AVOIDING CON ARTISTS

A con-game is theft by deception. Whether it is three card monty or bait-and-switch, con artists gain your confidence and use your greed (yes, your greed) to make you think you are getting something for nothing.

With so many different types of con games on the street, it would be impossible for me to inform you of every one of them. Just follow the easy rules listed on this page to significantly reduce your chances of ever becoming a con-game victim.

The Rules:

Don't ever make the mistake of thinking you can con a con man.

The best cons make you want to participate.

If someone approaches you and claims to have been victimized, tell them or offer to call 911, it's a free call on any payphone.

Don't give out any money for charities on the street. They may not be legitimate.

Do not purchase anything from anyone who approaches you on the street, offering items such as jewelry or electronic equipment, at a discount you just can't pass on. Your purchase will, at best, be counterfeit, at worst, a "Rock in a Box".

Don't play games of chance on the street, such as 3 card monty. The con man entices the player to bet on his chance to pick the Ace out of 3 cards that are shuffled around, or to find a pea under bottle caps. If you see someone win these games while you are watching, WARNING: that winner is a participant in the con. I have seen as many as 7-10 others pretend to play the con-game for the purpose of assisting the con man to lure you, the one victim, into playing the game. By the time the game is over, I guarantee, you will be a loser.

If someone approaches you with a winning lotto ticket and tells you they cannot cash it because they are not a citizen or some other reason and they want you to cash it for them beware this is a con-game. They will usually give you the ticket to cash but want some cash from you to show your good faith that you won't disappear with the winning ticket. Guess what? They'll disappear with your money. This is a con game, the ticket has been altered, and it will fool you, but not the Lotto Commission.

Typically con-artists are not dangerous. All they want is to con you out of your money, not physically take it from you. They know exactly how to skirt around the law. If they forcibly take money from you, they would be charged with Robbery, a more serious offense, and they don't want that. However, in the rare instance that you have a chance to try to take your money back, con men have been known to become violent.

Bottom line:
If someone stops you on the street and the conversation turns into a discussion aimed at getting you to give up anything of value; credit cards, cash, ATM withdrawals etc., IT IS A CON GAME and you will lose if you don't walk away.