Australia's Greatest Conman?
2026 · SBS On Demand · 48 min · 1 season
S01E02 · Episode 2
Tue, 24 Feb, 5:00 am
Marc Fennell investigates whether John Friedrich was just a con man or a secret agent in disguise. He uncovers the truth of a man who fooled a nation in the scam of a century.
About
Marc Fennell sets out to uncover the truth behind John Friedrich, the man who deceived a nation. He reveals a story that's stranger than fiction, delving into a web of lies and money.
In the 1980s, John Friedrich ran an elite sea and land rescue squad in Victoria, winning an Order of Australia, top-secret government contracts and hundreds of millions of dollars in loans.
But no one knew that John Friedrich was not who he made out to be. His undoing revealed one of the most audacious scams in Australian history, worth an estimated $900 million in today's money.
Episodes
- E01
Episode 1
Tue, 24 Feb· 48 minAustralia was once home to an elite rescue squad led by John Friedrich, a powerful man hiding an extraordinary secret.
- E02
Episode 2
Tue, 24 Feb· 48 minMarc Fennell investigates whether John Friedrich was just a con man or a secret agent in disguise. He uncovers the truth of a man who fooled a nation in the scam of a century.
Cast
Marc Fennell
Presenter