Series synopsis
Australia's Greatest Conman? is an Australian documentary crime television series that premiered on SBS On Demand on February 24, 2026.
In the 1980s, John Friedrich led an elite sea and land rescue squad out of 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, and his undoing revealed one of the most audacious scams in Australian history, an estimated $900 million in today’s value.
Premise
In the 1980s, John Friedrich led an elite sea and land rescue squad out of 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, and his undoing revealed one of the most audacious scams in Australian history, an estimated $900 million in today’s value.
Episodes
This series spans 1 season with 2 episodes.
| Season | Episodes | First aired | Last aired |
|---|---|---|---|
| Season 1 | 2 | February 24, 2026 | March 3, 2026 |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
The Friedrich Factor Australia was once home to an elite rescue squad led by John Friedrich, a powerful man hiding an extraordinary secret. Host Marc Fennell unravels a true-crime mystery more bizarre than fiction. |
February 24, 2026 |
| 2 |
The No-Person The dramatic conclusion of the mystery of John Friedrich. Is he just a conman or secret agent in disguise? Marc Fennell uncovers the truth of a man who fooled a nation in the scam of a century. |
March 3, 2026 |
Production
Release
| Original network/platform | SBS On Demand |
|---|---|
| First aired | February 24, 2026 |
| Last aired | March 3, 2026 |
| Status | continue |