https://truecrimesocietyblog.com/2022/02/28/the-continuing-fall-of-brittany-dawn/
You can listen on Apple here - https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/true-crime-society/id1504300714?i=1000552780017

and Spotify here - https://open.spotify.com/episode/5vXVo0h3HzJpb8c4WNOhAN?si=DPJhGWFGRJeFS3G2AUm83A
This week’s episode is sponsored by Apostrophe and Better Help.

Visit Apostrophe.com/tcs, click Begin Visit, then use our code TCS at sign up and you’ll get your first visit for only five dollars!

BetterHelp is online therapy that offers video, phone and even live chat sessions with your therapist, so you don’t have to see anyone on camera if you don’t want to. Visit BetterHelp.com/society

Jaksot(257)

Always The Husband (Texas Edition) | The Murders of Suzanne Simpson & Christa Gilley

Always The Husband (Texas Edition) | The Murders of Suzanne Simpson & Christa Gilley

Timestamp to skip the intro chat - (6:51) According to the Bureau of Justice, the percentage of women murdered by an intimate partner is 5 times higher than it is for men.  Of the estimated 4,970 female homicide victims in 2021, 34% were killed by an intimate partner. In this episode of the True Crime Society Podcast, we discuss two separate cases where women have allegedly been murdered by their husbands.   Texas realtor and mother-of-four, Suzanne Simpson was last seen arguing with her husband Brad on the night of October 6, 2024.  A neighbor reported hearing screams following the fight.  Hours later, Brad purchased two bags of cement, a construction bucket with a lid, 32 trash bags and bleach.   Police believe he killed Suzanne and dismembered and disposed of her body.  Brad has been arrested and charged with murder, unlawful restraint, assault, tampering with evidence and possession of a prohibited weapon.  Suzanne remains missing. On October 7, 2024, Lee Gilley called 911 and said his pregnant wife Christa intentionally overdosed in an attempt to kill herself. Christa was taken to the hospital where she passed away.  Doctors discovered that Christa’s injuries were not consistent with Lee’s story.  An investigation determined that Christa had been strangled to death. Lee was arrested and charged with capital murder.  In the weeks leading up to her death, Lee was engaging with online content about traditional gender roles and the belief that women should stay at home instead of having their own careers. Read our blogs for these cases Suzanne Simpson Christa Gilley Join us on Patreon for exclusive, ad-free content and weekly bonus episodes! Follow us on Instagram for the latest crime news This episode is sponsored by: - Skylight Frame: Skylight Frame is the touchscreen digital photo frame your whole family will love. Get twenty dollars off your purchase of a Skylight Frame when you go to SkylightFrame.com/SOCIETY - Sono Bello:  Save big during Sono Bello's friends and family holiday savings event. Schedule your free consultation now at www.sonobello.com/TCS

12 Joulu 202451min

The Life & Death of One Direction Singer Liam Payne

The Life & Death of One Direction Singer Liam Payne

Skip the intro chat timestamp - (6:56) After auditioning for ‘The X Factor’ as a teen, Liam Payne was grouped together with Harry Styles, Zayn Malik, Niall Horan and Louis Tomlinson to form one of the best selling boy bands of all time -- One Direction. Throughout his career, Liam felt isolated and struggled with his mental health and sobriety.  He said he was grateful when the band broke up because he knew the lifestyle would eventually kill him. On October 16, 2024, the manager of the CasaSur Palermo Hotel in Buenos Aires called police to report "an aggressive man who could be under the effects of drugs and alcohol." Police arrived at the hotel moments later and found Liam dead at the age of 31.  He had fallen from a third floor balcony onto a courtyard below. Since his death, police have arrested three people alleging they supplied drugs to Liam multiple times before his fall.  In this episode of the True Crime Society Podcast, we discuss the tragic death of Liam Payne. Read our blog for this case Join us on Patreon for exclusive, ad-free content Follow us on Instagram for the latest crime news This episode is sponsored by: Cornbread Hemp - If you’re looking for a healthier way to enjoy a carefree moment, you have to give Cornbread Hemp a try! As a special offer for our listeners, you can get 30% off your first order! Just visit cornbreadhemp.com/TCS and use promo code TCS at checkout.

5 Joulu 20241h 20min

Dead or Alive? | Ryan Borgwardt & Ryan Roth

Dead or Alive? | Ryan Borgwardt & Ryan Roth

Skip the intro chat: (8:00) - Start Sometimes people get so caught up in their personal situations that they become overwhelmed.  Financial pressures, marital difficulties and employment troubles can all contribute to life feeling out of control. In this episode of the True Crime Society Podcast, we discuss two separate cases where men may have faked their own deaths in order to escape the lives they were living. In August 2024, Wisconsin man Ryan Borgwardt (44) told his wife of 20+ years that he was going kayaking.  The couple have three children together.  Ryan’s wife raised the alarm when he did not return.  His overturned kayak and a life jacket were found floating in the lake.  Authorities became so convinced that he was not in the lake, they started investigating other avenues.  They discovered that Ryan got a new passport, purchased airline gift cards and had been communicating with a woman online in Uzbekistan.   Ryan Flynn aka Ryan Roth has been accused of stealing thousands of dollars over the years - including from his own grandmother.  Ryan was known to set up fake charities, raise funds and then dissolve the organizations to keep the money for himself. On January 20, Ryan’s motorbike, belongings and an apparent suicide note were found at the edge of a cliff in Uluwatu in Bali. Ryan’s remains have never been found and many people believe that he may have staged his own death. Read our blogs for these cases: https://truecrimesocietyblog.com/2024/11/12/did-wisconsin-man-ryan-borgwardt-fake-his-own-death-and-flee-the-country/ https://truecrimesocietyblog.com/2024/11/17/did-fraudster-ryan-roth-fake-his-own-death-in-bali/ Follow us on Instagram for the latest crime news Join us on Patreon for exclusive, ad-free content This episode is sponsored by: Uncommon Goods: To get 15% off your next gift, go to UncommonGoods.com/TCS Skylight Frame:  Get $20 off a Skylight Frame at SkylightFrame.com/SOCIETY

28 Marras 202449min

Tragedy on the Taconic | The Diane Schuler Wrong-Way Crash

Tragedy on the Taconic | The Diane Schuler Wrong-Way Crash

Jump ahead using timestamps (12:24) - Madeline Kingsbury Update (13:43) - Diane Schuler In 2009, Diane Schuler was returning to her New York home after a camping trip with five young children in the minivan she was driving - her two children and three nieces. She took the kids to McDonalds for breakfast and witnesses said the family seemed fine and nothing was amiss. Diane made another stop at a gas station looking for a specific over-the-counter pain medication, but the store didn't carry it. After this, Diane pulled over multiple times and was seen hunched over appearing sick outside of the vehicle. One of her nieces called their father and said, ‘There’s something wrong with Aunt Diane.’  Family members told Diane to stay where she was, but Diane continued the drive regardless. She drove the wrong way onto the busy Taconic State Parkway and struck another vehicle head-on at a high rate of speed.  The crash became known as the worst fatal motor vehicle accident in Westchester County. 8 people were killed, including Diane, her daughter and all of her nieces. An empty bottle of vodka was found in the wreckage of the vehicle and Diane’s BAC was reported to be 0.19%. She also had high levels of THC in her system and was suspected to have smoked marijuana as recently as 15 minutes prior to the collision. Diane’s husband remains adamant that driving under the influence is not what caused the accident and believes Diane suffered a medical emergency. Join us on Patreon for exclusive, ad-free content. Read our blog for this case This episode is sponsored by: It’s holiday season!  Check out Uncommon Goods and Skylight Frames for perfect gifts for loved ones. Uncommon Goods - To get 15% off your next gift, go to UncommonGoods.com/tcs. Don’t miss out on this limited time offer! Uncommon Goods. We’re all out of the ordinary. Skylight Frame - Get twenty dollars off your purchase of a Skylight Frame when you go to SkylightFrame.com/SOCIETY

21 Marras 20241h

Lauren Spierer disappeared after a night of partying 13 years ago

Lauren Spierer disappeared after a night of partying 13 years ago

TIMESTAMPS (5:23) - General updates (Liam Payne arrests, Bryan Kohberger) (11:34) - Lauren Spierer In 2011, college student Lauren Spierer (20) went out for a night on the town with some friends. Witnesses reported that she seemed inebriated, and at one point she left both her shoes and her phone behind at a bar. The last public sighting of Lauren was on CCTV at 2.51am on June 3, 2011.  She seemingly vanished into the night. Her keys and purse would be found discarded along the route she took that night. Lauren came into contact with multiple men on the night she vanished. All of the men denied having any knowledge about Lauren’s whereabouts and obtained legal representation. Could there have been an accident that caused Lauren’s death and a coverup has ensued?  Or was foul play involved? In this episode of the True Crime Society Podcast, we discuss the 2011 disappearance of Lauren Spierer. Read our blog for this case Be sure to follow us on Instagram for the latest crime news Get exclusive content on Patreon This episode is sponsored by: Cornbread Hemp - If you’re looking for a healthier way to enjoy a carefree moment, you have to give CornbreadHemp a try! They've created the first-ever USDA Organic THC gummy that’s 100% legal. Visit CornbreadHemp.com/tcs and use code TCS for 30% off your first order.

14 Marras 202456min

Introducing: Mind of a Serial Killer

Introducing: Mind of a Serial Killer

What makes a serial killer? Mind of a Serial Killer takes you deep into the twisted minds of history’s most notorious serial killers. Every Monday, hosts Vanessa Richardson and Dr. Tristin Engels, a Clinical and Forensic Psychologist, combines gripping true crime storytelling with expert psychological analysis to answer the question - what makes a serial killer? From Jeffrey Dahmer to Ted Bundy, explore not only their chilling crimes but the dark psychology behind them. Follow Mind of a Serial Killer wherever you get your podcasts!

11 Marras 202420min

Tyler Weathersby disappeared after behaving strangely the night prior

Tyler Weathersby disappeared after behaving strangely the night prior

Timestamp: (7:04) - Tyler Weathersby  In September 2024, South Dakota man Tyler Weathersby was acting erratically. His mother was visiting from interstate and the two had an argument.  He drove his mother to the airport the day before her flight and left her there. He was agitated when he got home.  His wife, MonaLisa Perez, said that he would routinely go for long walks, multiple times per day.  She assumed that this is what he was doing on September 4 when he left their home.  Tyler can be seen on CCTV walking in the neighborhood that day.   He has not been seen since. In an interesting twist in the case, MonaLisa accidentally killed her previous partner Pedro in 2017.  The two were filming a YouTube prank video that went wrong, resulting in Pedro’s death. Where is Tyler?  Did he suffer a mental health crisis?  Or is there something more at play? In this episode of the True Crime Society Podcast, we discuss the disappearance of Tyler Weathersby. Read our blog for this case - https://truecrimesocietyblog.com/2024/10/23/tyler-weathersby-vanished-after-going-for-a-walk/ Be sure to follow us on Instagram for the latest crime news - Instagram.com/truecrimesociety Check us out on Patreon for ad free episodes, weekly bonus episodes and more!

7 Marras 202449min

The Napa Halloween Murders | Leslie Ann Mazzara & Adriane Insogna

The Napa Halloween Murders | Leslie Ann Mazzara & Adriane Insogna

Timestamps (10:37) - Napa Halloween Murders Start Napa - California - On Halloween in 2004, three roommates, Leslie Ann Mazzara, Lauren Meanza and Adriane Insogna, spent the evening handing out specially prepared treat bags to the children in their neighborhood. Hours after the women went to bed, Lauren was awakened by the sounds of screaming and breaking glass.  As she headed up the stairs to investigate, she heard footsteps coming towards her.  She fled the home and called 911 from her vehicle. Leslie and Adriane would be found brutally murdered in an upstairs bedroom.  The pool of blood at the scene was said to be inches deep. An investigation would later determine that an acquaintance of the women, Eric Copple, was responsible for their deaths.  Eric was the partner of a friend of the girls.   No motive for the murders has ever been confirmed, besides Eric’s possible jealousy over the friendship.  Despite this case happening twenty years ago, it has recently been discussed again due to the similarities between it and the Moscow Murders.  In this episode of the True Crime Society Podcast, we discuss the 2004 Halloween murders in Napa, California.   Read our blog for this case - https://truecrimesocietyblog.com/2024/10/20/the-napa-valley-halloween-murders/ Be sure to follow us on Instagram for the latest crime news - Instagram.com/truecrimesociety This episode is sponsored by: Uncommon Goods -  Spark something uncommon this holiday season with incredible, hand-picked gifts from Uncommon Goods. To get 15% off your next gift, go to UncommonGoods.com/tcs

31 Loka 202448min

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