Investors found to their dismay that 800America.com's biggest Web venture was a web of deceit it had spun.

FORBES: Under The Counter

Activist and historian Mark Curtis - author of the book Web of Deceit - believes there are other lessons to be learned from Britain's colonial history.

BBC: Analysis: Perils of peacekeeping

Investigations revealed that his business dealings were all suspect and his entire life story was nothing but a web of lies and deceit.

FORBES: Fake South African Billionaire Arrested For Fraud, Homicide Charges