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Ponzi
'''Confidence games''' (also known as “grift”) are [[criminal]] enterprises in which the [[victim]] is persuaded to become a criminal himself, and then taken advantage of. Almost all confidence games rely upon the victim’s greed, although occasionally other character weaknesses, such as lust, may be exploited. Confidence men almost always work in teams, although there are a handful of exceptions.
'''Confidence games''' (also known as “grift”) are [[criminal]] enterprises in which the [[victim]] is persuaded to become a criminal himself, and then taken advantage of. Almost all confidence games rely upon the victim’s greed, although occasionally other character weaknesses, such as lust, may be exploited. Confidence men almost always work in teams, although there are a handful of exceptions.
In a typical confidence game, the victim is presented with an opportunity to make a great deal of money through cheating or stealing, but in order to do so the victim must first invest some of his own money to bring the scheme to fruition. Once the victim has lost control of his money, something goes wrong with the criminal plan, and the money is lost. Since the victim has himself committed a crime, he is not in a good position to report the confidence game to the authorities. As a result, most confidence crimes go unreported.
In a typical confidence game, the victim is presented with an opportunity to make a great deal of money through cheating or stealing, but in order to do so the victim must first invest some of his own money to bring the scheme to fruition. Once the victim has lost control of his money, something goes wrong with the criminal plan, and the money is lost. Since the victim has himself committed a crime, he is not in a good position to report the confidence game to the authorities. As a result, most confidence crimes go unreported.
Confidence games appear in many aspects of [[popular culture]], particularly mystery and detective fiction, and have provided the theme for many films, notably including “The Flim Flam Man” (1967), and “The Sting” (1973).
Confidence games appear in many aspects of [[popular culture]], particularly mystery and detective fiction, and have provided the theme for many films, notably including “The Flim Flam Man” (1967), and “The Sting” (1973).
==Ponzi Schemes==
'''[[Ponzi scheme|Ponzi schemes]]''' do not require the victims to be dishonest. Instead they have total confidence in the swindler who pays off the firt round of suckers with money given by the second round. Some Ponzi schemes have tricked victims out of billions of dollars, as in the case of Bernard Madoff, who was caught in 2008.
==References==
==References==
==Further reading==
==Further reading==
Maurer, David (1940, reprinted 1999) The Big Con: The Story of the Confidence Man, Bobbs-Merrill, reprinted Anchor Books
Maurer, David ''The Big Con: The Story of the Confidence Man,'' (1940)
[[category:crime]]
[[category:crime]]
[[category:psychology]]
[[category:psychology]]