‘The Con,’ Narrated by Whoopi Goldberg, Spotlights the Most Stunning Swindles (VIDEO)
ABC News explores the troubling tales of people taken in by claims and promises that proved too good to be true, from identity fraud and misleading romance to the high-profile college admission scandal and Fyre Festival. Emmy, GRAMMY, Tony and Oscar winner and The View moderator Whoopi Goldberg narrates the new primetime series, The Con, premiering Wednesday, October 14 on ABC.
It will reveal how the victims were fooled and the cost of their false trust – emotional and financial. The Con will feature interviews with the key people caught up in the cons, including victims and eyewitnesses, and, in some cases, law enforcement and the perpetrators themselves. The series will lift the curtain on the people behind some of the most outrageous cons ever.
Screengrab/ABC News
In the series premiere, Goldberg introduces viewers to Benita Alexander, an award-winning documentary television producer and single mother, and Paolo Macchiarini, an internationally renowned surgeon.
Alexander meets Macchiarini while producing a documentary on his groundbreaking surgical techniques using stem cells in synthetic trachea transplants. Despite crossing professional lines, Alexander finds herself wooed by Macchiarini’s charm, intellect and good looks, and the pair quickly falls in love.
Screengrab/ABC News
After traveling the world together, the couple gets engaged and, according to Alexander, Macchiarini tells her he wants to take over planning the wedding.
It quickly becomes a grand, fairy-tale affair with an impressive guest list, including Bill Clinton, Barack Obama and Elton John. He says they’ll even be married by the pope. However, weeks before their Italian wedding, Alexander realizes things aren’t as perfect as they seem and uses her investigative producer skills to uncover the truth behind Macchiarini and the planned wedding.
Macchiarini’s groundbreaking surgeries have been under investigation by Swedish prosecutors. A court date has yet to be set and Macchiarini has not yet entered a plea. He has denied all of the allegations against him.
The Con, Series Premiere, Wednesday, October 14, 10/9c, ABC
