Ep 335: Con Men and Coercive Control: The Psychology of Deception with Sarah Ferris, Part 2
Crime AnalystShow Notes
Laura continues her interview with Sarah Ferris moving beyond the initial deception to unpack the deeper patterns, behaviours, and mindset of a conman - and what we must learn from it.
Laura and Sarah profile Peter Cowell, who posed as an Admiral, extracting money from senior leaders, veterans and even targeting former police detectives for an organisation he called IntSAR – the International Sea Air Rescue Service, a global humanitarian project with a military-style structure. It turns out, it is a work of fiction.
Drawing on both lived experience and behavioural analysis, Laura and Sarah explore how perpetrators create influence, maintain control, and continue offending - often across multiple victims - while appearing credible and trustworthy to others.
Key Takeaways: • The Pattern Behind the Persona: Why conmen rely on consistency, charm, and credibility - and how this masks repeat offending • Grooming & Influence: How trust is built quickly and used to establish control and dependency • Serial Behaviour: Why there is almost always a history -and often multiple victims • Missed Warning Signs: How red flags are explained away, minimised, or only recognised in hindsight • Turning the Tables: The power of awareness, collective action, and refusing to stay silent • Prevention & Protection: Why recognising patterns early is key to reducing harm and protecting others
This conversation goes beyond the individual case - it is about understanding the psychology of deception and the patterns of behaviour that enable it.
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