How The First Ever Telecoms Scam Worked

2018-10-01

[public] 1.60M views, 96.6K likes, 321 dislikes audio only

In the 1830s, two French brothers, François and Joseph Blanc, pulled off the first telecoms scam in history. The optical telegraph, a line of semaphore towers stretching from hilltop to hilltop, was for government use only: but something as simple as the law wasn't going to get in their way.

Thanks to Victoria Harrison for all her research and translation skills! Pictures of the original documents are uploaded here: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1xik-sJZMUf9GRNCAu7m7amQMZ7Mos1HM?usp=sharing

CG effects by Mat Hill: http://mat-hill.xyz/

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Tom Scott Hi, I'm Tom Scott. These are some of the things I've made and done. They'll probably come back to haunt me in a few years' time. Contact me: https://www.tomscott.com/contact/ • • • This channel is a production of Pad 26 Limited, registered in England and Wales, № 11662641. Registered office: Amelia House, Crescent Road, Worthing, West Sussex, BN11 1QR (This address is only for legal documents; no other mail will be forwarded.)
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