Listen Now

They can be high-tech or unsophisticated, but either way, the purpose of a booby trap is the same, to surprise the target. In 2002, a retired engineer in Belgium thought he would surprise his estranged family with not one, but 19 hidden traps around his house. Each one was lethal and each one was cleverly disguised. Oh yeah, and to find them, you needed to crack a series of codes. In 2018, a man in the US created what authorities would dub the Indiana Jones house. It might have something to do with the massive hot tub turned on its side rigged to roll down the steep driveway. That was just the beginning! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In the Fall of 1982, taking something as simple as a pill for your headache could have been fatal. That’s because someone was tampering with Tylenol capsules and filling them with cyanide. When it comes to risky pain relief treatment, taking an over-the-counter pill usually doesn’t rank at the top of the list. For those living in the Chicago area, however, it was gambling with death. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

There’s something both terrifying and fascinating about explosions. Basic curiosity demands that we see what’s going on, while our survival instinct tells us to run. When a fireworks factory in the Netherlands went up in flames back in 2000, onlookers thought the multi-colored sparks and smoke would be the extent. They had no idea it would become one of the largest disasters in that country’s history. Almost a hundred years earlier, a ship in the busy port of Halifax, Nova Scotia detonated, becoming the most powerful human-made blast prior to the atomic bomb. The thing about an accidental explosion is, you’ll never see it coming! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

You never really know someone…especially online. In today’s world, the power of influence can be the quickest path to money and fame, and it often ends in ruin. These are the stories of the world’s most insidious Scamfluencers. And we are their prey. On Wondery’s new weekly series, join co-hosts Scaachi Koul and Sarah Hagi as they unpack epic stories of deception from the worlds of social media, fashion, finance, health, and wellness. These influencers claim to be everything from charismatic healers to trusted financial insiders to experts in dating. They cast spells over millions. Why do we believe them, and how does our culture allow them to thrive? From Black Swan Murder to a fake social media influencer to an audacious Hollywood Ponzi schemer, each season will take the listener along the twists and turns, the impact on victims, and what’s left when the facade falls away. Listen to Scamfluencers: wondery.fm/TS_Scamfluencers Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

There are accidents and then there are freak accidents. The difference is that when it comes to freak accidents, the victim will never see it coming. Whether you’re lying in bed, eating a carrot, sitting on the toilet, or out for a quiet day of fishing, it doesn’t matter how many safety precautions are taken or how simple the activity. In the end, there’s no way to predict when or how it will happen. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Have you ever been mistaken for somebody else? It’s one thing to share a resemblance, but what if the likeness is so uncanny that you could be a twin. In the case of three strangers in New York, it turned out they were actually identical triplets who had been separated at birth. The heart-warming reunion quickly turned to shock when the dark truth surrounding the circumstances of their separation came to light. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

As long as criminals have been breaking the law, authorities have been coming up with clever ways to catch them. From dressing up in ridiculous disguises to developing sophisticated technology, there’s apparently nothing law enforcement won’t do to get their man. What’s even more incredible than the crazy sting operations conceived by police are the crooks that fall for them! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

If you’re a fan of reading murder mysteries, you might be familiar with the concept of a ‘locked room’ scenario. It’s when the victim is killed under seemingly impossible circumstances, leaving the reader questioning how the perpetrator was able to get away with it. It’s essentially the literary recipe for the perfect crime. Yet, stories like this are not just limited to words on a page. There are plenty of ‘stranger than fiction’ cases that have left police scratching their heads. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

For over a decade during the 1940s and 50s, an unassuming man named John Christie was quickly becoming one of Britain’s most infamous serial killers. He hid the bodies behind the walls of his apartment, under the floorboards, and in the garden. But it’s not just the murders that makes this one of the worst in the country’s history. If you ever wondered why England doesn’t have the death penalty, it’s because of this horrific case. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

It must be a strange experience to wake up one day to find out that you’ve been declared dead. It’s something that celebrities know well. From Paul Rudd to Jeff Goldblum, it can’t be pleasant to find out the news outlets have killed you off. It’s not just the misinformation they have to deal with in the aftermath of such announcements, it’s all the conspiracy theories that come along with it! Fun times for the famous! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

It started as a military outpost in the middle of the North Sea, but the small British stronghold once called Fort Roughs would soon become the world’s smallest nation – sort of. It might not be recognized as a sovereign country, but the Principality of Sealand has seen its share of international conflict over the years. From, pirate radio stations and mercenary invasions, to Guinness Records and its own royal family, this tiny territory is no stranger to excitement. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

From the 1920s to the 1950s, nothing was more fashionable for the rich and famous than adopting a child. Unlike the Hollywood fairytale endings, thousands of children during that time were bought and sold in a real-life baby black market. For decades, the undisputed boss of that underworld was a charming and pleasant woman from Tennessee named Georgia Tann. To this day, she remains the most prolific child predator in US history. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

When neighbors disagree, it can often be the start of some pretty serious passive aggressiveness. Anonymous notes, dirty looks, and all-around juvenile behavior often ensues. But if that’s the most it escalates, consider yourself lucky. You could have a neighbor who decides to build a spite house. This is a structure designed with one purpose in mind, to annoy one’s neighbor by blocking daylight, views, and access to other areas. From Boston’s famous Skinny House to the Richardson Spite House in New York City, it’s amazing how far some people will go to show their frustration! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Who doesn’t love a good movie? Whether it’s a romcom or an action adventure, sometimes there’s no better escape from reality. Behind the scenes, however, the reality is that movie making is a pretty risky business. From crewmembers being eaten by sharks to actors literally losing their heads for the perfect shot, the industry is not for everyone. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

When it comes to being in the wrong place at the wrong time, sometimes making it out in one piece comes down to good old-fashioned luck. In maritime history, the award for luckiest person goes to a woman named Violet Jessop. She not only survived the sinking of the Titanic in 1912, but she also survived the sinking of another famous ocean liner, Britannic, four years later. Incredibly, Violet Jessop was aboard the RMS Olympic when it almost sank years earlier after colliding with a military vessel. The Queen of Sinking Ships eventually earned the nickname Miss Unsinkable. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

If you've ever been in the North End of Boston on a hot day, you might have noticed the sweet smell of molasses. That’s because in January 1919, over 2 million gallons of the sticky liquid burst from a massive holding tank killing 21 people and injuring more than 150 others. Over 100 years later, the smell lingers. Or how about in 1914, when a beer tsunami killed several people in London? The wave was 15 feet high and contained enough beer to fill millions of pint glasses. And then there’s the burning river of whiskey that set fire to homes and businesses as it flowed through Dublin. Not all deadly floods are made of water! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In 2010, the body of 55 year-old Greg Fleniken was found inside a hotel room in Beaumont, Texas. It was initially assumed that he died of a heart attack. After all, he tended to enjoy life to the fullest, and there was no sign of foul play. When the medical examiner started the autopsy, he expected no surprises. So, it came as a shock that the body’s internal damage was so severe that it had to be from blunt force trauma. It wasn’t. A private investigator and the lead detective teamed up to uncover what really happened in the curious murder of Greg Fleniken. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Olympic games have always been the ultimate competition. It showcases the very best of human athletic achievement. But what happens when scandal overshadows epic performances? From a marathon runner who rode as a passenger in a car for most of the race to a skier who made the Olympics by switching countries 3 times. Usually, legends are forged in the heat of competition, but not in these cases! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In 1974, police in Iceland were dealing with two separate disappearances in just the span of months. In a country where violent crime was almost unheard of, the pressure was on to solve both cases. With no bodies, eyewitnesses, or forensic evidence, authorities were getting desperate for a lead. When a suspect in an unrelated case said she had a nightmare about one of the missing people, police seized the opportunity. That nightmare turned into confessions from six people. The only problem was, none of them had any idea what they were talking about. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

It was one of the largest manhunts in the history of French law enforcement. In 2011, Xavier Dupont de Ligonnes vanished after murdering his wife and four children and burying them in the backyard. Authorities were confident he hadn’t left the country, but after years of searching, he was nowhere to be found. When a body hanging from a tree was found in the woods, police thought they had their suspect. When human remains were found inside a cave, they were sure it was him. Each time, it turned out to be someone else. So, where could France’s most infamous fugitive be hiding? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices