2. The believers

It’s gold fever. Estimates put the Bre-X discovery at four times the size of the biggest known gold deposit — and investors are trying to cash in. A small Canadian town is swept up in the gold rush. But others are asking questions, including a hedge fund manager who goes to extraordinary lengths to get inside the Indonesia gold site.

Since this episode was recorded, John McBeth has sadly passed away. We are very grateful for his contribution to this story.

The Six Billion Dollar Gold Scam was first published in May 2024.

The Six Billion Dollar Gold Scam is made by BBC Scotland Productions for the BBC World Service and CBC

Presenter: Suzanne Wilton

Lead Producer: Kate Bissell

Producers: Anna Miles and Mark Rickards

Research: Tom Hinckley

Story consultant: Jack Kibble-White

Music and Sound design: Hannis Brown

Additional Sound Design + Audio Mix: Joel Cox

Executive Editor: Heather Kane-Darling

CBC Senior Producers: Veronica Simmonds and Willow Smith

CBC Executive Producers: Chris Oke and Cesil Fernandes

BBC Commissioning Senior Producer: Anne Dixey

BBC Commissioning Editor: Jon Manel