The world of cons is filled with shocking stories of deception and betrayal. From Ponzi schemes to fake identities, these scams have left a trail of devastation in their wake.
This blog post will delve into 30 of the most astonishing cons that have shaken the world, leaving people stunned and questioning the truth. With their elaborate schemes and cunning tactics, these con artists have managed to deceive even the most skeptical of individuals.
1. The Art of Fake Heirlooms
The case of Shaun Greenhalgh, a British con artist, is a notable example of fake heirlooms. He created fake artifacts, including a golden statue and an Egyptian relic, which he sold to museums and collectors for millions of dollars. His forgeries were so convincing that they fooled even the most experienced experts.
2. The Craigslist Killer
In 2009, a man named Philip Markoff was arrested for murdering a woman he had met on Craigslist. He had posed as a masseuse to lure his victims, highlighting the dangers of online scams and the importance of caution when meeting strangers.
3. The Fake Rockefeller
Christian Gerhartsreiter, a German con artist, posed as a member of the wealthy Rockefeller family. He convinced people that he was a wealthy heir and used this fake identity to gain their trust and manipulate them out of their money.
4. The Boy in the Balloon Hoax
In 2009, a couple claimed that their six-year-old son had floated away in a hot air balloon, sparking a massive search operation. However, it was later revealed that the whole thing was a publicity stunt to gain fame and fortune.
5. The Nigerian Prince Email Scam
This infamous email scam has been around for decades, with scammers posing as Nigerian princes who need help transferring large sums of money out of the country.
The scam has become a cultural phenomenon, with many people receiving these emails and being tempted to respond.
6. The Convicted Murderer Who Faked His Own Death
In 2013, a man named Samuel Israel III faked his own death to avoid a prison sentence for running a Ponzi scheme. He left a fake suicide note and a large stone in his car to make it look like he had jumped off a bridge.
7. The Fake Socialite
Anna Delvey, a Russian-born con artist, posed as a wealthy socialite to gain access to exclusive events and manipulate people out of their money. She was later arrested and charged with grand larceny.
8. The Man Who Sold the Eiffel Tower
In 1925, a man named Victor Lustig sold the Eiffel Tower to a scrap metal dealer, claiming that it was being dismantled and sold for scrap. The scam was so convincing that the buyer didn't realize he had been duped until it was too late.
9. The Psychic Scam
In 2011, a self-proclaimed psychic named Sylvia Mitchell was arrested for running a scam in which she claimed to have psychic powers and could help people communicate with the dead.
She was found to have been running a massive scam, using high-pressure sales tactics to convince people to part with their money.
10. The Frank Abagnale Jr. Con
Frank Abagnale Jr., a notorious con artist, posed as a pilot, a doctor, and a lawyer, among other things. He was the inspiration for the movie "Catch Me If You Can" and was eventually caught and sentenced to prison.
11. The Dreadnought Hoax
In 1910, a group of pranksters posed as a royal family from a fictional African country and were given a tour of the British warship HMS Dreadnought.
The prank was so convincing that it sparked a major scandal and led to changes in the way the British Navy handled visitors.
12. The Pigeon Drop Scam
This classic scam involves a con artist who poses as a wealthy businessman and claims to have found a large sum of money. The scammer then convinces the victim to put up their own money as a "good faith" gesture, after which the scammer disappears with the cash.
13. The Man Who Faked His Own Kidnapping
In 2013, a man named Aaron Doughty faked his own kidnapping to get out of paying a $30,000 debt. He sent a ransom demand to his creditor and claimed that he was being held captive by kidnappers.
14. The $100 Million Art Scam
In 2011, a man named Glafira Rosales was arrested for running a massive art scam in which she sold fake paintings by famous artists such as Mark Rothko and Jackson Pollock. The scam netted her over $100 million before she was caught.
15. The Madoff Ponzi Scheme
Bernard Madoff's Ponzi scheme is one of the most notorious in history, with estimated losses of over $65 billion. Madoff convinced investors to put their money into his fund by promising high returns, but in reality, he was using their money to pay off earlier investors and fund his own lavish lifestyle.
16. The Diamond Necklace Scam
In 1785, Queen Marie Antoinette of France was the target of a scam in which a diamond necklace worth a fortune was sold to her, but it was later revealed that the necklace was never actually delivered and the scammer had made off with the money.
17. The Great Imposter
Ferdinand Waldo Demara, a Canadian con artist, posed as a doctor, a lawyer, and a minister, among other things.
He was known for his charm and charisma and was able to convince people of his fake identities, often with disastrous consequences.
18. The Hitler Diaries Hoax
In 1983, a German historian named Konrad Kujau forged a series of diaries that he claimed were written by Adolf Hitler. The diaries were sold to a German magazine for a fortune but were later revealed to be fake.
19. The Redding Scam
In the 1990s, a man named Jim Redding posed as a Wall Street executive and convinced investors to put their money into his company, which he claimed was a successful investment firm.
However, the company was actually a Ponzi scheme, and Redding was eventually caught and sentenced to prison.
20. The Mormon Will Scam
In the 1970s, a group of con artists posed as Mormon missionaries and targeted elderly people, convincing them to leave their estates to the Mormon Church. The scam was eventually exposed, but not before millions of dollars had been stolen.
21. The Zeppelin Scam
In the 1920s, a man named George Francis Zeppelin posed as a wealthy businessman and convinced investors to put their money into his company, which he claimed was building a new type of zeppelin. However, the company was actually a scam, and Zeppelin was eventually caught and sentenced to prison.
22. The Lady Forger
In the 19th century, a woman named Mary Baker posed as a wealthy aristocrat and forged checks and other documents to convince people to lend her money. She was eventually caught and sentenced to prison, but not before she had stolen thousands of dollars.
23. The Phantom Philanthropist
In the 1990s, a man named William McCorkle posed as a wealthy philanthropist and convinced charities and non-profit organizations to accept his donations.
However, the donations were actually worthless checks, and McCorkle was eventually caught and sentenced to prison.
24. The Oil Tanker Scam
In the 1970s, a group of con artists posed as oil tanker owners and convinced investors to put their money into their company, which they claimed was transporting oil across the globe.
However, the company was actually a scam, and the con artists were eventually caught and sentenced to prison.
25. The FBI Impersonation Scam
In the 1990s, a man named Frank Montoya posed as an FBI agent and convinced people to give him money and information by claiming that he was investigating a crime. However, Montoya was actually a con artist and was eventually caught and sentenced to prison.
26. The Bank Vault Scam
In the 1980s, a group of con artists posed as bank officials and convinced investors to put their money into a bank vault, which they claimed was a safe and secure investment.
However, the vault was actually a scam, and the con artists were eventually caught and sentenced to prison.
27. The Art Forgery Scam
In the 1990s, a man named Eric Spoutz posed as an art dealer and convinced collectors to buy forged artwork, which he claimed was created by famous artists. However, the artwork was actually worthless, and Spoutz was eventually caught and sentenced to prison.
28. The Phone Scam
In the 2000s, a group of con artists posed as phone company representatives and convinced people to give them their personal and financial information by claiming that they were updating their phone records. However, the con artists were actually using the information to steal the victims' identities.
29. The Real Estate Scam
In the 2000s, a man named Andrew DiDonato posed as a real estate agent and convinced people to invest in properties, which he claimed were undervalued and would increase in value.
However, the properties were actually worthless, and DiDonato was eventually caught and sentenced to prison.
30. The Lottery Scam
In the 2010s, a group of con artists posed as lottery officials and convinced people to give them money by claiming that they had won a large prize.
However, the prize was actually non-existent, and the con artists were using the money to fund their own lavish lifestyles.
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Anne Kostick has been Editor-in-Chief since September 2007. Previously, Anne was a principal at Foxpath IND, a publishing, consulting and editorial services company specializing in the transition to and from traditional content publishing and online content management, development and publishing. Her clients included trade book publishers, technology and financial services Web sites, and arts and cultural institutions. Previously, she worked as Licensing and Product Development Director, Senior Acquisitions Editor and Director of Electronic Publishing for Workman Publishing, and as Senior Acquisitions Editor for Harry N. Abrams/Stewart, Tabori & Chang. In the online world she worked as Director of Content Development for Vitaminshoppe.com. Anne has a B.A. in Greek and Latin, with a minor in Theater, from Beloit College. She is the author of several books for children, as well as a definitive collection of jokes.