Obsessed With the Elizabeth Holmes Saga? Watch These True Crime Docs While You Wait

Bad Vegan: Fame. Fraud. Fugitives. You’ll speed through this four-episode series, which follows Sarma Melngailis, a chef, cookbook author, and former New York City vegan restaurant owner. In 2012, Melngailis married a conman who claimed he could make her pit bull immortal. The series explores how she allegedly fell under her husband’s psychological control, eventually stealing money from her popular restaurant and lying to investors before pleading guilty to grand larceny, criminal tax fraud, and scheming to defraud. Madoff: The Monster of Wall Street One of the most famous Ponzi schemes on Wall Street was orchestrated by Bernie Madoff, a financier and stockbroker. This four-part 2023 docuseries, with episodes running approximately one hour each, follows Madoff’s rise and fall. It begins at the start of his career, as he builds an impressive reputation —until his competitors begin to question how he achieved such seemingly impossible success. McMillion$ Binge-watch this six-episode series, which explores the $24 million stolen through the McDonald’s Monopoly game. It tells the story of former cop and security officer Jerome Jacobson, who rigged the promotion from 1989 to 2001 by building a network of associates who claimed prizes in exchange for cash. After an anonymous tip to the FBI in 2000, Jacobson’s elaborate scheme finally began to fall apart. The Inventor: Out for Blood in Silicon Valley Before you dive into the upcoming documentary, get acquainted with Elizabeth Holmes through this highly rated film. The nearly two-hour documentary takes a deep dive into Theranos, Holmes’ former startup, and the scandal that ultimately brought the company down. Released in 2019, it offers a dark, intense look at one of Silicon Valley’s best-known fraud cases. The Tinder Swindler It’s a tale as old as time—and one of the most well-known catfishing schemes to date. Shimon Hayut used Tinder to convince women to send him money to support his lavish lifestyle, then used those funds to woo other women with fancy dinners and private jets. You’ll fly through this three-part series, with episodes running just around 40 minutes each. Operation Varsity Blues: The College Admissions Scandal This 2021 documentary quickly became a must-watch. It explores the college admissions scandal in which wealthy families paid bribes and used other fraudulent means to influence their children’s admission to elite U.S. universities between 2011 and 2018, involving figures such as Full House actress Lori Loughlin. The nearly two-hour film revisits the investigation and the schemes used to secure coveted spots at some of the country’s top colleges. Netflix describes it as a scandalous and informative watch, making it an easy addition to your queue. Dancing for the Devil: The 7M TikTok Cult This three-part series is a fitting watch for the social media age, uncovering the dark secrets surrounding 7M, a management company for TikTok dancers that former members and others have described as a cult. The series takes a closer look at the group’s founder and the emotional experiences of those involved. Across three episodes, viewers hear firsthand accounts from former members and their family members.