Secrets of Con Artists 9

OK - wrap up this thread.

     What I have been trying to establish with this thread is that con artists have access to information about you and, in the 21st century, it does not take a whole lot of effort to get this information.  Remember that one of the most important, if not THE most important thing a con artist needs to do is to gain a person's CONFIDENCE (hence, of course, the name "con" artist).  There is no better way to gain such confidence then by seeming to know details about a person (or target) even before the target meets the con artist.

      I guess, in the end, this is just another example of the old Latin phrase: "caveat emptor" - buyer beware.  If someone is attempting to sell you something and knows details about your life that seem to make the two of you "click," then perhaps it is time to take a step back.  It is always commensense advice in this day and age to shred your credit card (and other billing information) and always be careful of what is thrown in the trash.  However, thanks to the internet, other personal information is sometimes available online.

      Another adage to always be careful.

NOTE: THE INFORMATION IN THIS BLOG IS NOT LEGAL ADVICE NOR IS IT INTENDED TO BE LEGAL ADVICE.  IF THE READER HAS ANY LEGAL QUESTIONS, PLEASE REFER TO AN ATTORNEY.

NOTE: ANY INDIVIDUAL WHO HAS NOT PLED GUILTY TO A CRIME OR WHO HAS NOT BEEN FOUND GUILTY BY A JUDGE OR JURY IS INNOCENT UNTIL PROVEN GUILTY AS PER THE LAWS OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.

http://www.tauskvega.com

 

----------à>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>gene tausk

 

Secrets of Con Artists 8

OK - let's wrap up this thread.

     Con artists can collect information on a target very easily.  They can also get enough information to "read" a target, once again very easily.  This should be obvious after reviewing the past posts. 

      Con artists, like any other profession, require the that the artist do the research.  This is the ultimate "secret" of con artists (although it is not much of a secret) - they do their research when they are trying to hit big targets (or even small multiple targets).  The information they need is not very hard to obtain, especially in the 21st century. 

     Con artists do their research and they know how to evaluate their targets.  They know that the best way to ingratiate themselves to their targets is to have information before hand that will help them ingratiate themselves.

NOTE: THE INFORMATION IN THIS BLOG IS NOT LEGAL ADVICE NOR IS IT INTENDED TO BE LEGAL ADVICE.  IF THE READER HAS ANY LEGAL QUESTIONS, PLEASE REFER TO AN ATTORNEY.

NOTE: ANY INDIVIDUAL WHO HAS NOT PLED GUILTY TO A CRIME OR WHO HAS NOT BEEN FOUND GUILTY BY A JUDGE OR JURY IS INNOCENT UNTIL PROVEN GUILTY AS PER THE LAWS OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.

http://www.tauskvega.com

 

----------à>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>gene tausk

 

Secrets of Con Artists 7

Continuing with the same thread:

     One of the most important (in my opinion) "secrets" of con artists is that they have not changed in the thousands of years that confidence games have been around.  The only real difference is that today, with modern technology, a con artist has a vast amount of information available to him.  This observation, however, can be made about everyone. 

       Take a person like Bernie Madoff or Jeffrey Skilling back two thousand years ago to the time of the Roman Empire and they will still be able to operate the same kind of scams that they did in the 21st century.  The only difference is that they will be using papyrus and working with slaves. 

      We like to think that con games are a modern phenomenon, but as we have discussed many times in previous posts, they are nothing new.  A con artist will have you believe, however, that the investment scheme or investment idea is completely new - no one has ever thought of it before.

      Con men don't like to admit that they are strangely unoriginal.  In fact, many con artists will admit they recycle old ideas after hearing about them from other con artists or even from reading a history book.

 

NOTE: THE INFORMATION IN THIS BLOG IS NOT LEGAL ADVICE NOR IS IT INTENDED TO BE LEGAL ADVICE.  IF THE READER HAS ANY LEGAL QUESTIONS, PLEASE REFER TO AN ATTORNEY.

NOTE: ANY INDIVIDUAL WHO HAS NOT PLED GUILTY TO A CRIME OR WHO HAS NOT BEEN FOUND GUILTY BY A JUDGE OR JURY IS INNOCENT UNTIL PROVEN GUILTY AS PER THE LAWS OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.

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----------à>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>gene tausk

 

Secrets of Con Artists 6

Sorry for the long delay, but as usual work has been very busy.

      We are back on track discussing some of the things that con artists do not like to have revealed.  We have already discussed how easy it is for con artists to get your personal information.  For these people, your personal information is a veritable gold mine.  This information can reveal not only what should be hidden information, such as your social security number or date of birth, but also information about your personal habits which can be used to enter into your life. 

      What is not so much known is that there is a veritable underground industry which buys and sells this information.  If you have ever seen the movie "Glengarry Glenn Ross," there is a scene where Alec Baldwin's character states that the owners of a company which sells real estate, "Mitch and Murray," purchased leads, i.e. phone numbers and addresses of people that filled out an information card so that a salesperson could follow up later.  The key is that the information, even if it was collected in a legal manner, can be used to ingratiate the salesperson with the prospective client. 

     It should not be surprising, therefore, to discover that information that has not been collected legally should also be up for sale. 

NOTE: THE INFORMATION IN THIS BLOG IS NOT LEGAL ADVICE NOR IS IT INTENDED TO BE LEGAL ADVICE.  IF THE READER HAS ANY LEGAL QUESTIONS, PLEASE REFER TO AN ATTORNEY.

NOTE: ANY INDIVIDUAL WHO HAS NOT PLED GUILTY TO A CRIME OR WHO HAS NOT BEEN FOUND GUILTY BY A JUDGE OR JURY IS INNOCENT UNTIL PROVEN GUILTY AS PER THE LAWS OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.

http://www.tauskvega.com

 

----------à>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>gene tausk

 

Secrets of Con Artists 5

Social media - everyone uses it (or seems like almost everyone).  Including me.  Facebook, Twitter, what have you.

     Social media is great but, like everything else, it has its dark side, other side of the coin, negative aspects, once again what have you. 

     In terms of what we are discussing, FB and other social media allows for the general public to find out information about yourself without much effort.  For example:

1.  Your birthday.  If you advertise your birthday, then of course it becomes available knowledge for anyone caring to look.  Don't forget, this can also include your year of birth.

2.  Your basic background information - where you graduated (and when) high school and college, the jobs you have had, how long you stayed at such jobs. 

3.  Your relationship history.

      It's easy to see just how this information can be used against you.  Remember to use your settings wisely and keep the information to those whom you want to have the information

NOTE: THE INFORMATION IN THIS BLOG IS NOT LEGAL ADVICE NOR IS IT INTENDED TO BE LEGAL ADVICE.  IF THE READER HAS ANY LEGAL QUESTIONS, PLEASE REFER TO AN ATTORNEY.

NOTE: ANY INDIVIDUAL WHO HAS NOT PLED GUILTY TO A CRIME OR WHO HAS NOT BEEN FOUND GUILTY BY A JUDGE OR JURY IS INNOCENT UNTIL PROVEN GUILTY AS PER THE LAWS OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.

http://www.tauskvega.com

 

----------à>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>gene tausk

 

Secrets of Con Artists 4

We were discussing the last post about the psychopathic/sociopathic tendencies of con artists.  Readers of this blog know that this is not the first time we discussed this.

     What makes it interesting, however, under the banner of "secrets of con artists" is that many psychiatrists and forensic analysts are just now beginning to understand just how psychopathic and sociopathic con artists can be.  It was never a big secret that fraudsters don't care about other people.  However, unlike burglars, robbers and other criminals who use force to get individuals (and corporations I suppose) to turn over money, fraudsters actually seem to enjoy the thrill of the con itself.  It is not so much the money or other financial incentives that attract fraudsters to this line of work (although, of course, it is a necessary element), but rather the creation of the plan and the thrill of getting the victim to believe in the fraudster.  It is just as critical for the fraudster to get some kind of psychological satisfaction or "high" if you will from the target.

     Think about this for a minute.  The average street mugger could care less what his victim thinks of him (and probably knows that his victim is scared of him because he has a gun or whatever).  A fraudster, however, gets just as much enjoyment out of the actual criminal act itself as getting the reward.

     This is what makes fraudsters unique in the criminal world.  It is not so much the reward, but how the reward is obtained.  This has been romanticized in movies like "The Sting" and other stories and I myself have confessed to being somewhat in amazement as to how fraudsters operate.  Most of us would like to have that kind of self-confidence that fraudsters emulate, almost unconsciously.  But the knowledge that a fraudster has this ability (or develops it) and uses it to screw people and gets a high from it really is what makes this type of criminal unique. 

NOTE: THE INFORMATION IN THIS BLOG IS NOT LEGAL ADVICE NOR IS IT INTENDED TO BE LEGAL ADVICE.  IF THE READER HAS ANY LEGAL QUESTIONS, PLEASE REFER TO AN ATTORNEY.

NOTE: ANY INDIVIDUAL WHO HAS NOT PLED GUILTY TO A CRIME OR WHO HAS NOT BEEN FOUND GUILTY BY A JUDGE OR JURY IS INNOCENT UNTIL PROVEN GUILTY AS PER THE LAWS OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.

http://www.tauskvega.com

 

----------à>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>gene tausk

 

Secrets of Con Artists 3

We have discussed before on this blog the relationship between con artists and sociopaths/psychopaths.  To take advantage of someone, which is the heart and soul of a con operation, means that the person who is doing the con really does not care about the feelings of the target victim.  The entire point of a con operation is to gain the trust of that target and then exploit that trust for the immoral purposes of the con.

     It should not come as a surprise, therefore, that victims of fraud or con games were more than 50% likely to have recently experienced negative life events such as the death of a loved one, illness or a divorce.  Depression tends to run higher in the elderly and therefore it should also not be a surprise that the elderly are more likely to be the victim of fraud.

     Con artists may be sociopaths, but they are smart sociopaths.  They know which people to target.  It should not come as a surprise, therefore, that studies on fraudsters have demonstrated that they tend to look for (and often find) people that are going through a crisis point in their lives.  Such individuals often find that they are in need of a friend, and all too-often a con artist is willing to be that friend.

    

NOTE: THE INFORMATION IN THIS BLOG IS NOT LEGAL ADVICE NOR IS IT INTENDED TO BE LEGAL ADVICE.  IF THE READER HAS ANY LEGAL QUESTIONS, PLEASE REFER TO AN ATTORNEY.

NOTE: ANY INDIVIDUAL WHO HAS NOT PLED GUILTY TO A CRIME OR WHO HAS NOT BEEN FOUND GUILTY BY A JUDGE OR JURY IS INNOCENT UNTIL PROVEN GUILTY AS PER THE LAWS OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.

http://www.tauskvega.com

 

----------à>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>gene tausk

 

Secrets of Con Artists 2

One of the biggest "secrets" of con artists that is actually one of the worst kept secrets in the world is that con artists have easy access to your information.  Very easy access.

     I'm not talking about items such as social security numbers or birthdays or addresses.  Yes, these can be found but you have to know where to look.  I'm talking about information such as your favorite food, where you work, your educational background, your likes and dislikes, information regarding your relatives, information regarding your pets.  Information that you think is private and is for you only.
 
      Con artists find this type of information to be a gold mine because it helps them build a personality matrix of you.  Remember - and we cannot say this enough - con games are confidence games.  The con man must have you develop confidence in him.  You must believe him otherwise there is no way the con man can ever get you to trust him. 

    Obviously the more a con man knows about you, the more he can get you to trust him.

NOTE: THE INFORMATION IN THIS BLOG IS NOT LEGAL ADVICE NOR IS IT INTENDED TO BE LEGAL ADVICE.  IF THE READER HAS ANY LEGAL QUESTIONS, PLEASE REFER TO AN ATTORNEY.

NOTE: ANY INDIVIDUAL WHO HAS NOT PLED GUILTY TO A CRIME OR WHO HAS NOT BEEN FOUND GUILTY BY A JUDGE OR JURY IS INNOCENT UNTIL PROVEN GUILTY AS PER THE LAWS OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.

http://www.tauskvega.com

 

----------à>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>gene tausk

 

Secrets of Con Artists 1

We will spend the next few posts discussing some of the "secrets" of con artists.  By secrets, I do not mean some hidden knowledge known only to con artists (as we have seen several times over the course of many discussions, the only real "secret" to being a con artist is having a sociopathic personality and extreme self-confidence) but rather some aspects of being a con artist that are not well known.

     Con artists, as we have seen time and time again, play off the insecurities of their victims which is contrasted by the extreme self-confidence of the con artist.  Remember - the main element to every con artist is that they need to gain the confidence of their victim.  Confidence games.

    

NOTE: THE INFORMATION IN THIS BLOG IS NOT LEGAL ADVICE NOR IS IT INTENDED TO BE LEGAL ADVICE.  IF THE READER HAS ANY LEGAL QUESTIONS, PLEASE REFER TO AN ATTORNEY.

NOTE: ANY INDIVIDUAL WHO HAS NOT PLED GUILTY TO A CRIME OR WHO HAS NOT BEEN FOUND GUILTY BY A JUDGE OR JURY IS INNOCENT UNTIL PROVEN GUILTY AS PER THE LAWS OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.

http://www.tauskvega.com

 

----------à>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>gene tausk

 

Be careful who you think is an authority figure

We take a break from the Pump and Dump thread for this post to refer back to Cracked magazine for a funny look at some con artists who pretended to be someone else.

Warning: profanity

http://www.cracked.com/article_20738_5-authority-figures-no-one-realized-were-con-artists.html

I noticed the post from yesterday was not working so I removed it.  I will bring back a clear post for tomorrow.

NOTE: THE INFORMATION IN THIS BLOG IS NOT LEGAL ADVICE NOR IS IT INTENDED TO BE LEGAL ADVICE.  IF THE READER HAS ANY LEGAL QUESTIONS, PLEASE REFER TO AN ATTORNEY.

                                             

http://www.tauskvega.com

 

----------à>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>gene tausk

 

5 Badass Con Men

I know we are in the middle of a thread, but this is too funny not to post. 

From our friends at Cracked magazine.

Warning - contains some profanity.

http://www.cracked.com/article_20711_5-badass-con-men-who-fooled-experts-there-to-catch-them.html

NOTE: THE INFORMATION IN THIS BLOG IS NOT LEGAL ADVICE NOR IS IT INTENDED TO BE LEGAL ADVICE.  IF THE READER HAS ANY LEGAL QUESTIONS, PLEASE REFER TO AN ATTORNEY.

                                             

http://www.tauskvega.com

 

----------à>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>gene tausk

 

Interludes - Millionaire Scam Artist

Well, no sooner do we start a new thread then there is a new and exciting story in the world of scam artists. 

Bravo TV's millionaire in residence turns out to be a fraudster.  Well, well, well.

http://www.blippitt.com/millionaire-scam-artist/

Back to our regularly scheduled programming tommorrow.

NOTE: THE INFORMATION IN THIS BLOG IS NOT LEGAL ADVICE NOR IS IT INTENDED TO BE LEGAL ADVICE.  IF THE READER HAS ANY LEGAL QUESTIONS, PLEASE REFER TO AN ATTORNEY.

Have a great and fraud-free day.

http://www.tauskvega.com

----------à>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>gene tausk

More Con Games 6

As promised - here is a link to wikipedia to explain the origin of the "badger baiting" con.  Supposedly it came from the state of Wisconsin (state symbol - the badger), but given the fact that this con has been around since the dawn of time, this explanation seems unlikely.

We will move on to another topic tommorrow.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Badger_game

NOTE: THE INFORMATION IN THIS BLOG IS NOT LEGAL ADVICE NOR IS IT INTENDED TO BE LEGAL ADVICE.  IF THE READER HAS ANY LEGAL QUESTIONS, PLEASE REFER TO AN ATTORNEY.

Have a great and fraud-free day.

http://www.tauskvega.com

----------à>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>gene tausk

More Con Games 5

So - back on track.

     We are talking about the fraud of blackmail - the use of a threat to avoid being exposed to some sort of scandal or worse.  This is the stereotypical blackmail scheme.

      As stated in an earlier post, this is a crime, pure and simple.  When threatened with blackmail, it is necessary to find an attorney immediately to work out a way to disclose this to the proper authorities (whether local, state or federal).  If a person goes along with a blackmail scheme, then not only is the person literally "digging" himself into a worse situation, by going along with the scheme, the person is also in danger of being a co-conspirator in a blackmail scheme as well.  Further, once the initial demands of blackmailers are met, then the situation arises that violence may be used in the future to force compliance.

     It is critical, therefore, to seek legal counsel immediately if such a situation occurs.  It is the best way to ensure that the person will work with legal authorities to not only cut off the blackmail, but avoid criminal charges.

NOTE: THE INFORMATION IN THIS BLOG IS NOT LEGAL ADVICE NOR IS IT INTENDED TO BE LEGAL ADVICE.  IF THE READER HAS ANY LEGAL QUESTIONS, PLEASE REFER TO AN ATTORNEY.

Have a great and fraud-free day.

http://www.tauskvega.com

----------à>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>gene tausk

More Con Games 4

So - if a person has been caught in the stereotypical "compromising position" having sex with his secretary, etc.  He receives the further stereotypical letter (or email or text or vidlink or whatever) telling him to pay up or the press will get the pictures, or the internet, or YouTube or what have you.  The possibilities are endless.

     As mentioned in an earlier post, this is a crime - blackmail, pure and simple.  It is a fraud scheme because, once again, the perpetrator of the scheme is using deceit to try and get the mar's money.  It is a crude form of fraud, and definitely not as sophisticated as other schemes, but it is still fraud.

     It is important to get help immediately when faced with this situation for a number of reasons.  The obvious one is that blackmail schemes such as this can continue (theoretically) indefinitely.  The second reason is that by paying the blackmail, the mark is furthering a criminal enterprise or scheme which, strangely, can lead to criminal charges against the mark (as Charles Dickens once remarked - "the law is a ass").  The third reason is also obvious - by paying the blackmailers, the hole is only going to get deeper and more monies can be demanded.

NOTE: THE INFORMATION IN THIS BLOG IS NOT LEGAL ADVICE NOR IS IT INTENDED TO BE LEGAL ADVICE.  IF THE READER HAS ANY LEGAL QUESTIONS, PLEASE REFER TO AN ATTORNEY.

Have a great and fraud-free day.

http://www.tauskvega.com

----------à>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>gene tausk

More Con Games 3

My apologies for not posting yesterday, but once again ran into internet connection problems.  One of these days I really need to look into my ISP.

     So - we are talking about the Badger Game (or badger fraud), one of the oldest (if not the oldest) type of fraud in existence.  A person is placed in a compromising position (usually, but not always, sexual), has pictures taken (surreptitiously) in this compromising position and is threatened with having these pictures published if money is not paid.

    How does one avoid this fraud?  Well, the easiest answer (and the most glib) is simply not to have an affair or do something that can end up in a compromising position in the first place.  However, it is important to remember that if this does happen, it is a crime, pure and simple.  If someone is threatening blackmail, then this person is committing a crime and a crime which, in many districts and jurisdictions is an aggravated felony and a crime involving moral turpitude.

More on this later.

NOTE: THE INFORMATION IN THIS BLOG IS NOT LEGAL ADVICE NOR IS IT INTENDED TO BE LEGAL ADVICE.  IF THE READER HAS ANY LEGAL QUESTIONS, PLEASE REFER TO AN ATTORNEY.

Have a great and fraud-free day.

http://www.tauskvega.com

----------à>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>gene tausk

More Con Games 2

Hollywood exaggerates of course, but this movie is an excellent example of the badger game.  Well worth seeing:

http://themoviespoiler.com/Spoilers/derailed.html

NOTE: THE INFORMATION IN THIS BLOG IS NOT LEGAL ADVICE NOR IS IT INTENDED TO BE LEGAL ADVICE.  IF THE READER HAS ANY LEGAL QUESTIONS, PLEASE REFER TO AN ATTORNEY.

Have a great and fraud-free day.

http://www.tauskvega.com

----------à>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>gene tausk

More Con Games

Let's talk about what is ostensibly a crime a violence, but is also a fraud - the badger trap (more on this name in a future post).

     This is the most basic type of fraud - a person is placed in a compromising position, pictures (or some other type of recording) is made, and the victim is blackmailed.  The victim is threatened that unless money is paid, the compromising pictures or recordings will be published.

     The fact that it may be a crime of violence is obvious - many times these types of extortion schemes involve criminal elements and organized crime that will use violence to make certain the "mark" pays.  But, let's look at this scheme from the beginning.  Just like any good fraud, it requires a planning scheme and the use of psychology and human nature to succeed.

     As we begin this conversation, I advise watching the movie "X-Men II - X Men United."  In the movie, the shapeshifting mutant Mystique (played by the ever-watchable Rebecca Romijn) disguises herself as a beautiful woman to seduce the guard that is watching Magneto, the primary nemesis of the films.  When Magneto is able to escape because the guard was seduced, Magneto points out to the guard: "when a beautiful woman is interested in someone like YOU - you should definitely be skeptical."

     Words to live by.

NOTE: THE INFORMATION IN THIS BLOG IS NOT LEGAL ADVICE NOR IS IT INTENDED TO BE LEGAL ADVICE.  IF THE READER HAS ANY LEGAL QUESTIONS, PLEASE REFER TO AN ATTORNEY.

Have a great and fraud-free day.

http://www.tauskvega.com

----------à>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>gene tausk

Con Games V

So, the "Embarrassing Check" con is in and of itself a con.  There is no record that the con ever took place, so it belongs in the "Urban Legend" file, safe and sound.

     But, as has been commented in this post, this is not the issue.  The issue is that the entire "Embarrassing Check" ploy, from start to finish, is fraud and a con.  Just because someone has never used it does not mean that it is not a fraud - just a fraud that has never been done.

     Tomorrow we will move on to another con, this time a real one.

NOTE: THE INFORMATION IN THIS BLOG IS NOT LEGAL ADVICE NOR IS IT INTENDED TO BE LEGAL ADVICE.  IF THE READER HAS ANY LEGAL QUESTIONS, PLEASE REFER TO AN ATTORNEY.

Have a great and fraud-free day.

http://www.tauskvega.com

----------à>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>gene tausk

Con Games IV

What if the Embarrassing Check routine actually happened?   What if it occurred at least once?

    Well - why is it a con?  We already know the answer to this - because it is a game using deceit with the intent to take money from a victim.  The idea is to get the mark to pay for something from a porno shop.  Through this purchase, the mark is fooled into thinking that something will be send to him, something that he does not want other people to know he is receiving.

     However, the intent of the seller is never to send the item to him.  The intent is to take the money, whether cash, check or credit card or wire transfer, make certain that the money is in his account, and then tell the mark that the product is not available.  The money will be sent in the form of a check back to the mark BUT the mark is told ahead of time.  Further, the check that arrives will clearly have the imprint and name of the business on it.

    The entire con, therefore, is motivated by deceit from start to finish.  The intent is to deceive the mark, with no other purpose.

NOTE: THE INFORMATION IN THIS BLOG IS NOT LEGAL ADVICE NOR IS IT INTENDED TO BE LEGAL ADVICE.  IF THE READER HAS ANY LEGAL QUESTIONS, PLEASE REFER TO AN ATTORNEY.

Have a great and fraud-free day.

http://www.tauskvega.com

----------à>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>gene tausk