Ep 10. The Imposter

In season 14 episode 10 of American Greed, titled "The Imposter," viewers are taken on a wild ride through the story of a con artist who pretended to be a wealthy New York City socialite. The episode begins with the glamorous appearance of Anna Sorokin, a young woman with a taste for the finer things in life who claimed to be a German heiress.

Sorokin managed to infiltrate the New York City social scene, using fake bank statements and a confident demeanor to convince people that she was worth millions of dollars. She would check into luxury hotels, dine at expensive restaurants, and even go on extravagant shopping sprees, all on credit that she had no intention of paying back.

As the episode progresses, viewers learn about Sorokin's elaborate schemes and the people she conned along the way. One victim was a high-end New York City hotel, which Sorokin convinced to let her stay for eight nights, promising to wire the payment for the $30,000 bill. When the payment never came, the hotel staff realized they had been duped.

Another victim was a wealthy investor who Sorokin convinced to join her in creating a private art club. She promised to invest $25 million in the project, but after the investor wired her $100,000, Sorokin disappeared without a trace.

The episode also delves into Sorokin's personal life, including her relationship with a socialite photographer who tried to help her get ahead in the art world. However, Sorokin's intricate web of lies began to unravel when she tried to secure a $22 million loan from a bank to open a members-only club, using forged documents and false identities. When the bank refused to release the funds, Sorokin was arrested and charged with multiple counts of grand larceny and theft of services.

The Imposter episode of American Greed is a fascinating look at the world of white-collar crime, and how one person's elaborate lies and schemes can have a ripple effect on the people around them. Viewers will be left wondering how Sorokin was able to get away with her scams for so long, and what ultimately led to her downfall. It's a cautionary tale about the dangers of greed and the consequences of trying to live a life that's beyond one's means.