#con men

[tilbageidanmark]

[trivia-polls-daily]

No cheating, please! Answer the trivia question to the best of your ability, then check below the cut! Please do not give away answers in comments or tags!

Answer below:

In 1925, conman "Count" Victor Lustig "sold" the Eiffel Tower twice:

https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/man-who-sold-eiffel-tower-twice-180958370/

[c00lguyz0ne]

If I had a nickel for every a blonde bisexual con men I would have two nickels.

[porterdavis]

Short answer (as well as long answer) Nope.

[pendragyn]

I Stumbled across your artworks and I must say I am really intrigued,  I’m really impressed by your talent and creativity, I’ll like to purchase at least 5 of your artworks as NFT for ($8,300) 4 Etherums each, you can give me a feedback by reaching out to me on WhatsApp here's my number +1 (540) 358-8637

well this is a new one, but most definitely a scam nonetheless. You going to make an nft out of what? pics of my crochet? pics of my cat? Man, if I were a real artist this would be such a letdown. The Nigerian Prince of NFTs over here.

Signs of a phishing scam;

Out of the blue - they have no reason to know you but somehow they've picked you out of all the other suckers bank account holders fabulous artists out there.

Compliments, but vague - "your artworks" which art? "impressed by your talent" talent in what? "Heard nice things about you" from whom?

Asking to give you a large sum of money - look, most everyone dreams of a big break, so it's an easy spot to prey on people.

Money will be under the table or tax free, or in this case, untraceable Bitcoin - which means the people they scam will have little to no legal recourse.

Easy money - you won't have to do any more work for it, just a simple phone call, email etc.

If someone is legitimately interested in you and your artwork, they're going to talk to you about specifics; they're going to ask if you'll sell the pieces they like or if they can commission a piece from you. It's not going to be a stranger dropping thousands in your lap out of nowhere.

stay safe friends

[ceevee5]

[travsd]

50 Years Ago Today: The Sting

The Sting was released this day in 1973 — 50 years ago. I had just turned 8 when the film came out. It was definitely one of the key films in that heavy period of Hollywood nostalgia of the early ’70s which I wrote about here. Its ultimate source was David Maurer’s 1940 book The Big Con: The Story of the Confidence Man. Maurer had interviewed scores of real-life grifters for his book, getting…

[blackandredblog]

Anarchapulco 2024

I don't know what craziness I've just stepped into. But it's a rabbit hole that is fucking terrifying.

I was watching a video from More Perfect Union about how the US and Puerto Rico itself have created a wealth inequality that is as profoundly unique as it is disturbing.

In a clip from this video, I noticed something called Anarchapulco in the background. So, I paused it and looked it up.

Original More Perfect Union video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i4ulSk0EqX

Upon looking up this AnarchApulco nonsense, I first click to see what it costs, completely missing the fact that they have a menu at the top for NFTs.

The tickets are $600 per person.

So I click on the speaker page. It's as diverse as a Connecticut country club squash team, filled with white grifters pushing conspiracy theories, crypto, and tips to living like them (which never includes being handed their wealth or social connections to acquire wealth).

The speaker page: https://anarchapulco.com/speaker-page-2024/

The leader of this shitshow is a self-proclaimed AnCap Libertarian named Jeff Berwick. Dude pushes Crypto, NFTs, and his own newsletter called the Dollar Vigilante.

Next is Max Igan. Max Igan has links to MeWe and Rumble (far-right friendly platforms). He also uses the term "globalist" in his biography on "The Other Side of Midnight" which appears to be some sort of right-wing, online radio station.

For those unfamiliar, "Globalist" is a euphemism for Jew. It's a frequent term used by far-rights, like Alex Jones.

The biography here: https://www.theothersideofmidnight.com/bio-max-igan/

Next is Larken Rose. He's another AnCap Libertarian. He's done time for tax evasion. And is well-known enough that Wesley Snipes tried to use Rose's arguments at his own tax evasion trial.

Rose is pushing his new movie, about a plantation that likens actual slavery to wage slavery and capitalism. While there are parallels, Rose (who is white) wrote a script in which he drops the N-word in an opening scene. Beyond that, the movie is full of exposition and lacks any real talent or vision for storytelling.

I'm not going to go through every grifter on this list, because I do have actual work to do, but there are two more standouts beyond the pasty homeopaths, internet-only radio disk jockeys, and COVID deniers.

Next up is David Weiss. He's a flat earther. And I'm not just being an asshole calling him names, he RUNS the Flat Earth Podcast. He truly believes we live on a flat earth.

Worse than even being a science-denier, this dumb motherfucker has a "Flat Earth Crash Course" whose opening YouTube video features Owen Benjamin.

For those unfamiliar with Owen Benjamin. He's a failed actor and comedian that is an Olympic-level racist and antisemite. He's recently popped back up on Alex Jones' InfoWars because he needs a new audience to grift after his last scam fell through. Who'd have guessed your neighbors wouldn't let you crowd fund a members-only, "free speech" Ruby Ridge-style compound... in Idaho.

Benjamin's Wikipedia Page: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Owen_Benjamin

I was going to do one last sketch on Ian Smith, but, to be honest, he's just a gymbro science-denier that sells "water treatments" and supplements.

What's the point of all this?

These grifters are insidious and the far-right is trying to appropriate leftist terminologies and twist them.

They take small grains of truth, the base rhetoric of AnComs and grow genetically modified shitmuffins from them. If you ever doubt this is happening, remember that Nazi is short for National Socialist German Workers' Party.

Watch yourselves out there, keep your heads on a swivel, and don't assume that people are who they say they are.

[blackredleathergloves]

In the big-con games the steps are these:

1. Locating and investigating a well-to-do victim. (Putting the mark up).

2. Gaining the victim's confidence. (Playing the con for him.)

3. Steering him to meet the insideman. (Roping the mark.)

4. Permitting the insideman to show him how he can make a large amount of money dishonestly. (Telling him the tale).

5. Allowing the victim to make a substantial profit. (Giving him the convincer.)

6. Determining exactly how much he will invest. (Giving him the breakdown.)

7. Sending him home for this amount of money (Putting him on the send.)

8. Playing him against the big store and fleecing him. (Taking off the touch.)

9. Getting him out of the way as quietly as possible. (Blowing him off.)

10. Forestalling action by the law. (Putting in the fix.)

-The Big Con, David W. Maurer

[curtaincall123]

Episode 5 of Scam Junkie drops today on Spotify. Don’t miss it!

[upontheshelfreviews]

Faerie Tale Theatre Reviews: The Emperor’s New Clothes

“The people care not one whit for the inner workings of government. They only care that I look the part. If I’m to appear as a slovenly, disheveled ragamuffin, the subjects would assume that I am as common and ordinary as they are and unfit to rule this vast kingdom. No, they want to look up to me. They need to admire me. They demand I oppress them! And I shall.”– The Emperor’s raison d’etre that…

[niclasare]

Stop fraudsters by sharing them...

Warning for Rebecca Byron Loch Born October 1972 and lives in Stockholm Sweden. She owns Bbex Company AB (lost million+ last year) and Medsbag AB (lost million+ last year) Co owns Four Industries AB (no turnover), Four Industries Invest AB (no turnover) and Reach Ahead AB (a ‘profitable’ company but which has millions in debts towards its suppliers). Somehow she anyhow manages to live a luxurious life!

Rebecca is fraudulent by:

Lying about her education where she claims, or used to claim, that she had a Bachelor from the University of Stockholm, which she has not. Anyone can check with the University of Stockholm to confirm this (Sweden is an information free country).

She has stolen clients from her prior employments, including from the international head hunting firm Amrop International.

She is a true Narcissist, constantly bragging about her work, what she has done, what her children have done and/or anything that can make her shine a bit more. She frequently pushes her children into things to make her look good.

She is constantly lying and exaggerating about her past, her so called connections, and her achievements. She even repeatedly brags how she has helped homeless people etc., when she might have partly done this once several years ago.

Constantly loses friends after they realized that they have been used, or that her Narcissism becomes too annoying or too confronting.

Owns companies which have lost millions in the last years.

Is a co-owner of a company which haves millions in debt to their suppliers.

Claims she owns a ‘Health tech startup’ company when they only sell a bag with a recorded message in it playing when you push a button…

Is married to an alcoholic who has started and bankrupted 15+ companies through the years!

Has started companies abroad to probably dodge high Swedish taxes and costs.

Constantly brags that she is best and most successful in the business she is in, when she is clearly not. Her company is just a small niche company.

Constantly promotes historic work on LinkedIn to seem active and successful, whilst this is does not seem to be the case.

Constantly blames others for bad things, even when they clearly are from her doing.

Officially she lives on an island whilst she in real life lives in central Stockholm. The island is probably their summer place, so clearly something fraudulent or misleading is also happening there.

Lies to people’s faces, without hesitation, when it benefits her or if it makes her look better (or someone she dislikes, look worse). Please be careful when dealing with Rebecca Lohk.

[k-wame]

everyone point and laugh

[if-you-fan-a-fire]

"GETS THREE-YEAR SENTENCE IN 'GOLD-BRICK' FRAUD CASE," Toronto Star. September 29, 1933. Page 1. --- Mussolino Goes to Penitentiary - Pat Bruno 18 Mos., Emmanuel Three ---- THEY GOT $1,500 ---- The three men found guilty of conspiracy and false pretence in the "gold-brick" case received sentences in general sessions to-day.

The charges were conspiracy and defrauding a young man of $1,500.

Antonio Mussolino was sentenced to three years in Kingston penitentiary on each of three counts, concurrent.

Patrick Bruno, found guilty on two counts, was given eighteen months in Ontario reformatory on each, concurrent.

Emmanuel Bruno, found guilty of conspiracy and strongly recommended to mercy by the jury, was sentenced to three months at the jail farm.

Judge Parker imposed the sentences in place of Judge Widdifield, who sustained an accident subsequent to the trial. His honor told Mussolino he was taking into consideration the intimation restitution of $1,133 was to be made.

"Otherwise," said his honor, "you were fiable to be sentenced to seven years."

During the trial three "gold- bricks" used by the accused to deceive were sawn apart, and experts found an alloy of copper, brass and other metals. semblance striking. to They said the re- genuine gold was

[Mussolini appealed his term but lost out and had his conviction confirmed. He was 49, single, born in Calabria, and had served terms at Burwash Industrial Farm and the Toronto Jail Farm. He was convict #3220 at Kingston Penitentiary and worked in the tin and paint shop. He was released in November 1935, having earned his full 'good time.']

[ronaldparlato]

He took Randy's money, 'invested' it in his own offshore accounts, and went from hollow to hollow, county to county Madoffing one family to another conning, duping, and promising until he was wealthy man. Who said that genius was urban? Or Jewish?

[ladyvandaele]

Coincidentally, I became disheartened, dispirited and depressed after I met the shaman.