Particle Data Platform
Scamfluencers

Charlie Javice: Fake It Til You Make It

1/19/20261 hr 4 min

In the early 2000s, Charlie Javice dreamed of saving the world… and getting rich in the process. Backed by privilege and proximity to power, she raised money for a series of startups that claimed to help people in need – culminating in Frank, a company designed to help students access financial aid. But after years of playing the “fake it ‘til you make it game,” a big bank finally calls her bluff. Instead of backing down, Charlie doubles down – even with prison on the line.

Be the first to know about Wondery’s newest podcasts, curated recomm...

Clips

Getting JP Morgan to Foot Defense
Banks Skipped the Basic Google
Horses as a Wealth Detector
'Core Values' Means Indictment Coming
I'd Sabotage You If Laid Off

Transcript preview

First 90 seconds

  1. Charlie Javice· Soundbite0:00

    [upbeat music] Wondering.

  2. Sarah Hagi· Host0:05

    ... Sachi, I think our age group was kind of coming up around the time when, like, very certain nerds became obsessed with the idea of, you know, having a startup. Did you know any of these kinds of people?

  3. Sachi Cole· Host0:22

    [gasps] Sarah, I dated one.

  4. Sarah Hagi· Host0:25

    Oh, my God. I'm- Yeah, I know.

  5. Sachi Cole· Host0:28

    He wore a puka shell necklace.

  6. Sarah Hagi· Host0:30

    I'm so sorry.

  7. Sachi Cole· Host0:31

    Thank you.

  8. Sarah Hagi· Host0:32

    That's really, must have been really scary for you.

  9. Sachi Cole· Host0:35

    It was pretty hard, and I feel really brave for having gone through it at such a young age.

  10. Sarah Hagi· Host0:39

    [chuckles] I feel like I found it particularly insane because it was obvious these people weren't just trying to get rich. It was like they wanted to really cosplay as like, "I'm a brilliant weirdo who wears the same thing every day," you know?

  11. Sachi Cole· Host0:56

    Yeah, it's not enough to be successful. They have to be unique in their success, and it usually means that they don't do anything at all.

  12. Sarah Hagi· Host1:03

    Yes. Well, today, I'm gonna tell you about a woman who thinks Founder is a proper noun and an entire identity, and when it came time to choose between changing the world and making her fortune, she robbed one of the biggest banks in the world in plain sight. [upbeat music] It's April 2012, and Michael Gibson is in San Francisco

We value your privacy

We use cookies to understand how you use our platform and to improve your experience. Click "Accept All" to consent, or "Decline non-essential" to opt out of non-essential cookies. Read our Privacy Policy.