Grifters or con artists have a wide selection of psychological techniques which can be utilized to swindle the fruits of your hard day’s labor. Unlike ordinary thieves confidence tricksters employ complex psychological manipulations to exploit weaknesses found within us all. Below is comprehensive list of various techniques cons use to make you their next victim. [...]
Grifters or con artists have a wide selection of psychological techniques which can be utilized to swindle the fruits of your hard day’s labor. Unlike ordinary thieves confidence tricksters employ complex psychological manipulations to exploit weaknesses found within us all. Below is comprehensive list of various techniques cons use to make you their next victim.
These ploys exploit our innate sense of greed and selfishness. The victim is seduced by an amazing opportunity which is often sold with a limited window of opportunity for the mark to invest within.
Likely Targets: The unemployed, risky entrepreneurs or investors, dishonest business people, and the desperate all make likely targets.
Specific Examples:
Real estate or investment “sure things”
“Get Rich Quick” Seminars or marketing
Fake jobs or franchises
Matrix schemes
Cash gifting schemes
Self help or investment gurus
Revolutionary inventions
Ponzi schemes
Gold brick scams
Glim-dropper scam
Pyramid schemes
These confidence ploys come in two general forms: ideological or romantic. The victim is seduced by a charismatic mate or persuaded by an ideology where the con artist deliberately deceives his mark.
Likely Targets: Lonely men and credulous believers make prime targets.
Specific examples:
Political Ideologies
Fortune tellers
Religious Ideologies
Romance Scams
This form of blackmail intimidates the target either by risk of embarrassment or creating a feeling of guilt towards a false victim. Another form of this extortion is found with insurance fraud where “victims” make false claims.
Likely Targets– Insurance companies, unfaithful individuals, persons with hidden cultural taboos, and the empathetic are likely dupes.
Specific Examples:
Tainted food
Melon drop
Badger baiting
Robbed or stranded traveler
Paranoia scam
Hydrophobia
Clip joint
Insurance fraud
Marks are enticed in a statistically improbable or impossible opportunities for irresistible rewards.
Likely Targets:
Avaricious opportunists and the mathematically challenged make perfect prey.
Specific Examples:
Gambling
False reward
Restricted winner
Card Hustling
Three-card Monte
Lottery fraud
Systematic gambling picks
High tech shams with the objective of stealing your identity, privacy, or using technology to fleece you.
Likely Targets: Unless you are Amish or a Neo-Luddite count yourself as a potential mark.
Specific Examples:
Viruses, worms, and trojans
Stock market manipulation schemes
Key loggers
Pharming
Fake antivirus
ATM scams
Nigerian or 419 scams
Fake ticket fraud
SEO fraud
Click fraud
Online dating fraud
Payment fraud
Phishing
Computer malware
These hoaxes rely on an appeal to authority either by an established presence, reputation, or famous spokesperson.
Likely Targets: Most people tend to trust recognizable faces and branding.
Specific Examples:
Big store scams
Undercover cop hoax
Misleading infomercials
Likely Targets: Everyone.
Specific Examples:
Useless Products
Taxi Fraud
Fortune tellers
Pseudoscience
Street mechanic hoax
Bogus landlord
Phony ticket attendant
Psychic surgery
Renters scam
Beijing tea scam
Fake charities
Counterfeit cashier’s check
“Snake oil” health and diet products
Empty car lot hoax
