Shark in the Housing Pool

by Matthew B. Cox

USING FORGERIES and bogus identities, Matthew B. Cox—one of the most ingenious con men in history—bilked America’s biggest banks out of millions. Despite numerous encounters with bank security, state and federal authorities, Cox narrowly, and quite luckily, avoided capture for years. Eventually, he topped the U.S. Secret Service’s most wanted list, and led the U.S. Marshals, FBI, and the Secret Service on a three year chase, while jet-setting around the world with his attractive female accomplices.Cox has been declared “one of the most prolific mortgage fraud con artists of all time,” by CNBC’s American Greed. Bloomberg Businessweek called him “the mortgage industry’s worst nightmare,” while Dateline NBC described Cox as “a gifted forger and silver tongued liar.” Playboy magazine proclaimed, “His scam was real estate fraud, and he was the best.”Shark in the Housing Pool is Cox’s exhilarating, first-person account, of his stranger-than-fiction story.

Genres: True Crime, Biography

330 pages, Paperback

Published February 24, 2020

Reviews

[Jodi Mine · Rating 2 out of 5]

I read this after hearing Matthew Cox on the Minimalists podcast. Rather than raise a red flag when the author touted that he'd been told 'this is the best book ever written' I was intrigued. My social conscience and true crime fandom made this book appeal. I had a big road trip ahead so I buckled in with this book playing. What was good about the book is that it was interesting to hear the early life which shaped the person; dyslexia, private school, emotionally absent father and a visual arts degree. I was also fascinated about the different schemes which inflated prices and allowed for the banks to be fooled. It isn't the first I've heard about the US housing collapse and the dishonest actions which brought it about, but it was the most expansive. Cox even going so far as creating fake banks and employers with secretaries etc.. These are the parts which made the book ok. What lost me was the self indulgence. This is a very self indulgent book which strays from the true crime genre and dips regularly into chest puffing, misogynistic diatribe of sexual exploits and conquests and denigration of women. I wanted to inform the author that true crime readers and lovers are either female, and like to think of themselves as having more self worth than you bestowed on women, or they are male, and know what it is to talk big, making the reader overall more critical of the big noting of not just your exploits with women. It made me think there were many, many more exaggerations in this book. If self reflection on the crimes were evident, they appeared almost exclusively where to be self serving. I came away frustrated at the self indulgence and straying from the true crime genre which I had elected to read and mostly that, I'd been conned, but the conman. This isn't the best book ever written. One star is 'I didn't like it'. Two stars is 'it was ok'. I'm giving 2 stars based on the parts which were indeed true crime.

[Becky · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a well-written and compelling account of a housing and financing scam. It sucked me in from the start and left me shaking my head by the end. Cringe worthy throughout, it was a deviously planned scheme that bilked the system for millions and left hundreds of people in its wake. The writing was fantastic. I'd definitely recommend this book to anyone who enjoys listening to true crime.

"I was given this free review copy book at my request and have voluntarily left this review."

[Jim Owen · Rating 5 out of 5]

If he’d used his talents in legal business he’d no doubt be a billionaire.

I’ve been a real estate broker over 50 years and I fortunately had a nose to spot and avoid conmen. I’m glad I never rant into Cox he’s one smooth operator. Fascinating reading, his exploits could only be pulled off by a brilliant person. I’m thankful he used his knowledge to educate and help prevent fraud .

[Kimijo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Shark in the Housing Pool is Matthew B. Cox’s thrilling first-person account of how he became one of the most notorious con men in U.S. history. Using forgeries and false identities, Cox scammed America’s biggest banks out of millions, evading the FBI, U.S. Marshals, and Secret Service for years. Hailed by the media as “the mortgage industry’s worst nightmare” and “a gifted forger and silver-tongued liar,” Cox reveals the stranger than fiction story behind his infamous rise and fall.

[James Michels · Rating 5 out of 5]

Matt Cox takes you on a journey into the world of mortgage fraud and identity theft with a story as gripping as Goodfellas or Wolf of Wall Street. He also gives insight into the emotions he went through and truly pulls you into the story with him. You’ve heard of Frank Abagnale and Jordan Belfort. Well, make room for Matthew Cox. Looking forward to his other work.

[Larry A. Hunter · Rating 5 out of 5]

Riveting and We'll Written

This is a very professional piece of work and was a great pleasure to read. Despite Mr. Cox"s cooperation, I am sure that there are still huge quantities of fraud in the mortgage industry. Most of the people in it are greedy, in a hurry and have very little altruism.

[Sam Reither · Rating 5 out of 5]

what a book. this guy is a godsend of a story teller. absolute gold mine. first heard him on lex fridman podcast and was locked in for 6 hours. knew i had to read his book which was just as good. highly recommend.

[Jason Hexom · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great read, personally wish Mr. Cox would narrate it, but that's my own preference. Quite an intriguing story teller he is.

[Already Overbooked · Rating 3 out of 5]

Opportunity is everywhere

[Matt · Rating 5 out of 5]

Inside the mind of a criminal

If you've ever wanted to know what going on Inside the mind of a criminal, and see a story of atonement, then pick up this book.

[Joe Richard Mason · Rating 3 out of 5]

I wanted it to be more of an introduction to Mortgage Fraud.