American Greed: Scams, Scoundrels and Scandals Season 13 Episode 12 The Luxury Curse Scam

In episode 12 of the 13th season of American Greed: Scams, Scoundrels and Scandals, viewers are introduced to The Luxury Curse Scam. This episode takes a closer look at the complex and devious scheme crafted by a group of fraudsters who convinced wealthy individuals to pay them millions of dollars in exchange for a "cursed" ancient artifact.

The episode follows the story of Kenny Chatman, a convicted felon with a history of drug abuse and fraud. Chatman, along with his associates, James and Maribel Spence, created a fake company called World Patent Marketing. The company claimed to be a successful inventor's group that helped investors patent and market their ideas. In reality, the company was a front used to scam and deceive vulnerable individuals.

The Luxury Curse Scam was Chatman's most elaborate and deceitful scheme yet. The scam began when Chatman met a man named Larry Sinewitz, who claimed to have discovered a cursed artifact while leading an archaeological expedition in León, Guanajuato, Mexico. Sinewitz convinced Chatman that the artifact was cursed and needed to be safely stored away from the public eye. Sinewitz then proposed that they sell access to the artifact to wealthy individuals who were seeking good luck and fortune.

Chatman saw an opportunity to make millions of dollars and quickly agreed to Sinewitz's proposal. He then enlisted the help of his associates, the Spences, to create a marketing campaign that would entice wealthy investors to buy access to the artifact. The marketing campaign was successful, and the trio was able to convince over 50 investors to pay them a total of $26 million.

The investors were promised that they would be able to access the artifact once a year and that the artifact's good luck would rub off on them, providing them with wealth and prosperity. However, when the investors tried to access the artifact, they discovered that it did not exist. The investors also found out that Sinewitz had made up the story about the artifact and had been paid $200,000 by Chatman to perpetuate the scam.

The episode explores the aftermath of The Luxury Curse Scam, including the lawsuits and convictions that followed. Viewers are introduced to some of the victims of the scam, including a man who lost $2.5 million and a woman who lost her life savings. The episode also sheds light on the tactics used by Chatman and his associates to deceive the investors and the impact that the scam had on their lives.

Overall, The Luxury Curse Scam is a cautionary tale about the dangers of greed and the lengths that some individuals will go to in order to make money. The episode highlights the devastating impact that scams can have on individuals and serves as a reminder to always conduct thorough research before investing money.