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Persona: The French Deception podcast artwork

Persona: The French Deception

by Audible | Pineapple Street Studios

What does it feel like to pick up the phone and scam someone out of $50 million? This is the story of Gilbert Chikli, one of the greatest con artists of all time. Host and award-winning journalist Evan Ratliff investigates how Chikli duped some of the world’s most powerful people into handing over their fortunes. He explores how Chikli evaded the law for years and became a Robin Hood-like hero. More than just a tale of criminal genius, this is a show about the moment we’re living in right now — the golden age of scammers — and the power of seduction. But what happens when the fantasy we’ve been lured into finally crumbles away? Audible subscribers can listen to all episodes of Persona: The French Deception ad-free right now. Join Audible today by downloading the Audible app.

From the show's RSS feed, refreshed Apr 16, 2026. Source feed.

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Episodes

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  8. Where to find Episodes 2-8 of Persona

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  9. Genius | 2

    Gilbert Chikli was known to friends and family in Israel as a flamboyant local celebrity, a Robin Hood figure, and an innovator who by necessity ended up on the wrong side of the law. But as Chikli galivants around town with new yachts and suitcases of money, the French authorities begin closing...

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  11. Introducing - Persona: The French Deception

    What does it feel like to pick up the phone and scam someone out of $50 million? This is the story of Gilbert Chikli, one of the greatest con artists of all time. Host and award-winning journalist, Evan Ratliff, investigates how Chikli successfully duped some of the world’s most powerful people...

About this show

What does it feel like to pick up the phone and scam someone out of $50 million? This is the story of Gilbert Chikli, one of the greatest con artists of all time. Host and award-winning journalist Evan Ratliff investigates how Chikli duped some of the world’s most powerful people into handing over their fortunes. He explores how Chikli evaded the law for years and became a Robin Hood-like hero. More than just a tale of criminal genius, this is a show about the moment we’re living in right now — the golden age of scammers — and the power of seduction. But what happens when the fantasy we’ve been lured into finally crumbles away?

Audible subscribers can listen to all episodes of Persona: The French Deception ad-free right now. Join Audible today by downloading the Audible app.

Hosted by

Audible | Pineapple Street Studios

Frequently asked questions

How many episodes does Persona: The French Deception have?

Persona: The French Deception has 11 episodes on PodParley. The most recent episode was published on October 12, 2026.

What is Persona: The French Deception about?

What does it feel like to pick up the phone and scam someone out of $50 million? This is the story of Gilbert Chikli, one of the greatest con artists of all time. Host and award-winning journalist Evan Ratliff investigates how Chikli duped some of the world’s most powerful people into handing over...

How often does Persona: The French Deception release new episodes?

Persona: The French Deception publishes irregularly, based on its 11 episodes since May 2022.

Who hosts Persona: The French Deception?

Persona: The French Deception is created and hosted by Audible | Pineapple Street Studios.
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