Big Con: The Story of the Confidence Man
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CON MEN DON'T STEAL—they literally have wads of cash thrust into their hands by trusting victims. Find out how they accomplish these dizzying feats in David Maurer's The Big Con, one of the finest and most entertaining portraits of confidence men and their games ever written. First published in 1940, it later inspired the Oscar-winning movie The Sting, and is to this day considered a classic of criminology. In addition to being a treasure trove of underworld lingo and unforgettable characters, The Big Con vividly illustrates the fundamental stages of every con, including Putting up the mark—finding a well-to-do victim Playing the con for him—gaining his or her confidence Giving him the convincer—allowing the victim to make a small profit Putting him on the send—sending him home to get more money Taking off the touch—fleecing the victim Forewarned is forearmed. In today's world of ever bigger Ponzi schemes, the price of this book might be the best money you ever spent.
Introduction to the Anchor EditionIntroductionThe Names Used in This Edition1A Word About Confidence Men12The Big Store53The Big-Con Games314The Mark1035The Mob1346Birds of a Feather1687Tin-Mittens2148Short-Con Games2489The Con Man and His Lingo27810Looking Toward the Future311
