The World S Greatest Crooks And Con Men

Like it or not, the rascals and rogues of this world are generally more interesting characters than the good guys. Their names and escapades are better remembered than those of the heroes. In this volume you will find a remarkable array of men and women, including the politician who faked his own death, the clerk who 'invested' £32 million of his banks money adn the train robber who became a legend in his own lifetime.

Profiles the many individuals who succeeded even as they were lying through their teeth, recounting the stories of an art forger who fooled the experts, a surgeon with no medical training, and many others

From Clifford Irving and his Howard Hughes hoax to the great imposter Frank “Catch Me if You Can” Abagnale—a fascinating history of the art of the con. They’re shrewd, cunning, devious—and charmingly trustworthy. While the criminal exploits of these tricksters, frauds, and swindlers can’t be condoned, it’s near-impossible not to be awed by their audacity and ingenuity. Take Victor Lustig, the “Bouncing Czech” who sold the Eiffel Tower—twice; John Stonehouse, a philandering politician who faked his own death to escape his sins; the impotence cure of the bizarre Dr. John Brinkley who transplanted goat testicles on gullible men; embarrassingly successful Goldman Sachs embezzler Joyti De-Laurey; or Robert Hendy-Freegard, a car salesman and serial seducer who convinced scores of women he was an MI5 agent. Here, too, are the exploits of a “friend of the stars” who infiltrated a royal castle; a fake Scots “laird” who operated from the heart of Scotland Yard; evangelists who fell from grace; and other pilferers, parasites, artful dodgers, charming bastards, femme fatales, big fat liars, and grand masters of dishonorable mention.

Roger Cook and Tim Tate have spent a lifetime exposing crooks and conmen across the world. In this book they tell the extraordinary stories of the men and women who have invented the most extravagant scams of all time.

In this book, journalist Nigel Blundell opens the door on the risky, adrenaline-fueled world of the men and women who cannbsp;pull offnbsp;a sting. A cut above the common crook, the con artist must be wily, charming, and seamlessly smooth. And if they’re worth their salt, you won’t know you’ve been had until they’re on the next flight and your wallet is a whole lot lighter. Included in the line-up is the mastermind who, posing as a count, sold the Eiffel Tower—twice; the happy hooker who kidnapped her lover and conned a court; the man whose exploits inspired the hit filmCatch Me If You Can,and many more.The Stingalso looks at what motivates the con artist, how they plan their scams, and how they get away with it.

SCAMS! reveals 10 true tales of trickery that will mesmerize young readers. They will discover how the Germans planned to destroy the British economy during World War II by flooding the world with millions of fake British bank-notes. SCAMS! also includes: - The Tasady: Stone Age cavemen of the Philippines - The Shakespearean forgery of William Ireland - P.T. Barnum and his greatest show on earth - The creation of the Bibliotheca Phillipica - Le Grand Theresa - John Keely’s engine - Karl May’s extraordinary fiction Readers of any age will be enthralled by these stories of trickery exposed, where the strange twists and turns truly test the limits of credulity.