Ep 335: Con Men and Coercive Control: The Psychology of Deception with Sarah Ferris, Part 2

Laura continues her interview with Sarah Ferris moving beyond the initial deception to unpack the deeper patterns, behaviours, and mindset of a conman - and what we must learn from it. Laura and Sarah profile Peter Cowell, who posed as an Admiral, extracting money from senior leaders, veterans and even targeting former police detectives for an organisation he called IntSAR – the International Sea Air Rescue Service, a global humanitarian project with a military-style structure. It turns out, it is a work of fiction. Drawing on both lived experience and behavioural analysis, Laura and Sarah explore how perpetrators create influence, maintain control, and continue offending - often across multiple victims - while appearing credible and trustworthy to others. Key Takeaways: • The Pattern Behind the Persona: Why conmen rely on consistency, charm, and credibility - and how this masks repeat offending • Grooming & Influence: How trust is built quickly and used to establish control and dependency • Serial Behaviour: Why there is almost always a history -and often multiple victims • Missed Warning Signs: How red flags are explained away, minimised, or only recognised in hindsight • Turning the Tables: The power of awareness, collective action, and refusing to stay silent • Prevention & Protection: Why recognising patterns early is key to reducing harm and protecting others This conversation goes beyond the individual case - it is about understanding the psychology of deception and the patterns of behaviour that enable it. 🎧 Listen, learn, and share - you could change your life. #CrimeAnalyst #SarahFerris #CONmunityPodcast #CoerciveControl #BehaviouralAnalysis #TrueCrime #TrueCrimePodcast #Manipulation #Gaslighting #Grooming #HiddenAbuse #TrustYourInstincts #RedFlags #PatternRecognition #WomenSafety #Empowerment #Prevention #ProtectYourself Clip https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/coming-soon-season-two-the-badmiral/id1516505977?i=1000730730060 Find Sarah here: Sarah Ferris CONmunity Podcast Klooghless Podcast Watching Two Detectives: Stop the Killing Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/conmunitypodcast New charges: https://www.examiner.com.au/story/9233967/alleged-east-coast-conman-to-face-eventual-supreme-court-trial/ Thank You to the Crime Analyst Sponsors Who Make the Show Possible. Support The Show Through the Sponsors: Go to Amazon or physicianschoice.com and use code PCPODCAST10 for 10% off your entire order. Laura’s Resources and Training information: www.dashriskchecklist.com www.thelaurarichards.com Crime Analyst YouTube, Socials and Website YouTube @crimeanalyst Facebook Crime Analyst Podcast Instagram @crimeanalyst @laurarichards999 Threads @crimeanalyst X @thecrimeanalyst @laurarichards999 TikTok @crimeanalystpod Website www.crime-analyst.com Leave a 5* Review https://www.crime-analyst.com/reviews/new/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices