The Big Flop - Listen now: Scamfluencers | The Pharmacist Femme Fatale

Episode Date: October 20, 2025

Natalie Cochran seemed like she had it all: a good job as a pharmacist, a loving husband, and two kids. But then she quit her job to become a government contractor and started raking in dough, or so she claimed. Behind the scenes, Natalie was running a classic Ponzi scheme, scamming friends and family with fake contracts, fake government emails, and even fake cancer. But when the walls start closing in, lies alone won’t be enough to save her… These are the stories of the world’s most insidious Scamfluencers. And we are their prey. Every week on Scamfluencers, 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? Listen now: Wondery.fm/SCAMSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Scams are everywhere. On your phone, in your inbox, even on your television screen. Looking at you, Tinder Swindler. What is it about scams that has pop culture so obsessed? Maybe it's because it could happen to anyone. Or maybe it's because we're all so deeply fascinated by the psyche of someone who can lie with ease, cheat with no guilt, and convince the world that they are who they say they are, even when they're not. Scamfluencers is a weekly podcast that takes you into the world of deception, sharing the stories of today's most notorious scams. Like the recent episode of Natalie Cochran, the pharmacist Fem Fetal, it seemed like she had

it all. A good job, loving husband, and two kids. But behind the scenes, Natalie was scamming friends and family using fake contracts, fake government emails, and she even faked cancer. But when the wall start closing in, she'll do anything to keep the lie alive until someone ends up dead. You're about to hear a preview of scam fluencers. While you're listening, follow scam fluencers on Amazon. on music, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Sachi, have you ever watched a movie and just been like so inspired? It changed your life.

Oh, for sure. What was it? Probably that Helen Keller movie they kept making us watch on junior high. How did it change your life? Learned a lot. Okay. We'll talk about that later. I mean, the real answer's not better.

It's probably Robocop. Yeah, okay, that makes more sense. Robocop makes sense. For me, it was like Harriet the Spy, maybe. Oh, yeah. Because I was like, okay, that's me. I need to be meddling in writing. Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.

A Lizzie McGuire movie, maybe. True. Swan Princess. That was profound. She rejects him. It's a great movie. You're really showing yourself right now. I really appreciate it.

I know who I am. Well, today, I'm going to tell you about a woman who, after watching a movie, felt so emboldened to change the entire course of her life, leading to, you guessed it, a very elaborate Ponzi scheme. It's a gray overcast day in February 2019. 38-year-old Michael Cochran is working from home in a small town in West Virginia when he hears a knock at the front door. Michael isn't expecting anyone, but he's not concerned.

He's used to friends and neighbors stopping by. Michael is athletic and conventionally handsome with brown hair and a magnetic smile. On the surface, he's living the American dream. He and his wife Natalie run a successful government contracting business. They have two kids, a big two-story house, and a large manicured lawn. Their beloved members of the community and are sponsoring an upcoming bingo fundraiser for youth sports.

Their donation, several semi-automatic rifles to use as prizes. Sure. I don't see anything wrong with this. Yeah, I think that's perfect for youth sports. Yeah, they have to learn anti-coordination somehow. Yeah. But when Michael opens his front door, he doesn't see a friend or neighbor. Instead, there's an employee from the sewer utility company here to turn off the water

because Michael and Natalie haven't paid their bill. This is the last draw for Michael. Their company has been bringing in hundreds of millions of dollars. But for the past few months, he and Natalie have been having cash flow problems. Michael thinks it's ridiculous that they're technically worth millions of dollars but don't have the cash to pay their sewer bill. Natalie handles all of their finances, so when she gets home, Michael confronts her about the unpaid bill.

With her soft brown hair and heart-shaped face, Natalie looks like the sweet girl next door. She says that she's handled it. The water won't be shut off. Things have been tough lately, but she reassures Michael it will all be taken care of soon. She says she'll book them a flight to Virginia the next day so they can meet with the bank in person and sort things out together.

But none of that is true. Michael doesn't know it, but Natalie has been letting Michael believe that he's rich from running a government-companel. contracting business. In reality, it's a Ponzi scheme. Natalie has been stealing from their friends and family for months. Michael's questions threatened to reveal the truth. So tomorrow, Michael won't be boarding a plane to Virginia. He'll be in the ICU, thanks to his loving wife. That was a preview of scam influencers. Listen to the rest of the episode wherever you get your

podcasts.