5. Scams 2: Linda Taylor & Cassie L. Chadwick

In this episode, Rachel & Nathalie revisit the topic of scammers. This time, Rachel tells us about the OG "Welfare Queen," Linda Taylor, whose crimes span from fraud to kidnapping to maybe even murder.  The implications of her crimes didn't just hurt a victim or two, but managed to hurt an entire population of people in need of assistance. Then, Nathalie shares the case of Cassie L. Chadwick, a woman who mastered the art of the con, or so she thought. Whether posing as an heiress, a clairvoyant, or daughter of the richest man in America - Cassie very creatively ran her scams and built her wealth. Both women went by many names and each capitalized on broken systems until finally getting caught. Music is by Joseph McDade: https://www.patreon.com/josephmcdade/posts Rachel's sources: The Life and Crimes of America's Original 'Welfare Queen", by Sam Dolnik https://www.nytimes.com/2019/05/20/books/review/josh-levin-queen-linda-taylor.html The Welfare Queen, by John Levin http://www.slate.com/articles/news_and_politics/history/2013/12/linda_taylor_welfare_queen_ronald_reagan_made_her_a_notorious_american_villain.html Linda Taylor https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Linda_Taylor Nathalie's sources: https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/the-high-priestess-of-fraudulent-finance-45/ http://www.strangehistory.org/cms/index.php/popular/25-item-8 https://www.thevintagenews.com/2016/11/22/the-turbulent-life-of-cassie-chadwick-the-impostor-who-claimed-to-be-carnegies-illegitimate-daughter/