Have you ever met someone who you consider to be a con artist?

[undeterred]

I know of someone who is definitely a con artist, but because he used the "Christian" label for everything he did, he got away with using a lot of people for a very long time.

[Missy M]

1. Yes I have, specifically in the antique business!

[Madrone]

2. My ex boyfriend was married to one.

11 ex husbands - no way to track the ex boyfriends.

[wallwriter]

3. I had a business connection to one.

I can't name names because of pending legal action, but this person is an active religious broadcaster who hides behind the veil of piety, but then doesn't pay his bills.

(spelling edit)

[NNadir]

4. My brother.

He also did the "Christian" thing.

He screwed a lot of people, starting with me, many decades ago and worked his way through my entire family, many family friends and lots of people I don't know and have never met. Because I always knew who and what he was, he frequently attacked me over the years, using my atheism as a starting point.

The funny thing is, he's vanished, and in some way, I wish I knew where he was, so that I could reach out to him. At the end of the day, he is still my brother.

[Writer]

13. Sounds like a case of NPD there.

I know he's your brother, but he's poison. Stay away, especially if he reappears in your life trying to be "nice" to you.

[undeterred]

15. I've got a brother who uses unsavory business practices

and I only know that because he bragged to me about it. I guess I was supposed to think he's clever, but I'm ashamed of him. I wouldn't refer anyone to him for anything, business or personal.

[u4ic]

5. My nephew

Who's 21 and trying to screw my Dad out of every cent he's worked so hard for (he's 80). Hate that fucker. :grr: :grr: :grr:

[tridim]

6. My friend was in a band with a guy that spoke with an English accent

I asked and he said he was born in London and lived there until he was 16. I found out a year later that he had lived in Kansas his entire life. The accent was 100% fake. I never found out why he did it, but he had everybody convinced he was a Brit.

[AngryAmish]

7. I met and was completely fooled by a grifter

It cost me no money but I found out this person lied to my face completely. People lie to me almost everyday in my job and I like to think I have a good BS detector. But I was completely taken in.

[LynzM]

8. Met a guy on a train....

Who had four passports (on the way to Munich, Germany). He gave my friend Cyril a knife... thought we might need it?

[Lannes]

10. Sounds like my Grandfather

He had 4 passports as well.We didnt get along but he was one of the best con artists I ever saw.

[flordehinojos]

9. that sounds just like the bush boy(s)!

[Floogeldy]

11. Uh huh

}(

[brentspeak]

12. The people who drive white vans hawking stereo speakers

There's like a fleet of these white vans in the NY metropolitan area, driven slowly through parking lots by con-artists who are looking to "unload" what are obviously stolen stereo speakers onto unsuspecting victims . They expect cash, and the prices are not exactly a bargain.

[LiberallyInclined]

19. they aren't stolen speakers-

they're just crap.

[Awsi Dooger]

14. I live in Las Vegas so that answers the question

Plenty. I'll summarize a few:

* I've mentioned bonus slot machines many times on DU, where you can virtually guarantee profit with intelligent selective play. In the late '90s they were plentiful. But in the last few years the numbers have declined to such degree that now many lowlife and lazy guys who used to rely on them have turned to con artist tactics via those machines. They will grab an unsuspecting tourist and put them on the machine, ignorant of its playing characteristics. They will tell them how great the machine is and have them play it until the brink of the bonus, then tell them it's no good and suggest a different machine. At that point a lowlife cohort swoops in and plays the machine until the bonus is achieved. These assholes call this "creating." I turn them in whenever I see it and they threaten me repeatedly. Finally the casinos became aware of it and there have been sting operations to nail these guys. Unfortunately, and predictably, some of the stupidest casino security staffs have no clue what they're looking for and either miss the legit cons or isolate harmless situations as being crooked. One time an old lady asked me how to play one of the bonus machines and suddenly security swooped in and acted like I was a thief. Luckily she stood up for me. But now I'm hesitant to talk to anyone when I play those machines.

* Sportsbook con artists. I've heard of instances where guys convince tourists they have connections, like knowledge of fixed horse races. They'll get the tourist to send them money, often huge sums, to bet on the supposed fixed race, then just pocket the money. Of course, they don't think the tourist will go to authorities since the intention to bet on a rigged race places them in jeopardy.

* Fake match play coupons. The latest craze among local tapouts is 2 for 1 match play coupons. Some casinos put those out where you play a $5 hand of blackjack, for example, and if you win you get paid $10 instead of $5. I know several people who made that a fulltime job. But now others are printing phonies in absurd numbers. They are of such high quality the casinos are often duped. The Stardust has $40 for $20 coupons which supposedly were designed to prevent copying.

* Street cons. So prevalent I'm sure I don't know the best ones. One young black lady goes around saying she lost a wallet containing her bus or plane ticket to visit a terminally ill relative. It's incredible how many tourists fal for this and give her cash. I've called Metro numerous times but she is still in business. She's so stupid and so tunnelvision she pitches me time after time even though I've let her know I'm on to her scam. Another guy carries around an empty gas can and claims he ran out of gas a few blocks away and just needs a few bucks. He's propably the only person thrilled with the massive spike in gas prices.

[immoderate]

16. I met a girl who claimed to be psychic.

Said she had "visions." Was very emotional about it. Later I found out how she did some of her "feats." Made me a skeptic, for which I've never been sorry.

--IMM

[bridgit]

17. oh hell yes...

christians are some of the more proactive con artists @ that :shrug:

[jmm]

18. I haven't been to Northampton in years but

I use to see a guy there often who approached me claiming that he felt my aura and offering to give me a reading, tried to get me to play three card monte, asked me out a few times each of which he claimed to be a different age, etc.