Creating a Con: The Story of Bitconned

Meet Ray Trapani: a kid from New York who became one of the 21st Century’s most prolific con artists. In this sneak peek of Creating a Con: The Story of Bitconned, his best friend goes inside Ray’s mind to learn why he dreamed of being a criminal and how he had a knack for exploiting the exploitable. From a prescription pad hustle to cashing in on a glitch in a popular payment app, Ray’s small-time scams were the stepping stones to his biggest scam yet, Centra Tech.  At 26 years old, Ray Trapani and his two partners founded one of the hottest tech startups: Centra Tech. The company touted partnerships with some of the biggest banks, had the endorsements of DJ Khaled and Floyd Mayweather, and was fronted by a Harvard-educated CEO. Centra Tech was about to take over the world…until it didn’t.  Ray’s company was a giant lie built on empty promises, fake executives, and fraudulent contracts. All the while, Ray took millions of dollars from unsuspecting investors and was living the high life until it all came crashing down.  If you're an iHeart True Crime+ subscriber, you can listen to ALL episodes of Creating a Con: The Story of Bitconned 100% ad-free, so you can binge the entire season. And if you are NOT an iHeart True Crime+ subscriber, go to Apple Podcasts and search for iHeart True Crime+ and subscribe today! Episodes will be premiering free to listeners starting Wednesday, April 3rd on the iHeartRadio App, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In "Creating a Con: The Story of Bitconned", we’ll meet Ray Trapani. Ray grew up in a modest shore town outside of New York City. Once a happy-go-lucky kid, Ray's innocent summers on the beach quickly turned to sex, drugs, and schemes. By high school, Ray orchestrated an elaborate opioid prescription scam that made him more money than any sophomore could imagine. Ray's desire for wealth came at an early age and clouded his moral compass. His schemes didn’t stop in his teens. In 2017, Ray stumbled upon what would be the fraud of his life.   This season, we’ll explore how Ray and two friends started their company, Centra Tech, which very quickly became one of the hottest tech startups of 2017. They signed exclusive deals with the world’s largest banks, hired an incredible executive team, and partnered with DJ Khaled and Floyd Mayweather. They raised over $30 million dollars overnight. They were on the path of disrupting the financial industry. Until they weren’t. There was one small problem. It was all a lie.  Episodes will be premiering free to listeners starting Wednesday, April 3rd, on the iHeartRadio App, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Creating a Con is a true crime anthology podcast series that goes inside the minds of the most prolific modern-day con artists. These criminals are finding opportunities to exploit our modern world for their own personal gain. Their schemes may be new, but their tactics are tried and true. We've seen the rise of modern-day fraudsters like Anna Delvey, Sam Bankman-Fried, and Elizabeth Holmes. We've heard their stories. In Creating a Con, you'll hear the names and crimes of some of the greatest con-artists you don’t know of...yet. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

“For as long as I can remember I was always trying to make a couple pennies.” That’s Ray Trapani, one of the co-founders of the crypto-currency company, Centra Tech. In the premiere episode of Creating a Con: The Story of Bitconned, we hear the origin story of Ray, the guy who, in his own words said, “I always wanted to be a criminal since I was a kid”. Was it destined in his nature? Or would this prolific con artist be shaped by his environment and the influences on his life from an early age?    If you would like to reach out to the Creating a Con team, please email us at creatingaconpod@gmail.com   To get an inside look into Ray Trapani, Centra Tech and all the characters in the podcast, check out Bitconned, exclusively on Netflix… available to stream now.    If you or someone you know is struggling with substance abuse, please call the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s (SAMHSA) National Helpline at 1-800-662-HELP (4357). See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In Episode 2 – Rolling the Dice, Ray is thriving after starting a new life down in Miami. He traded in his construction uniform for white suits and Alexander McQueens. How did he happen upon this turn of fate? It starts with a new get-rich-quick scheme that turns into a full-blown business. From Venmo to a rental car business called Miami Exotics, it seems like Ray’s life as a career criminal is taking off. And it came with its perks. Ray was renting exotic cars to some of the biggest rappers and athletes in the world. Ray and his partners were at clubs every night and living in the fast lane. However, a few months later, Ray finds himself at a major crossroads in Vegas. 30 Xanex, countless bottles of booze and down $500,000 dollars, Ray found himself in uncharted waters.    If you would like to reach out to the Creating a Con team, please email us at creatingaconpod@gmail.com   To get an inside look into Ray Trapani, Centra Tech and all the characters in the podcast, check out Bitconned, exclusively on Netflix… available to stream now.    If you or someone you know is having suicidal thoughts, please call the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline at 988.    If you or someone you know is struggling with substance abuse, please call the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s (SAMHSA) National Helpline at 1-800-662-HELP (4357).   If you or someone you know is struggling with gambling, please call the National Problem Gambling Helpline at 1-800-GAMBLER. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ray is left picking up the pieces of his life and business after his failed Vegas trip. In Episode 3 – Heads or Tails, Ray and a few friends from Miami Exotics set their sights on tackling the unregulated Wild West of the crypto-currency world. Introducing, Centra Tech.    If you would like to reach out to the Creating a Con team, please email us at creatingaconpod@gmail.com   To get an inside look into Ray Trapani, Centra Tech, and all the characters in the podcast, check out Bitconned, exclusively on Netflix… available to stream now.   If you or someone you know is struggling with substance abuse, please call the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s (SAMHSA) National Helpline at 1-800-662-HELP (4357). See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

With Centra Tech preparing to launch their business, a mention in a prominent crypto-currency article takes their company to new heights. However, the author, Clif High, had them mistaken for another company. And the fall-out of this misprint would change everything.  If you would like to reach out to the Creating a Con team, please email us at creatingaconpod@gmail.com  To get an inside look into Ray Trapani, Centra Tech, and all the characters in the podcast, check out Bitconned, exclusively on Netflix… available to stream now.  If you or someone you know is struggling with substance abuse, please call the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s (SAMHSA) National Helpline at 1-800-662-HELP (4357).See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In Episode 5 - A Date with the Grey Lady, as the Centra Tech team prepare for an impending New York Times exposé, the partners see their control of the company slip away. Meanwhile, we’ll hear from the “CEO” of Centra Tech on how he got roped in to the crypto startup and how it changed his life.   If you would like to reach out to the Creating a Con team, please email us at creatingaconpod@gmail.com   To get an inside look into Ray Trapani, Centra Tech, and all the characters in the podcast, check out Bitconned, exclusively on Netflix… available to stream now.   If you or someone you know is struggling with substance abuse, please call the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s (SAMHSA) National Helpline at 1-800-662-HELP (4357).See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Raising $30 million-dollars, playing poker with celebrities, and jet-setting on private planes; it seemed like Ray and the Centra Tech team were on top of the world. Until they weren’t. The pressure from the New York Times article is coming down hard. Has Ray and Centra Tech's luck finally run out?   If you would like to reach out to the Creating a Con team, please email us at creatingaconpod@gmail.com  To get an inside look into Ray Trapani, Centra Tech, and all the characters in the podcast, check out Bitconned, exclusively on Netflix… available to stream now.  If you or someone you know is struggling with substance abuse, please call the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s (SAMHSA) National Helpline at 1-800-662-HELP (4357). See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Centra Tech investors are getting nervous after the release of the explosive New York Times article. Is this the end for the crypto-company? Plus, the Centra Tech team finds themselves in another scam. But this time, they are the ones being duped.   If you would like to reach out to the Creating a Con team, please email us at creatingaconpod@gmail.com  To get an inside look into Ray Trapani, Centra Tech, and all the characters in the podcast, check out Bitconned, exclusively on Netflix… available to stream now.  If you or someone you know is struggling with substance abuse, please call the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s (SAMHSA) National Helpline at 1-800-662-HELP (4357). See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In Episode 8 - The United States vs. Centra Tech, it’s all fun and games until you’re indicted. As sentencing trials begin to loom closer, we hear what went on behind closed doors and hear the emotional statements from Centra Tech victims.   If you would like to reach out to the Creating a Con team, please email us at creatingaconpod@gmail.com  To get an inside look into Ray Trapani, Centra Tech, and all the characters in the podcast, check out Bitconned, exclusively on Netflix… available to stream now.  If you or someone you know is struggling with substance abuse, please call the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s (SAMHSA) National Helpline at 1-800-662-HELP (4357). See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In the season finale of Creating a Con, Ray’s epic story of lies, deception, and fraud comes to a head in the courtroom of The Southern District of New York. Looking at the possibility of serving over 150 years in prison, Ray is confronted by the most important day of his life - his sentencing hearing. But the day would come with a twist, one that Ray, his friends, and his family would never expect. One that would change their lives forever.  Stay tuned into the Creating a Con: The Story of Bitconned feed for exclusive bonus content coming soon!  If you would like to reach out to the Creating a Con team, please email us at creatingaconpod@gmail.com   To get an inside look into Ray Trapani, Centra Tech, and all the characters in the podcast, check out Bitconned, exclusively on Netflix… available to stream now.   If you or someone you know is struggling with substance abuse, please call the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s (SAMHSA) National Helpline at 1-800-662-HELP (4357). See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The story of Creating a Con: The Story of Bitconned has also been adapted into a Netflix documentary. Bitconned is available NOW, exclusively on Netflix. To learn more about the production, please take a listen to this encore presentation of Netflix's You Cant Make This Up where host Rebecca Lavoie interviews the documentary's director, Bryan Strokel. Be sure to check out the film, Bitconned, exclusively on Netflix and keep listening to Creating a Con: The Story of Bitconned. Enjoy! At the height of the Bitcoin boom, Ray Trapani and his friends created a debit card for cryptocurrency. Even though the technology didn’t work and the card was a scam, Centra Tech was making millions of dollars a day. But anyone looking at the operation would discover cut-and-paste business plans, fake executives, and glitchy technology.  Bitconned lets Trapani tell his story of fun, fame, and fraud as he awaits sentencing for the first high-profile case of the crypto era. Was it real? No. But did it work? Maybe. In this episode of You Can't Make This Up, host Rebecca Lavoie interviews director Bryan Storkel. SPOILER ALERT! If you haven't watched Bitconned yet, make sure to add it to your watch-list before listening on.  Listen to more from Netflix Podcasts.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.