Steps in a con game 7

Let's stick for a few minutes on the use of flattery to get the mark interested in the con and in the con game.

     As we discussed, most people like to think that they are part of some "secret" cabal or have access to "privileged" knowledge.  It's how cults keep their membership going and it is also how some people are led to believe that they can develop "super" powers.  Government agencies that clear people for Top Secret clearances have to be certain that the people who are cleared for such high-level work are psychologically balanced individuals since they will be gaining access to classified information.  They have to learn to separate themselves from the information (ah, yes, my younger days, when I had a Top Secret clearance and was working for the Federal Government....)

     Con artists know that many individuals will fall prey to this kind of thinking.  By making the mark believe that "this game or money making idea" is not for everyone BUT "you" are one of the chosen few, it is much easier to separate the mark from his money.  Just another psychological trick that can pay enormous dividends in the end.

Steps in a con game 6

There is an old saying that "flattery will get you everywhere."  This is very true in con games.

     Another way to get the mark interested in the con man is the age-old technique of flattery.  The mark is told that the money-making scheme is "not for everyone," only for "unique" or "special" people.  Perhaps the most basic way to get the mark interested is to make him feel that he is lucky to get in on the con game.  The scheme is only open to a few people and the  mark is one of the "lucky ones."
 
     Perhaps the most famous person to get away with this was Bernard Madoff.  He had people begging to get in on his money making scheme.  There was a waiting list to get in and it took special connections just to get an interview with Madoff.  Those who finally were able to "convince" Madoff to let them into the scheme, more specifically, to Madoff's funds, felt privileged.

     There is nothing more effective than to let someone believe that they are special and privileged.  This is especially true when a con man is trying to get a mark interested.

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

Steps in a con game 5

OK - how does a con man get his mark interested?

     Well, obviously one of the easier ways is to show the mark that the mark can make some money through interaction with the con man.  After all, that is the entire point of the con - getting the mark to believe that he can make money through the con artist.

     Remember - the con artist, from start to finish, is only interested in taking the money from the mark.  Paradoxically, this means that the con artist needs to "hook" the mark by demonstrating or making the mark believe that the mark can make some profit from the con artist.  The easiest method, therefore, is to get the mark interested in the con artist by the temptation of a profit.

     Once the mark is hooked through the promise of making money, the next steps can follow.

    We will give some more examples of making the mark interested 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

Steps in a con game 4

After the con artist has found his mark, the next step is the most obvious - he must gain the confidence of the mark.  After all, the whole point of a con game is a "confidence" game - where the entire crime is the ability for the con artist to gain the mark's confidence, his belief, his hopes, so that the actual crime can be committed.

     We will spend the next few posts talking about the various ways in which the con artist gains the confidence of the mark.

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

Steps in a con game 3

What are the identifying characteristics of a "mark" that attracts the person to a con artist?  We went over a few of the characteristics yesterday.

     A good analogy is to remember that a con artist is somewhat like a shark on the prowl for food.  Although sharks are "apex" predators, they are more often than not looking for prey that are easy targets.  Sharks are not going to expend any more energy than they have to in order to eat and find prey.  The same is true for con artists - they are looking for marks that meet the requirements discussed yesterday but, in addition, they are looking for people that they know, or feel, are exploitable.

     Some of the characteristics of these marks are: (1) are they recently widowed, divorced or become single which makes them emotionally vulnerable; (2) has the mark come into a great deal of money [through inheritance or lottery]; (3) has the mark suddenly moved to a new,unfamiliar location?

    In other words, people that are having life-changing experiences are often more malleable and more vulnerable.

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

Steps in a con game 2

So - the first step in a con game is to identify the mark.  This is probably the most important part of the entire scam.  If the con artist tries to play a con on a mark that is too intelligent or savvy, then the game will not work and the con artist may find himself in jail at the end.  Likewise, the mark cannot be too stupid either.  A con game requires an interaction between the mark and the criminal.  The mark has to make some affirmative steps for it to work.

    There are a few characteristics of a mark that will grab the attention of a con artist.  First, of course, the mark must have money.  How much money depends on the scam the con artist is trying to perpetuate.  Obviously a low-level "street" hustle requires less capital than a multi-billion dollar Ponzi scheme.  But, the mark must have some cash available.

     Second, the mark must be able to be attracted to the scheme.  The mark must have some psychological tick that can be exploited by the con artist.  Once again, remember, the mark will eventually have to take some affirmative steps for the con to work.

More 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

Steps in a con game

No con game is operated without a plan.  Every con job has a beginning, middle and an end.  Of course, the ending (for the operator of the con) has one goal in mind - to take money from the mark (victim).  Every step along the way is part of this linear plan to separate the mark from his money.  Every step is designed to push the mark to achieving this goal.

     But, as we stated from the very beginning - con games and fraud operations are not simple "bash and grab" violent crimes.  They take planning, execution and the psychological knowledge (or assumed knowledge) of their victims.  The con artists do not operate without a goal.

     So, in this next series of postings, we will be examining the steps involved in a con job/con operation.  And, the first step is the most obvious: identifying the mark/the victim.

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