CRIME

The mob has been busy throughout history.

7 Businesses You Probably Didn’t Know Were Controlled By the Mob

To create inroads into other industries without drawing much attention to themselves, crime families found creative ways to launder money and rule where one might least expect.

Faking your own death isn't illegal, but it sure is controversial.

8 People Who Faked—or Might Have Faked—Their Own Deaths

Pseudocide only works if no one figures out your secret.

Photo illustration by Mental Floss. Images: iStock/Customdesigner (TV), iStock/D-Keine (crime scene)

14 Reasons We Love True Crime, According to the Experts

Everywhere you turn these days, it seems like there’s a new—and wildly successful—book, podcast, or show devoted to a crime. Which raises the question: Why are we so obsessed with true crime? Here’s what the experts have to say.

Cults are a popular topic for true-crime TV.

6 Misconceptions About Cults

Not every cult is a commune-based religious organization run by a charismatic man.

Why You Shouldn’t Charge Your Phone in Public Charging Ports, According to the FBI

Public charging stations are a nice idea, but hackers have found ways to hijack them for identity theft.

Robert Shaw, Robert Redford, and Paul Newman in The Sting (1973).

The 25 Greatest Revenge Movies of All Time

As Khan Noonien Singh once said, “revenge is a dish best served cold,” and cinema is filled with stories where vengeance and retribution gets served with chilling brutality and precision. Here are 25 of the best of those tales.

The Wild and Totally True Story Behind 'Cocaine Bear'

In 1985, authorities in Georgia found the decomposing body of a black bear next to 40 ripped-open packages of cocaine. No substantial quantities of the drug remained. How it happened is a story for the ages.

The Reason Police Officers Tap Your Taillight When They Pull You Over

The practice dates back decades.

What’s the Difference Between Prison and Jail?

Many people use the terms interchangeably, but there’s a substantial difference between the two methods of incarceration.

The Real-Life Murder That Inspired 'The Sopranos' Theme Song

The show's title track was based on a woman who got herself a knife.

15 Killer True Crime Documentaries to Stream on Netflix Right Now

Terrorist attacks, serial killers, unsolved murders—Netflix has everything to feed your true crime obsession.

Strangers with Candy: Delaware‘s Chocolate Box Murders of 1898

Mary Elizabeth Dunning thought a friend had sent her chocolates as a treat. Instead, they were a death sentence.

Illinois Police Are Examining New DNA Evidence in the Infamous Tylenol Murders of 1982

In 1982, someone laced bottles of Tylenol with cyanide, killing seven people. Decades later, police could be a step closer to finding out who did it.

Oil fields like the one above were at the center of the Teapot Dome Scandal in the 1920s.

10 Facts About the Teapot Dome Scandal

A century ago, the Teapot Dome scandal was the Watergate of its time.

Real night court inspired fake night court.

Yes, 'Night Court' Fans—Night Court Actually Exists

Harried judges in Manhattan and elsewhere hear cases into the early morning hours, including allegations of cleaver attacks.

Nell Donnelly was a '30s fashion icon, which made her a target for kidnappers.

How Organized Crime Saved Kidnapping Victim Nell Donnelly

In 1931, fashion designer and millionaire Nell Donnelly was abducted from her Kansas City home. Her kidnappers didn't know that Donnelly harbored a scandalous secret that would eventually seal their doom.

These Are the 50 Most Popular Passwords in America—and That’s Not a Good Thing

‘Password1’ is not going to keep your banking information safe.

Your giftee would die to receive these presents.

15 Killer Gifts for True Crime Fans

Humans have a strange and lasting fascination with the dark and macabre. Lucky for you, we’ve compiled a list of the best gifts for true crime fans that will appeal to any murder mystery lover.

A 2013 photo of the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum, showing the vacant frame from which Rembrandt's The Storm on the Sea of Galilee was stolen.

10 Puzzling Unsolved Crimes

Unsolved crimes are exhaustively covered in the media, but chances are, there’s at least one crime from history in this list—from unsolved art heists to mysterious crimes committed against (or by?) royals—that you’re not familiar with.

The 25 Safest College Campuses in America

Freshmen (and their parents) want their first home-away-from-home to feel safe, and many institutions excel in that department.

13 True Crime Books to Add to Your Collection

Discover 13 true crime books to add to your collection, including Truman Capote's classic 'In Cold Blood' and 'My Friend Anna: The True Story of a Fake Heiress.'

What You Can (and Can't) Take From Hotel Rooms

That pen? Probably fine. The marble fireplace built into the wall? You're pushing it.

How Super-Recognizers Are Helping Police Solve Crimes

Super-recognizers have a rare and uncanny ability to remember faces—a skill that’s estimated to affect just 1 to 2 percent of the population.

A vicious guard dog prepares to devour a potential intruder.

Paw Abiding Citizens: Walking Your Dog May Lower Your Neighborhood Crime Rate

Even a Labradoodle could take a bite out of crime.

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