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History's Greatest Con Artists (vanity)
laurav
Posted on 02/16/2003 6:36:58 PM PST by laurav
I'm trying to compile a list of history's greatest con artists -- people who cheated nations out of prime land, famous people out of their money, or who even faked their own death. So far I've got:
*'Count' Victor Lustig who sold the Eiffel tower to greedy steel dealers -- twice.
*Joseph 'Yellow Kid' Weil, who once set up a fake bank in Muncie, Ind., staffed by prostitutes, and conned a rich man into depositing $50,000.
*Elmyr de Hory- art forger extraordinaire, whose bio was authored by Clifford Irving, who faked a biography of Howard Hughes. Some think Hory faked his own death.
*Sir Edmund Backhouse - conned his way through China and forged Chinese manuscripts and diaries to create a history of the Dowager Empress as the "Dragon Lady" which colored Chinese history for years.
*Frank Abagnale- more recent con artist who made millions in his scams, was caught, and turned around to work for the government.
More are much appreciated, with a brief summary of their crimes. Original ones are best.
Thanks!
TOPICS: Crime/Corruption; Culture/Society; Your Opinion/Questions
KEYWORDS: conartists; conmen; scams; swindles; tricksters
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To: laurav
Bill Clinton has lived off the taxpayers his entire life. His education was paid for by others. He never had a real job. He never owned a house. He came from rags to our White House as a millionaire with our furniture. He probably still claims a tax deduction for his used underwear.
21
posted on
02/16/2003 7:36:57 PM PST
by
LADY J
To: laurav
"He came from rags to our White House and left as a millionaire with our furniture. He probably still claims a tax deduction for his used underwear."
Sorry for the error.
22
posted on
02/16/2003 7:40:15 PM PST
by
LADY J
To: Martin Tell
Odysseus is definitely a good one - tricking Troy, tricking the cyclops, trying to trick his wife (and then seeing she was as faithful as ever). Can you think of any medieval ones? The others are all more recent, so the more I can spread this over history, the better.
23
posted on
02/16/2003 7:43:02 PM PST
by
laurav
To: dix
Jay Gould's a good one... apparently tried to swindle Vanderbilt in the bid to take over the Eerie railroad. Also speculated on gold, the net result being "Black Friday" - one of the more painful crashes in Wall Street history. Thanks!
24
posted on
02/16/2003 7:44:26 PM PST
by
laurav
To: laurav
James Rivas the "Baron of Arizona" forged a Spanish Land Grant (Even updating the original ledger in Spain).
The Land Grant gave ownership of virtually all of Arizona Territory (mid 1800) to Rivas' wife. The wife had been led to believe that she was from Spanish Royalty when in reality she was poor.
To: laurav
26
posted on
02/16/2003 8:14:50 PM PST
by
IncPen
To: laurav
How could you forget Charles Ponzi, from which we get the phrase "Ponzi scheme"?
To: IncPen
Almost a tie...
To: Joe Bonforte; IncPen
Yes, but he's so obvious that I figured most people would know about him... but you're both right, he's a good one. Do either of you know anything about Sir Edmund Backhouse and his travels through China, making up tales of orgies in the emporer's palace and the like? I haven't been able to come up with much solid on him.
29
posted on
02/16/2003 8:37:05 PM PST
by
laurav
To: laurav
Mohammed
30
posted on
02/16/2003 8:44:43 PM PST
by
vharlow
To: laurav
31
posted on
02/16/2003 9:19:06 PM PST
by
APBaer
To: laurav
32
posted on
02/16/2003 9:26:42 PM PST
by
APBaer
To: laurav
Joseph 'Yellow Kid' Weil, who once set up a fake bank in Muncie, Ind., staffed by prostitutes, and conned a rich man into depositing $50,000. In his book the Yellow Kid noted that it was rare to actually cheat an honest person in his schemes. He also claimed to once have a candy and gum business in Chicago that was legit, but that was structured so that the authorities might go after it as a con type set-up. So he sold out to a guy named Wrigley. He sold large portions of Muskegon County, Michigan over and over to "crooked land speculators".
In about 1975 we had an early 13 Channel cable feed at the Frat House. The Chicago station had a story about a high school group doing the play "Guys and Dolls". Technical advisor - the 90 year old Yellow Kid.
33
posted on
02/16/2003 10:01:43 PM PST
by
DmBarch
To: laurav
William Jefferson Clinton conned about 46% of the American voting public and his wife continues the legacy!
34
posted on
02/17/2003 6:56:57 AM PST
by
gunnedah
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