Watch Dirty Money

Dirty Money is an investigative documentary series created by Netflix and released on the Discovery Channel. This six-part series dives deep into financial corruption, exposing the unethical behavior of major corporations and the individuals who run them. Each episode features a different story that highlights a different aspect of financial misconduct. The series covers a range of topics, from money laundering and tax evasion to corporate greed and environmental scandals. Dirty Money explores how the corrupt activities of corporations and individuals impact our society and the world at large.

The first episode is titled "Hard NOx" and examines the Volkswagen emissions scandal. This episode provides detailed insight into the company's desire to deceive the public by falsifying emission reports to cheat Environmental Protection Agency rules. It is a great example of corporate wrongdoing, putting profit over people and the planet. The episode includes interviews with the whistleblowers and former VW employees who raised concerns related to the alleged scandal.

Another episode, "The Confidence Man," exposes Martin Shkreli, a pharmaceutical entrepreneur, and former CEO of Turing Pharmaceuticals. The episode explores how Shkreli's price gouging tactics were embezzled at the cost of patient lives. His actions illustrate why the health care system's regulation is necessary to prevent a business from valuing profits over saving lives.

In the third episode "Payday," an incredible story is told about a payday loan company named Scott Tucker. This company charged individuals who took out loans with incredibly high-interest rates, leaving many borrowers in desperate situations. The episode will give a glance at how loan sharks can charge huge amounts of money and how there are government restrictions to prevent them.

Episode four is titled "Drug Short," where the audience is given insight into the harsh realities of the global financial system. It uncovers the short positions taken by hedge funds in drug stocks before those companies learn of negative FDA decisions. The predatory move resulted in the price hike of life-saving medicines, leaving the vulnerable population at their mercy.

The fifth episode, titled "Cartel Bank," explores how one of the world's largest banks, HSBC, aided drug cartels and terrorist organizations in laundering their money. Experts say that the banking giant knowingly ignored the illegal activity, but because of this episode, HSBC is now subject to closer scrutiny and tighter regulations.

The last episode in the series is titled "The Maple Syrup Heist." It may sound a little silly, but it is just as problematic as any other episode. The episode tells the story of several maple syrup producers in Quebec who found out that their reserve had been tampered with, and at least 15,000 barrels of the liquid-gold missing. The investigation shows how these thieves were able to steal the incredibly sticky matter and how they sold it at a high price to unscrupulous customers.

Dirty Money shines the light on how businesses and individuals often prioritize their profits over people, and how these actions lead to corruption, harm to society, and the environment. The series shows that even the largest and most influential businesses and leaders are not immune to being exposed through the power of investigation and journalism.

Dirty Money is not just a documentary series; it is a conscientious call-to-action. It confronts the audience with the responsibilities they have to the world and fellow humans. It advocates for accountability, transparency, and for us to hold our leaders and corporations to ethical practices that prioritize humanity and our environment. There is an abundance of lessons to be learned from this captivating series.