Who the Hell is Hamish?
- Episodes
- 13
- Format
- Series – listen from the start
- Latest episode
- Aug 12, 2026
About the podcast
He was born Hamish Watson, a surfie dude from Sydney – but he could morph into whatever you needed him to be.
After pleading guilty to 18 charges, Hamish McLaren was sentenced in June 2020 to an aggregate sentence of 16 years in prison with a non-parole period of 12 years for 17 counts of fraud. He was given a fixed sentence of 7 years and 6 months for a single charge of money laundering, to be served concurrently. His overall sentence was reduced to 12 years imprisonment with a nine-year non-parole period on appeal in 2021.
McLaren was released in July 2026 after nine years behind bars.
These crimes are just the final pages in a resume too thick to staple; for decades he’s duped victims in the US, Canada, Britain, Hong Kong and Australia. How did he do it? How did he evade authorities around the world for so long and what’s he done with all those tens of millions of dollars he stole?
Episodes 13
10: The Reckoning
For years Hamish McLaren had evaded the law. But not any more. The brutal truth, like a runaway out-of-control limited edition Mercedes McLaren, is bearing down on him. There's no escape. Judgement Day for …
Show notes
For years Hamish McLaren had evaded the law. But not any more. The brutal truth, like a runaway out-of-control limited edition Mercedes McLaren, is bearing down on him. There's no escape.
Judgement Day for Hamish McLaren has finally arrived.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
9: Bonus: Jane
As a bonus for all listeners, we are publishing the full interview with Jane, recorded in her house north of Sydney. She speaks at length about her experiences of Hamish, the impact it had on her life, and how …
Show notes
As a bonus for all listeners, we are publishing the full interview with Jane, recorded in her house north of Sydney. She speaks at length about her experiences of Hamish, the impact it had on her life, and how she hopes to begin moving on.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
8: The Definition of Evil
It may appear that Hamish got away with his schemes for decades. But he didn't. He kept getting caught out, time and again. It's self evident that many systems failed to apprehend this serial offender. How …
Show notes
It may appear that Hamish got away with his schemes for decades. But he didn't. He kept getting caught out, time and again.
It's self evident that many systems failed to apprehend this serial offender. How could this be so?
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
7: On the Couch with Hamish
He killed off his parents, by air and by sea. He ran over his twin brother Phil, and killed him, too. What are we to make of these fanciful stories Hamish made up about his life? We've called in experts. And …
Show notes
He killed off his parents, by air and by sea. He ran over his twin brother Phil, and killed him, too.
What are we to make of these fanciful stories Hamish made up about his life? We've called in experts. And we've gathered bevy of ex-girlfriends to give us their take on their time with Hamish.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
6: Kevin from Queensland Goes to Canada
Skiing was Hamish Watson's great love. Before he was a puffed-up futures trader in Sydney, he was a pumped-up muscle-bound ski instructor, in Australia and Canada. The ski fields of Canada were his home away …
Show notes
Skiing was Hamish Watson's great love. Before he was a puffed-up futures trader in Sydney, he was a pumped-up muscle-bound ski instructor, in Australia and Canada.
The ski fields of Canada were his home away from home, a place where he could show off the millions he'd stolen. He flew in on private jets, he bought properties, he handed out Rolex watches and he regaled the locals with tales of life as a billionaire who was mates with Tom and Nicole.
But it wasn't all play and no work for Hamish in Canada. He stole millions, roping in a high end car dealership, and drawing the attention of a spy and a former Australian Prime Minister.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
5: Who the Hell is Phil?
Hamish arrived on the floor of the Sydney Futures Exchange in the late 90s - he talked big, but they all knew he traded small. They called him a One Lot Wonder. And they all wondered where he got his cash …
Show notes
Hamish arrived on the floor of the Sydney Futures Exchange in the late 90s - he talked big, but they all knew he traded small. They called him a One Lot Wonder. And they all wondered where he got his cash. There were cars and boats and trips in private jets and a girlfriend called The Pleasure Machine.
But it was all other people's money. One of his victims reported $20m dollars worth of fraud to police, but Hamish slithered away to strike again.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
4: The Intern
Jane was destined for big things. She was the great hope of her local school. She was in love with Jack, her teenage sweetheart. Life was sweet. Then, along came Hamish, promising an internship and a placement …
Show notes
Jane was destined for big things. She was the great hope of her local school. She was in love with Jack, her teenage sweetheart. Life was sweet.
Then, along came Hamish, promising an internship and a placement at Princeton. Two families would be devastated by the results.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Bonus: Judge Colin Charteris
The swan song of judge Colin Charteris - his final words from the bench, the sentencing of Hamish McLaren. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Bonus: Nick Park
Nick Park is a trader who worked alongside Hamish Watson on the Sydney Futures trading floor in the mid 1990s, he suspected something was off with Hamish from the start.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy …
Show notes
Nick Park is a trader who worked alongside Hamish Watson on the Sydney Futures trading floor in the mid 1990s, he suspected something was off with Hamish from the start.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Bonus: Tim Watson-Munro
A criminal psychologist with 40 years experience analysing offenders in prisons. Tim hasn’t examined Hamish but listening to the podcast he believes Hamish is a psychopath who operates at the top 1 percent of …
Show notes
A criminal psychologist with 40 years experience analysing offenders in prisons. Tim hasn’t examined Hamish but listening to the podcast he believes Hamish is a psychopath who operates at the top 1 percent of offenders.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Bonus: James Leigh
James Leigh is Canadian security consultant and former US Intelligence and Homeland Security operative, he claims to be able to collect stolen funds which cannot be recovered by conventional methods.See …
Show notes
James Leigh is Canadian security consultant and former US Intelligence and Homeland Security operative, he claims to be able to collect stolen funds which cannot be recovered by conventional methods.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Bonus: Matt Nable
Before Matt Nable became a successful actor and screenwriter, he was a rugby league player, but gave up being the Manly strength and conditioning coach to be Hamish’s personal trainer. Matt taught Hamish how to …
Show notes
Before Matt Nable became a successful actor and screenwriter, he was a rugby league player, but gave up being the Manly strength and conditioning coach to be Hamish’s personal trainer. Matt taught Hamish how to box, and witnessing his jet setting, extravagant lifestyle first hand.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Bonus: Jack Rosen
Jack thought he had a solid role model when Hamish McLaren married his mum, Bec Rosen. But soon the spotlight fell on his high school sweetheart, as Hamish betrayed the family that had let him into their …
Show notes
Jack thought he had a solid role model when Hamish McLaren married his mum, Bec Rosen. But soon the spotlight fell on his high school sweetheart, as Hamish betrayed the family that had let him into their lives.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
3: The Gatsby of the Great Lakes
Hamish arrived in sleepy Blueys Beach with a beautiful woman on his arm, and on the run from his past. Rumours of dark deeds wafted through in his wake. Then he met Bec Rosen. He'd shower her with love. They'd …
Show notes
Hamish arrived in sleepy Blueys Beach with a beautiful woman on his arm, and on the run from his past. Rumours of dark deeds wafted through in his wake. Then he met Bec Rosen. He'd shower her with love. They'd be married on the balcony of a beach shack. He'd become a father figure to her boys.
And then he'd cruelly betray them all.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Bonus: Catherine Coleman
Catherine Coleman watched from the sidelines as Max Tavita entranced her good friend Tracy Hall. It's very difficult to burst the Hamish bubble, but she tried her hardest, fact checking his story however she …
Show notes
Catherine Coleman watched from the sidelines as Max Tavita entranced her good friend Tracy Hall. It's very difficult to burst the Hamish bubble, but she tried her hardest, fact checking his story however she could. But what do you do when you find evidence, but your friend refuses to take it seriously?
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
2: Fashion Crimes
Hamish McLaren was always attracted to the high-life. It was inevitable he'd gravitate to fashion. And so, nestled among the retirees and energy healers, Hamish stole from was another name: Lisa Ho. But had …
Show notes
Hamish McLaren was always attracted to the high-life. It was inevitable he'd gravitate to fashion. And so, nestled among the retirees and energy healers, Hamish stole from was another name: Lisa Ho. But had Hamish met his match in this high profile Sydney designer?
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Bonus: Lisa Ho
Fashion designed Lisa Ho explains how Hamish inserted himself in her business, the red flags that started to worry her, and the perfect storm that ultimately imploded her life.See omnystudio.com/listener for …
Show notes
Fashion designed Lisa Ho explains how Hamish inserted himself in her business, the red flags that started to worry her, and the perfect storm that ultimately imploded her life.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
1: The Day Max Died
Tracy fell in love with Max Tavita, a man who won her over with tales of a life in the investment world and how he was working in the World Trade Center in New York when the first plane hit in 2001. Then Hamish …
Show notes
Tracy fell in love with Max Tavita, a man who won her over with tales of a life in the investment world and how he was working in the World Trade Center in New York when the first plane hit in 2001. Then Hamish crashed into their lives.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Bonus: Tracy Hall
An extended cut of Tracy Hall's interview, in which she explains how she met Max, the stories of his childhood and career in America, the arc of their relationship, and her sense of betrayal.See …
Show notes
An extended cut of Tracy Hall's interview, in which she explains how she met Max, the stories of his childhood and career in America, the arc of their relationship, and her sense of betrayal.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Introducing Who the Hell is Hamish?
He was born Hamish Watson, a surfie dude from Sydney – but he could morph into whatever you needed him to be. Hamish is due to be sentenced to jail in early 2019 for swindling a handful of victims out of more …
Show notes
He was born Hamish Watson, a surfie dude from Sydney – but he could morph into whatever you needed him to be.
Hamish is due to be sentenced to jail in early 2019 for swindling a handful of victims out of more than $7m. But these crimes are just the final pages in a resume too thick to staple; for decades he’s duped victims in the US, Canada, Britain, Hong Kong and Australia.
How did he do it? How did he evade authorities around the world for so long and what’s he done with all those tens of millions of dollars he stole?
On the trail of a serial conman. Who the Hell is Hamish? is an investigative podcast from the team that brought you The Teacher's Pet.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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