As such, there is no consistent profile of a confidence trick victim the common factor is simply that the victim relies on the good faith of the con artist. Vulnerability factors Д¬onfidence tricks exploit characteristics such as greed, dishonesty, vanity, opportunism, lust, compassion, credulity, irresponsibility, desperation, and naГЇvety. This usually includes the use of an accomplice who plays the part of an uninvolved (initially skeptical) third party, who later confirms the claims made by the con man. In addition, some games require a ' corroboration' step, particularly those involving a fake, but purportedly 'rare item' of 'great value'. This can reassure the victim, and give the con man greater control when the deal has been completed. The in-and-in A conspirator (in on the con, but assumes the role of an interested bystander) puts an amount of money into the same scheme as the victim, to add an appearance of legitimacy. With a financial scam, the con artist may tell the victim that the 'window of opportunity' to make a large investment in the scheme is about to suddenly close forever. This is the point at which the con succeeds or fails. The 'hurrah' A sudden manufactured crisis or change of events forces the victim to act or make a decision immediately. In a stock market con, the victim is given fake dividends. In a gambling con, the victim is allowed to win several small bets. This may be a real amount of money or faked in some way (including physically or electronically). Pay-off or convincer The victim receives a small payout as a demonstration of the scheme's purported effectiveness.

The victim's greed is encouraged, such that their rational judgment of the situation might be impaired. Build-up The victim is given an opportunity to profit from participating in a scheme. Approach The victim is approached or contacted. It is also possible some can be done in a different order than the one shown or carried out simultaneously.ДЇoundation work Preparations are made in advance of the game, including the hiring of any assistants required and studying the background knowledge needed for the role. Smith lists the 'six definite steps or stages of growth' of a confidence game. In Confessions of a Confidence Man, Edward H. It aims to rob the victim of huge sums of money or valuables, often by getting them to empty out banking accounts and borrow from family members. ДЄ 'long con' or 'big con' (also, chiefly British English: long game) is a scam that unfolds over several days or weeks it may involve a team of swindlers, and even props, sets, extras, costumes, and scripted lines. It typically aims to rob the victim of money or other valuables which they carry on their person or are guarding. When accomplices are employed, they are known as shills.ДЄ short con or 'small con' is a fast swindle which takes just minutes, possibly seconds.

The intended victims are known as marks, suckers, stooges, mugs, rubes, or gulls (from the word gullible). ДЄ confidence trick is also known as a con game, a con, a scam, a grift, a hustle, a bunko (or bunco), a swindle, a flimflam, a gaffle, or a bamboozle.

The National Police Gazette coined the term 'confidence game' a few weeks after Houston first used the name 'confidence man'. Although Thompson was an unsuccessful scammer, he gained the reputation as a genius operator mostly because Houston's satirical tone was not understood as such. Reporting about this arrest, James Houston, a reporter for the New York Herald, publicized Thompson by naming him the 'Confidence Man'. A few people trusted Thompson with their money and watches. Thompson was a clumsy swindler who asked his victims to express confidence in him by giving him money or their watch rather than gaining their confidence in a more nuanced way. Samuel Thompson (1821вЂ“1856) was the original 'confidence man'. The shell game dates back at least to Ancient Greece. The perpetrator of a confidence trick (or 'con trick') is often referred to as a confidence (or 'con') man, con-artist, or a ' grifter'. Synonyms include con, confidence game, confidence scheme, ripoff, scam, and stratagem.

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