Fraudulently Famous

Imposters who faked their way to wealth, power and fame

Everyone loves a little escapism. But why stop at a steamy beach read or cotton-candy movie? Why not go all the way and become another person? Whether for fame, love, money, or adrenaline, a few expert impersonators (as well as some not-so-expert ones) have been pretending to be who they're not. The most recent example is a Pakistani man who for months presented himself as major Taliban official Mullah Akhtar Muhammad Mansour, conducting top-secret talks and earning large sums of money before being revealed as fake. Here's a short history of hoaxsters, from a fraudulent Frenchman to the imposter insurgent.

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