tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-40101926201475400552024-03-08T07:07:06.613-08:00The Real HustlerThe real secrets of con artists, scammers and hustlers.Paul Wilsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16115749727444987699noreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4010192620147540055.post-29352036161761548902014-09-10T06:13:00.002-07:002014-09-10T07:50:33.240-07:00The Independence Hustle<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">
<i style="font-size: 11px; letter-spacing: 0px;">A personal perspective on the issues of independence and how the “Better Together” campaign turned me from a “no” to a “yes” voter.</i></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">I travel a great deal and I love that I am fortunate enough to see the world thanks to my chosen profession. I get to meet a lot of new people and witness wonderful, magical things that were once the stuff of childhood dreams. I’ve played poker with movie stars, performed magic for world leaders, demonstrated cheating for the FBI, directed films and starred in TV shows but lately, no matter who I meet or where I find myself, there’s one subject that always comes up.</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Last night, I was enjoying dinner on a beautiful six-star cruise ship as it traveled from Guernsey to Ireland before heading into the Atlantic Ocean towards Boston. I was talking to an American lady and her husband when our conversation took a predictable turn once I identified myself as Scottish (an enduring necessity due to my lack of a decent accent).</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">“What do you think about the secessionist movement?” she asked. I suffered a brief, involuntary pause as I tried to interpret the question and, more importantly, how it was phrased. Are those of us who hope for independence really a “secessionist movement”? </span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">From the outside, I suppose it’s easy to compare Scotland’s vote to the Southern States of America, whose decision to secede from the United States sparked the American Civil War. Perhaps to our friends across the pond, Scotland establishing independence seems to be a similar scenario but, as I chatted with my new friends last night, it soon became clear why this month’s decision is quite different and, more importantly, why it is necessary.</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Scotland is not a state within a union. It is a country. As such, it has a culture and a history all its own. That history is long and complex with a great deal to be both proud and ashamed of. Like all countries we have done right and we have done wrong; we have been victorious and we have been vanquished; we have held together and fallen apart but in our journey to this moment we have, as a nation, worked hard to earn all that we have today.</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">As a nation within a United Kingdom, it is hard to be seen as such. From the outside we are part of a whole and therefore difficult to recognize as an individual. In my travels I find that, like the American lady who likened independence to secessionism, many people see Scotland as a part of England and this always upsets me. It’s not like I’m a tartan-wearing looney with thistles, heather and rampant lions tattooed across my chest but I’m proud, happy and genuinely lucky to be Scottish so it saddens me when all that that entails is either unknown beyond our borders or has become nothing more than a charming caricature.</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Scotland, as a country, has an identity problem that is a by-product of how the United Kingdom is perceived by the rest of the world. The simple truth is that the UK means “England” and Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland are simply satellites - part of the union but ultimately playing second, third or fourth fiddle to our larger, more dominant partner. </span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Within England itself, similar issues persist as Westminster and London are managed by a detached community built on a culture of elitism and dominated by new money from overseas or old money from home-grown families of the titled and entitled. This old school network has created an almost impenetrable society built upon success suckled primarily from an “on-message” teat of central policy. Only those who succumb to dictated lines emanating from a corrupt inner circle can progress within that Westminster bubble, and only so far as their “standing” allows. At the end of the day, only “those” and “such-as-those” can join clubs that were founded long ago in the well-documented history of class arrogance. For our English neighbors, this will take many years to overcome and repair, but for us, as we consider the idea of independence from London’s cliques, the solution is much easier: to vote “yes” in the up-coming referendum.</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">No matter which way you choose to vote, the decision should always have been a simple one but sadly, the issues have been obfuscated by poorly-played politics on both sides. Personally, I began this process as a “no” voter. As I saw it, the union benefits all within it and Scotland would be risking too much by breaking away and opening the door to internal incompetence or home-grown corruption. As a home-owner and self-employed businessman working in the media, the idea of separating seemed both foolish and dangerous. </span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">All it took was the so-called “Better Together” campaign to make me re-think my position. </span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">I am an expert in the art of deception: a magician and inventor of illusions and special effects; a television producer, a film director, an author, a performer and a public speaker. My specialized subject is the world of conmen and hustlers and I’ve spoken many times for major corporations, casinos, professional gamblers and even hacker conventions. As a result, I am well qualified to recognize a scam when I see one.</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">From the very beginning, the “Better Together” campaign has failed to live up to its name. Instead of illustrating exactly what will be “better” about remaining “together”, they have concentrated their efforts almost exclusively to claim what will be “worse” when we are “apart”. This is flawed for many reasons, not least because their argument is based on uncertain outcomes and, in at least one key area, an outright lie.</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">When a hustler tries to sell something he doesn’t actually have, he does everything in his power to distract the sucker from this obvious lack of substance. There are many tools available to a professional deceiver but one of the most powerful motivators, whether you’re a con artist or a spin doctor, is <i>fear</i>. Fear attracts immediate attention and stimulates a reaction based not on thought but on instinct. It is one of the most trusted weapons in the arsenal of deception and it has been the primary instrument of the “no” campaign’s limited orchestra.</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">As soon as I began to recognize these familiar tactics I started to question why the campaign with which I initially identified was not doing more to highlight the benefits of maintaining the union. An unpleasant answer soon dawned on me.</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">The Scottish referendum is surrounded by issues of uncertainty. By it’s very nature, deciding to govern ourselves and face the future “come-what-may” can never be a predictable endeavor. We can’t know exactly what will happen and it is wrong to paint an overly optimistic image of our collective destiny. It is equally wrong to suggest or threaten an overly pessimistic outcome in the event of a “yes” vote but such negative sound-bytes and prophecies of doom have become the rhetoric of the “Better Together” campaign. As a strategy, it is a poorly chosen and cynical way to attract “no” voters and, in my case, a sure-fire way to dissuade initial support. Put simply, if all you have is fear, negativity and concocted stories about price increases, corporate exodus and other phantoms and boogeymen, I am forced to question why you don’t have anything real and positive to support your argument.</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">One area in which the “no” camp could clearly illustrate the benefits of remaining within the union is the oft-promised “additional powers” that would move Scotland closer to a so-called “devo-max” government. The fact that very little of substance has been promised points to the fact that the Westminster government are either reluctant to commit to anything they might later regret or will hold-off until the last minute to offer the troublesome Scots one last cherry before the final whistle. Surely, after all this time, the government knows what it can and cannot offer a fully devolved Scotland? Most likely it knows that this offer would either collapse under scrutiny or will not be enough to persuade a majority. Perhaps, in a last-ditch effort to bribe the Scottish people, Osbourne will offer us Casinos since we already make our own “fire water”.</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Gordon Brown recently came out of retirement to propose a timetable for discussions about extra powers that might be afforded Scotland in the event of a “no” vote. A timetable. Crosses on a calendar. In my opinion, promising future powers without clearly defining what they would actually be is insulting. Like a crooked carney offering a pig-in-a-poke to a crowd full of suckers, the contempt shown to us is clear but there’s one other issue that reveals just how low London is willing to go to frighten us into voting “no”.</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Currency was always going to be an issue filled with uncertainty. An independent Scotland would have to resolve the matter of money as its first priority and negotiating with England to retain the pound is a natural first option that could benefit both countries. As soon as George Osbourne stated that there be absolutely no hope of a monetary union, my bullshit detector exploded. Once the other parties united behind Osbourne in this regard, the strategy became immediately obvious to me. In a debate shrouded with uncertainty, the UK government tried to make one element seem certain in an attempt to make a “no” vote more attractive. </span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">The trouble is, I don’t believe it. Not for a second. But many of my fellow Scots do believe Osbourne’s lie because it’s entirely possible. All good lies are feasible and this one is based on a decision that might indeed go against us but it is a decision that needs to be based on something more than political agenda. The only reason for appearing to make that decision last year was to reap the benefits of fear.</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">In truth, if we vote “yes”, the only reason to hold to this claim and not open negotiations is to somehow punish us for our impudence. If the time comes, only an idiot would relieve Scotland of the pound without a very good reason and, for the record, I’m yet to hear one that isn't politically motivated.</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">The “Yes” campaign has pointed out that Scotland would not continue to contribute to a national debt if the national currency is denied to us. This is not an irresponsible threat but a statement of fair fact. We are perfectly willing, as a nation, to continue to shoulder our share of the burden but, if Westminster wants to take away the keys to the car, we’re not obliged to keep paying for petrol. </span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Another example of the manipulative tactics being employed against us can be seen when former Prime Minister and “amateur smiling enthusiast”, Gordon Brown chided that Scotland would be an international pariah, regarded as an irresponsible shirker of national debt with a bad credit report from the outset. Really, Gordon? Is the international community so utterly dense and naive that they would blame Scotland for being denied a currency it is willing to pay for? Scotland is willing to continue paying its fair share in return for fair, uninterrupted use of our own currency which will remain under the control of the Bank Of England. Otherwise, we’re on our own - and so is the balance of the United Kingdom.</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">The currency swindle is indicative of a very flawed perception about Scottish independence: that our two countries will sever ties and end centuries of trade and fellowship. </span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">In the event of a “yes” vote, we wont be breaking our geographical bonds and sailing north to get hitched with Norway. We will still be England’s neighbors and always (we hope) their friends. We will continue to share resources and suffer the weather. The only thing that will change is that we will choose who governs us and how our country should operate. If there’s another poll tax then we will at least inflict it upon ourselves rather than be the testing ground for similar hateful policies determined by a detached government who serve their corporate colleagues more than the people who voted for them. If we don’t like how our country is run, we will be able to change that ourselves by voting for what we want as a whole. In short, we will be independent and in charge of our own destiny, just as England is today. </span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">A “no” vote does not guarantee the status quo. It only hands our future back to the very people who regard us as insignificant, ignorant or indolent. Despite what the “Better Together” campaign claims, “no” is not a safe vote: it simply trades one uncertainty for another. Personally, I have grown to prefer the self-determined uncertainty of voting “yes” and I sincerely hope that the majority of Scots agree with me on September 18th but, whatever we decide as a country, I am determined to support that decision whole-heartedly.</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Yes, there is uncertainty. Resolving the issues relating to pensions, the NHS, television license fees, house values, mortgage rates and the military (to name just a few) will take hard work, imagination and a combined effort from all sides of the political spectrum. We have the talent at our disposal, both in public office and private business, to manage our nation’s finances for the benefit of all. Gordon Brown, currently one of the strongest voices in the “no” campaign, could become one of the most important advisors in the event of a “yes” vote. I might disagree with his politics but I can’t fail to respect a man who might be responsible for stopping the global financial crisis from becoming a calamity. If we vote “yes” as a nation then we’re all in this together, no matter which box we tick in the polling station.</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Our history is one of prosperity, creativity and innovation. Our people are funny, intelligent and painfully honest. Together we can combine our physical, mental and spiritual resources to build a prosperous and positive future for our children and our children’s children. In Scotland, I see a country ready to flourish, to take a place (even a small place) on the world stage and to finally be a master of its own destiny. The price for this is not in the value of my home or my prospects for business or security. The cost for independence is difficult to gauge but the true currency we will have to pay is easy to predict: hard work and unity.</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">As a nation we have debated and argued with dignity and respect for all sides. With very few exceptions, the Scottish referendum for independence has been a shining example of democracy in action. Whatever the outcome, it must never become an issue that divides us. We must decide together and then move forward together. A vote for independence is a vote for hard work, imagination and courage. In this regard I hope Scotland can live up to its international reputation as “the brave”.</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">My conversation on the cruise ship resulted in a better understanding of the difference between seceding from a union and declaring independence. Ultimately it’s about accepting responsibility for our own future while maintaining positive, fruitful bonds with our allies and neighbors. Our discussion ended abruptly when the American lady (I never got her name) spotted dozens of dolphins swimming and diving alongside the ship. We all gathered to watch the display as the sun melted into the horizon. As a traveler, it will remain one of my most cherished memories; not because of the natural wonder of that moment but because, even as I marveled at the dolphins’ dance, my heart and mind were still thinking of home.</span></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4010192620147540055.post-69626724939269666152013-02-03T04:24:00.001-08:002013-02-03T04:25:00.666-08:00I Am Not A Thief<br />
I've spent a lifetime fascinated by all forms of deception and studied cons and con artists for decades. In 2002 I pitched an idea for a TV show that became The Takedown on Court TV: a combination of cons, casino scams and heists filmed on hidden or covert cameras. Later, I was approached to help pitch the idea for "The Real Hustle" to the BBC and created "Scammed" for the History Channel.<br />
The result of this TV work has been that I have had the unique opportunity to actually be the con artist and deceive real people for real money - without endangering my liberty or my karma. Viewers often ask me where I learned these skills and the answer - "years of reading and research" - is often disappointing to them. It is true that I have a little larceny around my family tree but, mostly, I was raised by good people with a healthy respect for law and order. It's also true that I crossed the line a few times in my youth and was lucky not to get caught, most of the time. It is also true that I spent much of the late 1990s playing against casinos using concealed computers and cutting-edge, scientific methods to beat the games but I was not the mastermind of these schemes. Instead, I was a working member of the crew with a specialty in sleight of hand and deceptive thinking. We were not cheaters, we were "advantage players", living within the rules and searching for ways to earn an edge. Had the UK laws forbidden the use of devices (concealed or otherwise) then we would have used other methods to beat the games.<br />
All of this is to say that, even after spending thirty five years immersed in the subject, I could never call myself a real conman. Conmen con people and cons and scams are forms of theft. I have not lived that life and I'm extremely happy to say so.<br />
I have friends who have been professional grifters and hustlers. All of them live lives on the fringes of society. They look at most people as walking wallets, waiting to be pinched; just as a snake regards a mouse as something to be digested. Their lives are interesting and colorful and some of them are perfectly satisfied with their place in the world. Others regret the paths they've chosen but feel (and often are) unable to find the straight and narrow. They're friends and I like them. In some cases I have crossed oceans to help them but I would never wish to share their fortunes or their fate.<br />
I am a "Real Hustler" in terms of television entertainment: informing and protecting the public and advising companies and individuals on how to anticipate and evade deception. I am not a thief, though my chosen field of expertise and associations draws that immediate suspicion.<br />
The Takedown was possible because myself and my chosen "team" were all magicians. A couple of us were also genuine experts in the field and one of us was (and is) a world class expert in physical security and protection. Had we been notorious casino cheaters, con artists or bank robbers, there is no chance on earth that any of the casinos, companies or individuals would have allowed us to play in their fields. The magician angle explained and excused our ability to deceive. Deceptive thinking is a common trait of both magicians and con artists, though the motivations and experiences create quite different approaches and solutions. On The Takedown, we had access to both mindsets and this proved invaluable.<br />
On the Real Hustle, they cast an expert, an actor and a model and it turned out to be a perfect mixture for that show. Classic scams and current con games were translated to the hidden camera format that began with Candid Camera and was used in The Takedown, countless 60 minutes exposes, Bullshit! episodes, reality docs and news programs. It was a spectacularly difficult show to make because we all insisted on conning people for real, within the relative security of the scenarios we created. You can't imagine how much work goes into getting someone onto a set without them knowing and ensuring they are someone ready to be scammed. By comparison, the numbers game of waiting for the right mark to cross your path is much, much easier for professional grifters.<br />
So what's it like to be a real con man? Every one I've met is different though they often share a common attitude towards their marks; that it's their fault for getting involved, for not knowing better and not waking up to the scam until it was too late. Like a burglar who blames his victim for not locking their doors they seemingly refuse to recognize any responsibility for walking away with someone else's property.<br />
The term "Hustler" tends to refer to someone who creates action, instigates scenarios and involves the unwitting into games or situations that appear attractive but are really cleverly designed traps. Sometimes there's a trick to it but, mostly, it's about concealing the true nature of the proposition. The classic hustler plays pool at a much higher level than he or she first appears to. The art is in working the victim until they agree to either give the hustler enough weight (advantage) or concede to a proposition that the hustler can easily win.<br />
Titanic Thompson was the master of this. His talent for throwing objects with incredible accuracy and mastering games of skill made him an incredibly dangerous man to gamble with but his ability to sell any proposition meant that there was always a line of suckers waiting to be taken. Like all great hustlers and con men, Titanic would put everything he had on the line without blinking. He played his considerable advantage with nerves of steel and little concern for the consequences. That's the real difference between a true hustler and an expert in the genre. I don't like to lose and, unless I have an edge, I rarely like to play. Hustlers are a form of gambler. They may need the game to be rigged but there's always an element of risk, particularly when it comes to blowback from a mark who beefs. Hustlers have no fear in targeting the skillful because they've got them covered, one way or another. Trapping someone with a trick or a gotcha bet is easy when there's nothing real on the line or the intended victim is easy meat.<br />
"Ty" killed five men during his career, all in self defense or against attempts to rob Thompson of his considerable bankroll. Facing off angry losers, gunfights and working under extreme pressure are what set Thompson and others like him apart. They're not afraid to take down a mark or a gunman.<br />
Over three decades I've studied every angle and edge taken by con artists and cheaters but I've never had a gun pointed at my face or been forced to carry a weapon to defend a thick roll of bills tucked into my sock.<br />
My lifelong fascination with the subject, decades of research and years of performing on TV does not make me a hustler, a con man or a thief any more than a handful of company trips to Vegas makes someone a real gambler or gaming expert. My time spent analyzing how con artists think, why their methods work and finding ways to share and reveal my findings have given me a unique insight thanks mostly to my friends and associates on both sides of the law and the valuable experience from TV shows like Takedown, Real Hustle and Scammed.<br />
In future projects I hope to expose even more of these scams to the public because that's the whole point; information by means of entertainment, education by osmosis. The more the public knows, the easier it will be to spot the next generation of cons and scams.Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4010192620147540055.post-92098945107883447962012-08-07T03:47:00.000-07:002012-08-07T04:14:18.204-07:00Think Like A Thief<div style="text-align: center;">
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It is my belief that knowledge is the best defense against all types of deception. While anyone can be a target if the scam is tailored to the mark, a greater understanding of how con artists and scammers think will give anyone a much better chance of spotting a con before they get completely taken.</div>
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I'll write more on this soon but here's a simple example.</div>
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We all hope our home is secure. We hopefully invest in good locks, a decent alarm and try not to leave our front door open when we leave the house. The problem is that any home can be broken into if a thief really wants what's inside.</div>
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If that's true, then what's the point of all that security?</div>
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Put yourself in a burglar's place. What do you want? Money. Valuables. The means to make more money.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
What don't you want? To get caught. </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Pretty simplistic (many thieves are motivated by other factors that negate any conscious thought or consideration) but it's a place to start.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Here's what you do: Lock yourself out of your own home (making sure someone is inside or has other keys to let you in, later). Now set yourself the challenge of getting back in without the keys and without getting caught. </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
I'm not suggesting you merely imagine this scenario, I'm asking you to actually do it. Until you are physically outside your own walls, without the usual means of getting inside, you simply can't see all the ways to get inside.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Is there a window you can climb through? Can it be accessed? Can it be pried open? If you broke it, could you then get inside? Do you have glass doors? Is there an easily accessible tool that would help you smash the glass and walk in? Is there something to climb on to access other ways in? Can the lock be forced? Could you pick the lock if you had the tools? If there was a fire inside and someone you loved was trapped in the house, could you get inside right now? How hard is it to just kick your way inside?</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
There's always a way in. You will find it. The next question is, how would you get caught?</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Is there an alarm? Will it go off if you use one of the ways in you discovered? If not - fix that. Is there a dog? Do the neighbors report alarms when they hear them or simply ignore them? How long would it take the police to get there when called? Is there an easy way to make an escape without being seen or followed? Will it take longer to break into this house than next door? Is this home more trouble than it's worth? Is this house the easiest target or the hardest?</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Asking these questions, while locked outside, will tell you a lot more about your home security than simply thinking about it from the inside. The trouble with security is that most people (and companies) are happier believing they are safe without examining the reality and asking a few tough questions.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Will finding problems cause you to worry? They should but the result is a greater awareness and understanding of how to genuinely improve your security. Many people think they would prefer not know and live in blissful ignorance, until someone breaks in and they pay the price.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>Paul Wilsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16115749727444987699noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4010192620147540055.post-64297664025971228502010-04-27T01:38:00.000-07:002010-04-27T01:38:48.390-07:00Life's A PitchI'm a sucker for a good pitch. Aren't you?<br />
<br />
Knives that cut tin cans, electric ovens that cook whole chickens in a flash, tapes that make you happy, CDs that make you rich and DVDs that will change your life - I love them all but I wouldn't buy any of them. It's not the products I love it's how they're sold.<br />
<br />
Late night infomercials are my favorite. Ron, Billy and friends are masters of "bigging up" their products. Whether it's a dust-cloth, a detergent or toaster, these guys know how to sell it to us. No stone is left unturned in their search for every conceivable way that their gadget, gizmo or snake oil can improve our lives. It's a tidal wave of positivity that gradually wears away doubt and ignites our interest until we make the call and wait for the mail to arrive (up to 28 days).<br />
<br />
I can watch these for hours. Knives used to be my favorite but these days I'm always on the lookout for a good fitness thing-a-ma-bob. Not to buy or use (obviously), just to enjoy as the perfect sales-people describe every muscle or joint that's being "targeted" by their ridiculous device. And the sillier the product, the better. Chuck Norris sells a miniature gym that seems to make perfect sense and is probably an excellent product - that's no good. I want four idiots standing in a semi circle jiggling large plastic helicopter blades in various ways while trying to maintain a pre-scripted conversation.<br />
<br />
And what a conversation. Every possible benefit of owning a "body blade" is announced, discussed and clearly illustrated in every way. The only thing they fail to mention is that you'll look like an idiot trying to use it (though, after a few whiskies, even I might make that call).<br />
<br />
But is it a scam?<br />
<br />
Well, it could be, but in my opinion, it's usually just a clever sales pitch that rewards the seller with a higher than normal profit margin. Those knives that cut through tin cans "like butter"? They're not the best knives money can buy and, chances are, they're not the best knives you can buy at two o'clock in the morning.<br />
<br />
A few years ago, Alex and I had far too much fun recreating an infomercial for our own "Wonderblade Pro 3". We highlighted and exaggerated every detail of the knives we were selling to show how easily people can be convinced. Talking to them afterwards, the buyers were able to recall almost all of the points that convinced them to buy. That alone is worth remembering whether you intend to make a purchase or make a living from sales.<br />
<br />
Infomercials illustrate how a positive presentation can have a remarkable effect on people. The message is repeated over and over, in different ways until every positive aspect has been clearly demonstrated.<br />
<br />
But the real secret isn't in the pitch - it's in us. Infomercials sell products that answer a specific but often powerful human desire.<br />
<br />
A leaner figure with an easier regime; a full head of hair in a can; products that cut cleaning time in half and gadgets that make life easier or more fun. These all answer long established human needs. The pitch works because it speaks directly to our internal wish-list and offers the solution for three "easy payments" of just thirty nine, ninety-five.<br />
<br />
I don't believe the pitch is a scam but it uses similar tools to achieve similar results. Most customers of infomercials are relatively happy with their purchase, even if they never use it. The price might be higher than it could be but no-one is actually being ripped off (most of the time).<br />
<br />
A scam crosses the line and leaves its victims with much less than they hoped for. In my next post I'm going to talk about the Jam Auction and it's many variants. I'll discuss how it uses the same psychology as the pitch but takes things too far, leaving it's victims with much less...Paul Wilsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16115749727444987699noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4010192620147540055.post-30853942846933286102010-02-16T13:27:00.000-08:002010-02-17T04:43:45.198-08:00How We HustleI thought I'd take a few moments to address some of the FAQs about our show The Real Hustle.<br />
<br />
Here are the questions we are asked the most:<br />
<br />
<ol><li>Aren't you just teaching people how to pull scams?</li>
<li>Where do the scams come from?</li>
<li>Is it all set-up for the cameras?</li>
<li>Why don't people recognise you?</li>
</ol><br />
Let's start at the top.<br />
<br />
<b>Are we teaching people how to be con artists?</b><br />
<br />
Absolutely not. Con games have been around as long as human beings and every con game ever conceived has relied on one important factor for the scam to work: that the victim does not recognise it as a scam! Allow me to share my favorite quote on the subject, from John Nevil Maskelyne in his book "Sharps and Flats":<br />
<blockquote>"Experience has demonstrated that the ignorance of the public with regard to the capabilities of trickery is the principle factor in all problems connected with every kind of deception. If the public only knew a little more in this respect, the thousand and one quackeries which flourish in our midst could not exist." John Nevil Maskelyne, February 1894</blockquote>Put simply, if the public is made aware of a con or a scam, that scam ceases to be as valuable or effective to the con artist. As the old saying goes, "never wise up a mark."<br />
The Real Hustle entertains its viewers with real scams played on real people, for real stakes. The result is an increasingly popular TV show that is shown around the world. Every person who watches the show is, by osmosis, learning how to identify these scams before falling for them.<br />
Alex and I know this for a fact. People have reported scams to the authorities stating that they only knew it was a con because they had seen it on our show.<br />
Of the millions of people who watch each show, the vast majority are honest people - potential <i>victims</i> of con artists. Exactly who the scammers don't want us to educate! Just about the stupidest thing a con man can do is attempt a scam we have recently exposed on the show. His pool of potential victims has been greatly reduced and the chances of him being caught, increased.<br />
Informing the public is our purpose. Con artists already know how to con people!<br />
<br />
<b>Where do the scams come from?</b><br />
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">New scams are being created every day. Thanks to the media, scams are exposed quickly and new versions appear frequently. One hundred years ago, con men could work the same scam for decades by moving on to the next town when people got wise. Now they need to re-write their scams to counter public knowledge. It's like a virus adapting to resist new treatments. The problem doesn't go away, it simply changes.</div>Alex and I monitor the media for any new scam or twist on an old scam. We then write the scam as a Real Hustle item and pass it to the producers and the BBC for approval.<br />
When getting ready for a new series, we sit down and collate all the material we've built up during and since the last season. Our sources include books, internet sites, newspapers and our sources "in the business". Some of these scams are very old, others are cutting edge. Some are common and others extremely rare but they are all based on cons from the real world. The BBC insists on this. When presenting ideas to the BBC they want to know exactly where they came from and Alex and I must show our sources.<br />
We're not in the business of making up scams but we do try to frame them in a way that will be interesting and memorable - that way it's easier to identify if the same thing happens to you.<br />
<br />
<b>Is it all a set-up?</b><br />
<br />
In a word: NO.<br />
This is a very common question. Many people like to tweet or blog that it's "obviously faked". They're wrong.<br />
To some degree you'll have to take my word for it but let me point out a couple facts.<br />
First off, people can't act. When you see those reactions on our show, they're real. Those reactions are the most important part of the show. The only way we can insure a genuine reaction is to make the scam real for those people. Whatever else happens, the mark must believe everything and genuinely think they got scammed - otherwise their reaction will never work because people simply can't fake that moment.<br />
From day one, Alex, myself and our execs have insisted on doing this the hard way. It's the whole point of the show and the reason for its success.<br />
There are many elements that you never see on the show; scams within the scam to make sure our marks are in the right place at the right time. The "marks" are rarely random people. We have a team of researchers who do their homework on any potential contributors. It's a tough process but the rewards are on screen.<br />
The mark does not know they are being filmed by The Real Hustle and they have no idea it's a scam.<br />
this is clearly stated at the top of every show but people still doubt it. A few years ago, after the Queen was misrepresented by not-so-clever editing on a BBC promo, shows like ours were closely monitored to make sure we complied with the BBC's strict rules. Our show seemed to enjoy special interest in this matter but our producers were able to <i>clearly prove</i> that everything complied with our opening statement. Had we been faking things, The Real Hustle would have been off the air years ago.<br />
<br />
<b>Why don't people recognise us?</b><br />
<br />
Another very common question. The answer is - they do. Often.<br />
Our research team spends most of their time trying to find people who have never watched the show and have no idea who we are.<br />
There are millions of people who watch Real Hustle but there are millions more who do not. Our team invest a lot of time in identifying viable subjects before the frustrating process of getting them to the right place at the right time. It's one of the toughest jobs in television.<br />
Over the years we've come up with several methods to identify the best marks and come up with the best ways of getting them to the party on time. I'm not about to reveal those methods or they would cease to be viable.<br />
Even with our arsenal of tricks we sometimes come unstuck. All too often someone walks into a scam and recognises us before we can say a word. Its a numbers game but if it happens, we reset everything and wait for the next mark.<br />
In the current show we are using disguises to alter our images. This is not for benefit of the mark - if they watch the show they'd soon see through our hats, wigs and glasses. Instead we're trying to avoid being recognised by the people around us! I couldn't tell you how many times someone has walked into a live scam to tell us how much they love the show. That's the one factor we can never predict but always prepare for.Paul Wilsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16115749727444987699noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4010192620147540055.post-62121238444417178582010-02-04T10:46:00.000-08:002010-02-05T11:48:12.421-08:00The Ride Principle<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande'; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 11px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">It's not easy to convince someone of something that's completely untrue.</span></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande';">That said, it can be quite simple to distort the truth slightly by persuading someone to look at the truth from a different perspective.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande';">Look at any political debate and you'll find several sides to any story. A con artist can use lies and half-truths to influence how his victim understands information.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande';">With time, this layering of tiny lies can smother the mark in one big lie, which appears to be perfectly obvious from the outside. It all begins with a good line to grab the mark's attention - a hook.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande';">Here's an excellent set-up for a scam:</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande';">"The economy is in the toilet but this is when people become really rich - they buy up all the bargains and wait for the market to improve. They get all the cream. That's what no one tells you. It's the secret they don't want you to know."</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande';">Lets break that down:</span><br />
<ol><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande';">Start with the truth then instantly distort it with a fascinating piece of information. Yes, the economy was "in the toilet" but the idea that "this is when people become REALLY rich" is extremely misleading but also very attractive to the uninitiated.</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande';">Balance these claims with a simple to understand and easy to believe reason for why they have never heard of this before. The "secrets THEY don't want you to know about" line is classic con material. Be very wary of anyone who uses this to bolster or explain their "facts".</span></li>
</ol><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande';">The hustler could spend weeks layering the scam with bogus facts and figures to support their story but it all boils down to that initial line - the hook that draws the mark into the scam.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande';">The next stage would be to present the mark with an incredible opportunity based on the hook. If the mark has swallowed the hook already, it's just a matter of keeping him on the line. More on this later but, for now let's try and understand how a con artist manipulates their victims and controls everything they see.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande';">Ask any victim of a scam what they remember and it usually boils down to the initial line that attracted them. All the other smoke was just set-dressing, it's the story that keeps the mark hooked.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande';">I call this the "Ride Principle".</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande';">When someone gets onto a ride at Disneyland they're attracted by the promise of excitement and adventure. In a con game, people are attracted by many things but most of these boil down to money or self-improvement.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande';">Just like a ride, once you get on, it's not easy to get off.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande';">Also, once you're on that ride, everything you see and experience has been created for you by the designers of that ride. At the Haunted Mansion, your car follows the tracks and turns from side to side to point you at everything they want you to see. If, however, you try to look elsewhere, it's remarkably difficult because of the large hood at the back of the car.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande';">The illusions created at the Haunted Mansion are remarkably convincing and extremely effective because the viewer is always in exactly the right position to appreciate them. The lighting and the angles are perfect and the there's always something new and different to attract your attention.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande';">It's all too brief, of course and , before you know it, the ride is over.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande';">Looking back, I can only remember a small percentage of what I saw but I can easily describe the experience as a "journey through a haunted house".</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande';">Con artists are taking their victims on a similar journey, taking greater control of their victim's perspective as the scam deepens. Before the mark knows it, everything they see and believe has been carefully controlled by the hustler.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande';">They're on the con artist's ride, buckled in by their own wants and desires.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande';">Rides at Disneyland are fun, thrilling and leave you wanting to come back for more.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande';">A con game can also be fun, certainly thrilling, but when it comes to an end, the ride collapses.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande';">Some scams are actually designed to bring people back for more but, for the most part, victims walk away confused and often ashamed. Many never even report the crime to the police or their family. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande';">The lesson here is to not get on the ride in the first place but con games have a habit of creeping up on you. Learn to spot the signs of a good scam before it gets you hooked: </span></div><div><ul><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande';">Is it too good to be true? </span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande';">Are you being pressure into making decisions? </span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande';">Where is your information coming from? </span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande';">Are you being blocked from obtaining help or advice from family, friends or recognized sources? </span></li>
</ul></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande';">If you recognize any of these points, stop the ride and get off. </span></div><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande';"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande';"><br />
</span>Paul Wilsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16115749727444987699noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4010192620147540055.post-39973444089316738912010-01-19T17:42:00.000-08:002010-01-19T17:42:59.883-08:00Stall HoppersThere are hundreds of techniques used by pickpockets to grab your cash, many of which have been exposed on The Real Hustle. The most common "dips" are pretty bold and require little skill other than the proper timing, others require years of experience to perfect.<br />
<br />
"Stall Hopping" falls into the former category.<br />
<br />
You're in a public toilet, using the facilities inside one of the stalls. Someone to your left asks if you can pass over some paper as their stall is empty. You look up to see their hand waiting and you kindly oblige.<br />
<br />
Your wallet just got nicked. From your trouser pocket, around your ankles.<br />
<br />
While looking up, someone in the other stall is reaching under the dividing wall, straight into your unguarded pockets. While wearing your jeans, this move would definitely get your attention but while sitting on the throne, it's impossible to tell that someone is rummaging through your lint.<br />
<br />
This can also be worked alone - the thief simply signals that he needs paper and then crouches to make the steal while you're collecting paper.<br />
<br />
Another distraction is for the thief's partner to try the door to your stall. While you react to this, your wallet is taking a walk.<br />
<br />
Apart from the obvious advantage of easy access to your pockets, it's also very difficult for you to make chase if you catch them during the steal or "wake up" to the scam right away. Someone shouting "stop thief" with their pants down is more likely to be arrested than the two guys running up the street...<br />
<br />
It's highly unlikely that this steal will ever make it into the UK show for obvious reasons. It's an extremely rare scam but one to be aware of and another good reason for wearing a money belt...Paul Wilsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16115749727444987699noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4010192620147540055.post-20175740112697325482010-01-15T08:37:00.001-08:002010-01-19T17:27:43.299-08:00Snide Gear<div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><br />
</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">“Hey, Mister. Want to buy a mobile phone? One careless owner. Good as new - except for where it fell off the back of the lorry....”</span><br />
</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span><br />
</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Most of us have been approached at least once with an offer to buy some “dodgy” merchandise. At a market, in the pub or just walking down the street.</span><br />
</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span><br />
</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">It’s something for next-to-nothing. A deal too good to be true.</span><br />
</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span><br />
</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">As a set-up for a scam, this is a real winner. Everyone wants a bargain and some people, perhaps more than you’d expect, are willing to buy stolen goods. The secret is to play the mark so they are attracted to the bargain but not worried or guilty about where that bargain came from.</span><br />
</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span><br />
</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">The term “fell off the back of a lorry” is a simple, well established way of saying that something has been stolen or misappropriated with no harm done to a previous owner or individual. In my opinion, it’s just a more acceptable way of saying “this has been illegally obtained”.</span><br />
</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span><br />
</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Hustlers use this as way to explain why a deal is so attractive and by accepting this, the mark demonstrates that they are willing to engage in a crooked transaction. All the hustler has to do is reel them in - but where’s the scam? </span><br />
</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span><br />
</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">People who sell stolen goods for real will simply try to get the best price for whatever “stock” they are supplied. Thieves pass it on for a fraction of the amount, allowing a healthy profit for the fence. It’s a simple, criminal, business transaction. In these cases, the crooks try to keep it contained by limiting how and where the goods are sold. In essence they set up a safe distribution chain made up of customers who are unlikely to report to the police.</span><br />
</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span><br />
</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">If they do “go public”, they are hardly likely to advertise the true nature of their “suppliers”. Instead they are more likely to misrepresent the item as second hand, shop soiled or, my favorite, an “unwanted gift”.</span><br />
</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span><br />
</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Hustlers, however, want to drag their victims into a false scenario, where the mark is made to consciously take part in a crime. With charm and a good line of BS, the con artist makes the crime palatable; easy for the mark to accept. Usually this is about convincing them that no individual has been hurt and that the goods came about by “good fortune” (i.e. someone left their van unlocked - know what I mean?).</span><br />
</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span><br />
</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">This helps the mark to believe in the bargain they’re being offered - it makes perfect sense - but it also distracts them mentally from what’s about to happen. Despite their willingness to consider buying, they need to be assured that they are insulated from any repercussions and this is cleverly woven into the con. </span><br />
</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span><br />
</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">The mark is sorely tempted and trying to assess any potential dangers. Meanwhile, the hustler is putting their mind at ease and creating the perfect moment to switch that mobile phone or DVD Player for an identical box filled with potatoes or bottles of water!</span><br />
</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span><br />
</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">From here, he can say or do anything to get their money. He can even drop the price drastically because anything over the price of a bag of spuds is pure profit.</span><br />
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</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Versions of this scam are legion but the mechanics are the same. Create a believable scenario with a tempting product that gets switched out while the mark is distracted. </span><br />
</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span><br />
</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">The best part of this scam (from the hustlers perspective) is the “cool out”. Victims are much less likely to report the crime to the police since they were agreeing to buy stolen goods! </span><br />
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</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">As with many con games, the golden rule applies: If it seems to good to be true, it probably is.</span><br />
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</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">That said, consider this: most people would apply the golden rule as soon as they hear the price - until the scam artist gives them a believable reason to dismiss the rule and consider the proposition. </span><br />
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</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">It all seems so feasible - until your left with nothing but “old tatties...”</span><br />
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</div>Paul Wilsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16115749727444987699noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4010192620147540055.post-6392748750749991402010-01-09T00:48:00.000-08:002010-01-10T15:10:18.884-08:00How To Spot A Sucker<div><div><div><div style="font: 16.0px Georgia; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><br />
</div><div style="font: 16.0px Georgia; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><div style="font: normal normal normal 16px/normal Georgia; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">How does someone fall for a scam?</span><br />
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</div></div><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"> How do hustlers select their victims? </span><br />
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</div><div style="font: 16.0px Georgia; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">At the end of this article I'm going to teach you how to spot a potential “mark” (victim of a scam). This is a surefire method with guaranteed 100% accuracy. Before that, it’s important to understand how and why people are fooled.</span><br />
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</div><div style="font: 16.0px Georgia; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Does being gullible make someone a mark? Is greed the reason why most people fall for a scam? Most of us might think so but I would like to encourage a more charitable and, in my opinion, more accurate perception of con victims.</span><br />
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</div><div style="font: 16.0px Georgia; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Let's look at two very different con games: three card monte and the 419 scam.</span><br />
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</div><div style="font: 16.0px Georgia; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Three card monte is designed to look like a street game, where money is wagered on the position of a playing card, a marked disk or some other object. The idea is to watch the hustler mix the cards and guess where the winner is. </span><br />
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</div><div style="font: 16.0px Georgia; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Sounds simple. </span><br />
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</div><div style="font: 16.0px Georgia; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">It's not.</span><br />
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</div><div style="font: 16.0px Georgia; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">At a later date, I'll write more on the actual mechanics of the game but, for now, let's step back and watch what happens. Some people are playing the game. A tourist walks up to see what's going on. Pretty soon he's getting involved and before you know it there's money in his hand. He tries to bet but he can't get his money down in time. </span><br />
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</div><div style="font: 16.0px Georgia; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Then we see him go for more money. He makes a big bet. In seconds, the game is over and the hustler has gone, along with the victim's cash.</span><br />
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</div><div style="font: 16.0px Georgia; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">From this perspective, it's easy to assume that he was gullible. In fact I found the following definition online: GULLIBLE - </span><span style="font: normal normal normal 13px/normal Arial; letter-spacing: 0px;">easily tricked because of being too trusting; "gullible tourists taken in by the shell game”</span><br />
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</div><div style="font: 16.0px Georgia; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">How about the 419 scam? Someone receives an email or a letter regarding a proposition from a wealthy businessman in Nigeria. They need someone to receive a large amount of cash so that the businessman may legally move his fortune out of Lagos, without incurring a huge emigration tax. In return, the helpful recipient will be paid 20% of the amount transferred and be entitled to any interest accrued while the money is in their account.</span><br />
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</div><div style="font: 16.0px Georgia; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Sound feasible? You probably already know this is a scam - but what if you didn't? What would drive you to pursue such a proposition?</span><br />
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</div><div style="font: 16.0px Georgia; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Many people assume it is greed. The amounts promised by the Nigerian businessman are huge. The mark's percentage would be substantial and extremely attractive. Surely, then, greed is the driving force behind this scam?</span><br />
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</div><div style="font: 16.0px Georgia; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Let's look at both scams again, this time from the perspective of the victim.</span><br />
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</div><div style="font: 16.0px Georgia; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">You're walking down the street when you see a crowd gathered. You walk up and see a game being played. Perhaps you've seen it before - in movies or on TV. Maybe you know it's a con game - something to do with sleight of hand. It's interesting to see it happening for real so you stay and watch.</span><br />
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</div><div style="font: 16.0px Georgia; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">As you watch, you realise that you are actually pretty good at working out where the winning card is - let's say it's the queen of hearts. The guy shows the cards, mixes them and you nail it every time. Even when other people are losing, you're not being fooled and you always know exactly where the queen is.</span><br />
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</div><div style="font: 16.0px Georgia; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">It's got to be worth a ten or a twenty. Even if you lose, it's not a fortune - besides, you haven't been wrong yet!</span><br />
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</div><div style="font: 16.0px Georgia; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">You try and bet ten bucks - you put your money down but someone else wants to bet more money than you. Your bet is refused and the other guy loses with a different card - it turns out you would have won if only you'd bet more money.</span><br />
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</div><div style="font: 16.0px Georgia; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Your hand goes back in your pocket. You're pissed about losing to the idiot with more money on the table. You're watching real close and you're always right. In your pocket, your hand pulls all the cash from your money clip.</span><br />
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</div><div style="font: 16.0px Georgia; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">That guy loses again - and now he's getting upset. He tosses the losing card on the floor and, as the hustler picks it up, the loser reaches over and pops a bend in the queen of hearts. It's now clearly marked for all to see.</span><br />
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</div><div style="font: 16.0px Georgia; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">This is an intriguing situation - the loser takes out more money as the hustler mixes the cards briefly - you follow the queen easily and it's still bent at the corner. Before you know it you grab your chance and bet everything you have on the marked queen.</span><br />
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</div><div style="font: 16.0px Georgia; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">The bet is taken and you're already spending the cash in your head when the card you bet on turns out NOT to be the queen! </span><br />
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</div><div style="font: 16.0px Georgia; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Someone says something about "police" and everyone scatters. The cards and their owner disappear into the crowd and suddenly you're standing alone trying to figure out what just happened.</span><br />
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</div><div style="font: 16.0px Georgia; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">This con game isn't about being a gullible person - it's about becoming gullible for a second due to the mechanics of the scam. </span><br />
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</div><div style="font: 16.0px Georgia; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Even if you know a little about the three card trick, it's easy to believe that you are smart enough to work it out. </span><br />
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</div><div style="font: 16.0px Georgia; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">After watching for a few minutes, you soon become convinced that you are smarter than the other players and are tempted to prove this by betting a little. The hustlers (the guy mixing the card and up to a dozen of the other "players") then make sure you can only bet when you have all your money on the table. They’re teasing you - not accepting your bet when another "player" overbets or showing other "players" winning on the cards you've been following.</span><br />
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</div><div style="font: 16.0px Georgia; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">If you are only going to bet a little, they'll probably switch a card, take your cash and squeeze you out. If you don't bet at all, you'll soon find the crowd pushing you back. </span><br />
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</div><div style="font: 16.0px Georgia; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">If you look ripe, they'll continue to draw you in with their little charade. The final coup-de-grace is the bent corner. With the card marked, it seems impossible to lose . The secret is a devilish piece of sleight of hand that both switches the queen AND moves the mark to another card. Bent card? A little lipstick? Either way, there's a trick to it but that's not what's important. </span><br />
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</div><div style="font: 16.0px Georgia; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Every time I've watched this particular ploy go down, as an onlooker and as the hustler, there's a look that comes over the mark. Imagine a deer in the headlights, where the deer has its hoof in a jar of cookies. The mark knows something he shouldn't - he has an unfair advantage and he wants to see how it plays out. </span><br />
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</div><div style="font: 16.0px Georgia; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">But remember: he's already itching to play and prove he's got this game beat. When the cards are mixed, the mark has no problem following the queen and, because it is also marked (for his benefit) he has no doubt <i>at that instant</i> where the queen is. He is also worried about being over-bet or pushed out by another "player". </span><br />
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</div><div style="font: 16.0px Georgia; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Put all this together and the mark takes the bait and his money is gone in a flash.</span><br />
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</div><div style="font: 16.0px Georgia; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Three Card Monte is a charade that draws you in and cons you into thinking you know better than the people around you. This isn't a difficult con to pull off since most people think that way already. </span><br />
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</div><div style="font: 16.0px Georgia; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">This so-called "game" then manipulates the mark towards the key moment where they’re convinced it’s a sure thing.</span><br />
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</div><div style="font: 16.0px Georgia; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Looking back, even the victim has no idea how he got duped. “It all happened so fast.”</span><br />
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</div><div style="font: 16.0px Georgia; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">With the 419 scam, the scammers usually take their time. </span><br />
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</div><div style="font: 16.0px Georgia; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Again, let's look at it from a victim's point of view:</span><br />
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</div><div style="font: 16.0px Georgia; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">It's eight months since you lost your job. Your savings won't last more than a year. Things are getting desperate and so are you. Feeding and clothing the kids is eating into your budget. Little Billy is already growing out of his school uniform and Sally needs new shoes. Every day, you receive letters from the bank and credit card companies demanding more money and charging for your overdraft. Bills are mounting up along with the stress and you've even started praying for a solution.</span><br />
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</div><div style="font: 16.0px Georgia; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Then, one night, at your lowest point, you get the email and it seems your prayers might be answered.</span><br />
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</div><div style="font: 16.0px Georgia; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">You're not some estate agent looking to increase your bulging bank balance. You're in a dire situation and this proposal, from your perspective, might appear to be the answer to your prayers.</span><br />
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</div><div style="font: 16.0px Georgia; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">This might seem like an extreme example but in my experience, it is much more likely than someone pursuing a phantom Nigerian purely out of greed. There are always reasons for someone being lured into the 419 web. Greed is certainly a factor - the large sums of money that attract (and distract) the marks will certainly appeal to people's greed but who amongst us doesn't have a little avarice about them? </span><br />
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</div><div style="font: 16.0px Georgia; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Another common reason for people getting involved in a 419 scheme is naivety. Being aware of this scam is its own deterrent but many people have never heard of the "419" or its ancestor "The Spanish Prisoner" scam. Many people also cannot conceive that other people would go to such lengths to perpetrate a con. It's an odd fact that many scams seem easier to believe simply because they are so far-fetched. It's difficult to understand unless you're in the mark's shoes but, as someone who has pulled hundreds of con games, there's a twisted logic that is easier for people to grasp than the seemingly more obvious fact that it 's actually a scam! More on this in a later post...</span><br />
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</div><div style="font: 16.0px Georgia; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Despite what most people think, victims of scams are not stupid. Misguided, maybe. Misled, certainly. </span><br />
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</div><div style="font: 16.0px Georgia; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">I know many genuine hustlers, cheats and con artists. They share a common opinion about their marks - it’s their own fault for getting involved.</span><br />
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</div><div style="font: 16.0px Georgia; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Needless to say, I don’t agree with that statement at all but it reveals a great deal about how scammers insulate themselves from the results of their own actions. I’ll write more on this later.</span><br />
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</div><div style="font: 16.0px Georgia; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">For now, the lesson to learn is that “getting involved” can be as simple as replying to that 419 email or walking up to a crowd to see what’s going on.</span><br />
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</div><div style="font: 16.0px Georgia; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Once you’re “involved” you are targeted by extremely powerful and convincing strategies, designed (and proven) to manipulate you into giving up your money. </span><br />
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</div><div style="font: 16.0px Georgia; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">The minute you engage with a hustler, he or she is in the driving seat. They have been in this situation thousands of times. They’ve seen every outcome and know exactly what buttons to press to get the desired result. No matter how smart you think you are, the hustlers have the upper hand. They are better at conning people than you are at not being conned!</span><br />
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</div><div style="font: 16.0px Georgia; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">These are two common but very different scams and the chances are that, while I hope you now have a better understanding of why people fall them, you’re still thinking: “that could never happen to me”.</span><br />
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</div><div style="font: 16.0px Georgia; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Are you sure? Just by reading this article, or watching The Real Hustle, you’ve armed yourself with the most powerful weapon against cons and scams - knowledge - but be careful not to infect yourself with the con artist's greatest ally: arrogance.</span><br />
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</div><div style="font: 16.0px Georgia; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">When people read in the news that someone fell for a seemingly “obvious” scam, try to think about how clever and convincing the con artist must have been to work that scam, rather than dismiss the victim as merely stupid. One day it might be you.</span><br />
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</div><div style="font: 16.0px Georgia; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">If you genuinely think you can’t be conned, think again. Just because you know how to recognise common scams, doesn’t mean you’ll wake up to a more sophisticated con game.</span><br />
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</div><div style="font: 16.0px Georgia; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">The great con artists tailor their schemes to fit their victims perfectly. If they know enough about you, con artists will figure out how best to bait their hooks.</span><br />
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</div><div style="font: 16.0px Georgia; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">After pulling over 400 scams and spending a lifetime studying the art of the con, I have no doubt that I could be taken in by the right scam. Despite all my knowledge and understanding I know that we’re all a sucker for something.</span><br />
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</div><div style="font: 16.0px Georgia; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Which brings me back to my sure-fire method for spotting a potential mark: stand in front of a mirror.</span><br />
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</div></div></div></div>Paul Wilsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16115749727444987699noreply@blogger.com