When Oscar Hartzell's mother met Milo and Sudie, she fell for a story too good to be true: She, as an heir to the fortune of Sir Francis Drake, was eligible to receive a large part of his treasure -- all she had to do was help pay for court costs in the UK. Yet when Oscar finally figured out the con, he joined forces with the fraudsters, eventually becoming the head of one of the largest scams of the age. Join Ben and special guest Christopher Hassiotis as they explore the bizarre rise (and fall) of Oscar Hartzell.
Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com

CLASSIC: New Providence: That Time Pirates Had A Government
59:13

The Ridiculous Truth About Pirates, Chapter Two: History's Most Successful Pirate Was A Woman
43:32

The Ridiculous Truth About Pirates, Chapter One: The Caribbean
39:04