Take a bright kid with a stupid name (Inigo Philbrick) and parents with a background in the arts and introduce him to the richest, most gullible art collectors in the world and you have all the main ingredients for "The Great Art Fraud." Just add greed, hubris and chutzpah. Industrial amounts of chutzpah.
Here's how to watch "The Great Art Fraud" online from anywhere with a VPN — and potentially for free.
"The Great Art Fraud" airs in the U.K. with episode 1 on Wednesday, August 27 on BBC Two from 9.00 p.m. BST with episode two the following day at the same time. It will also be available to stream on BBC iPlayer shortly after broadcast.
• WATCH FREE — BBC Two/ BBC iPlayer (U.K.)
• Watch anywhere — try NordVPN 100% risk free
Philbrick was always going to make a splash somewhere and the art-world was as good a place as any. He had the background, early contacts and, after a whirlwind apprenticeship in London galleries, knew the way the biggest collectors operated - i.e. knew how to make them part with large amounts of money for art most of them would never regard as anything other than an asset.
By the application of forgery, multiple untruths, identity theft and ultimately wire fraud he was able to sell work by artists as famous as Jean-Michel Basquiat to multiple different investors at the same time. His love of the high life became well knows: Private jets, $7,000 suits, 5990 Patek Philippe Nautilus watch, drugs, high-class call girls.
It couldn't go on forever. And it didn't. But, by the time his get-extremely-rich-very-quickly scheme was finally rumbled and he was arrested by the FBI while on the run in Vanuatu, he had managed to defraud the art-world of $86 million. At trial in Manhattan in May 2022 he was asked by a federal judge why he had done it. He replied “Money, your honour." He was sentenced to 7 years for wire fraud and aggravated identity theft.
Read on to find out how to watch "The Great Art Fraud" online, on TV and from anywhere.
How to watch 'The Great Art Fraud' for FREE in the U.K.
How to watch 'The Great Art Fraud' from abroad
Thanks to the wonders of a VPN (Virtual Private Network), "The Great Art Fraud" should be available to Brits no matter where they are. The software allows your devices to appear to be back in your home country regardless of where in the world you find yourself. Our favorite is NordVPN.
Using a VPN is incredibly simple.
1. Install the VPN of your choice. As we've said, NordVPN is our favorite.
2. Choose the location you wish to connect to in the VPN app. For instance, if you're away from the U.K. and want to view a U.K. service, you'd select U.K. from the list.
3. Sit back and watch the show. Head to BBC iPlayer to watch "The Great Art Fraud" online and on-demand.
How to watch 'The Great Art Fraud' around the world
Can I watch 'The Great Art Fraud' in the United States?
Unfortunately, "The Great Art Fraud" is not available to stream in the U.S. as yet. You'll find out here first if that changes.
However, if you are a Brit in the States for work or on vacation you can catch the show for free much earlier by using a VPN such as NordVPN, choosing U.K. from the list and selecting BBC iPlayer.
Watch 'The Great Art Fraud' online and on-demand in the U.K.
"The Great Art Fraud" airs in the U.K. on Wednesday, August 27 on BBC Two from 9.00 p.m. BST. with episode two the following day at the same time. It will also be available to stream on BBC iPlayer shortly after broadcast.
You don't have to miss it if you a Brit exiled abroad because you can unblock BBC iPlayer with a VPN. We recommend NordVPN.
Can I watch 'The Great Art Fraud' online or on TV in Canada?
As with the U.S., "The Great Art Fraud" not available to stream live in Canada. You'll find out here first if that changes.
However, if you are a Brit in the Great White North for work or on vacation you can catch the show on your own domestic streaming platform by using a VPN such as NordVPN.
Can I watch 'The Great Art Fraud' online in Australia?
At the time of writing there has been no announcement about where "The Great Art Fraud" will be broadcast in Australia but fans of such things have been able to watch the proceedings on Seven and 7plus, ABC and SBS in the past.
However, if you are a Brit working or on vacation Down Under and you want to catch the show on the BBC you can do so by using a VPN such as NordVPN.
Can I watch "The Great Art Fraud" online in New Zealand?
There are currently no plans to air "The Great Art Fraud" in New Zealand but if you are a Brit currently there for work or vacation you can catch the show on BBC iPlayer by using a VPN such as NordVPN.
'The Great Art Fraud' - Need to Know
'The Great Art Fraud' - Cast
- Inigo Philbrick - Former Art Dealer, subject of doc
- Victoria Baker-Harber - reality TV girlfriend of Philbrick
- Jay Jopling - Mentor to Philbrick, disappointed by fraud
- Kenny Schachter - Artist and writer who lost $1.75 million to Philbrick
- Aleksandar Pesko - Collector deceived by Philbrick
- Judd Grossman - New York lawyer who represented several of Philbrick's victims
- Harry Philbrick - Philbrick's father. Museum director and painter
- Jane Polich Philbrick - Philbrick's mother. Artist, writer, and playwright.
'The Great Art Fraud' - Episodes
Season 01 Episode 01 - Inigo Philbrick is an overnight sensation, selling artworks to the world’s richest collectors in a booming market. He has a reality TV star girlfriend, and he spends millions on private jets and parties. But there is a dark secret behind his success - he has created one of the biggest art frauds in history. When it comes crashing down, he must choose: face justice or disappear?
S01 E02 - Inigo Philbrick and girlfriend Victoria vanish without a trace. As his victims realise they have been conned, the FBI begins a global manhunt. Finally captured in the south Pacific, Philbrick faces justice in a New York courtroom, where the full extent of his $86 million scam is revealed. Prison puts an end to his life as an art dealer, but now free, he hopes to make a comeback.
Where is Inigo Philbrick now?
He was released from the Federal Correctional Complex, Allenwood in early 2024, having served two years of his seven-year sentence and in mid-2025 was reported to be living with his family. Now 38, rumours persist that he is about to re-enter the art world as a dealer.
More from Tom's Guide
We test and review VPN services in the context of legal recreational uses. For example: 1. Accessing a service from another country (subject to the terms and conditions of that service). 2. Protecting your online security and strengthening your online privacy when abroad. We do not support or condone the illegal or malicious use of VPN services. Consuming pirated content that is paid-for is neither endorsed nor approved by Future Publishing.
You must confirm your public display name before commenting
Please logout and then login again, you will then be prompted to enter your display name.
