Dude thats insane. Awesome story.

jess
www.anonymize.us.tc

What I found interesting is that greed seems to be an essential element. If for example the person wanted no reward for what they did then they would see no reason to fork over money and wouldn't be caught.

That's ... funny. 2% is just around the incidence rate of psychopaths in the general population. You think these people are LIKE sociopaths? Uhuh, there's no "like" there.

the whole THOMAS thing really got in the way of an otherwise fascinating article. Is this clunky acronym your own pet project? Leave it out and tell it in simple terms and you will keep your audience.

Sorry dude, but this is just post-facto rationalization. You could have handed the phone over to the "customer" and let them negotiate a place to meet and do the exchange. The greed of $100 was what led you act as the intermediatery.

Is there anyway to turn the table on the conman in this situation?

Hello

While I agree that there`s some part of this scam that is based on our neurological empathy systems, greed also plays an important part. The best example is... another scam.
Known in Chile as "the package" (and through out Peru, Venezuela and Colombia as "the chilean package") the scam is pulled by a person walking in front of you who drops "the package". As you bend down to recover it, another person reaches for it before you. He opens a corner and shows you it is stuffed with Bills! Conman II tells you he is working and cant leave his post and there is no way you are going to count the money in the package, so in order to split this halfway, how about you hand over what ever you have in your wallet and then, you can count the money at your leisure, return and give him the difference (obviously, he does a better job of convincing you that I do). So, here is the deal: if your THOMAS kicks in, by now you are running after and shouting to the fellow who dropped the package (and you are safe), but, if greed wins, you loose! And yes, I know people who have fallen for this and worst scams.

Its funny, that I came across this story today. I was just conned yest. What's sad and funny part is that, I know the con that con artist pulled but I was still helpful at heart, like this article mentions and as soon as con artist left I knew what happend. It's something that i'd do in piece of cake, but afterwards I actually realized why today's world is just so sad place to live. I'd love to tell you the con but I feel that it'll just create more con artists.

Excellent article. Quick question: has there been any work in studying the effect of developmental disorders such as autism (mild or severe), or schizophrenia, on the THOMAS response?

- Eugene

Hi, there are developmental disorders associated with THOMAS dysregulation. Autism and Williams Syndrome are at either end of the spectrum. Many schizophrenics also display these symptoms. See my earlier post on "The Oxytocin Cure" http://blogs.psychologytoday.com/blog/the-moral-molecule/200811/the-oxyt...

Paul J. Zak and Ken Grimes are currently writing a book called The Moral Molecule

A variation of this con involves finding a wad of money at the same time that the mark does, then splitting it. Then you send a goon to strongarm the whole amount from mark.

I guess that isn't a variation, is it?

I don't trust or believe in complete strangers unless there is no alternative and it's the last resort. I'd say people who aren't related to you and who have nothing to gain by helping you, probably wont be looking out for you.

The term "conmen" is sexist and prejudicial, would you (Mr. Zak) consider using gender-neutral terms in future, as most other progressive media have been doing for years now?

Thanks

Interesting article... I'd be interested in hearing if you've made observations on people who, once they've been alerted to the fact they've been conned, and had it explained to them, still don't get it? In your example, the analogy would be if you were still waiting after all these years for the guy to appear with the $200.

This is not a trivial issue. These individuals (and they appear to be legion) give nodding assent to the description of the con, give every indication they understand and agree with the facts, the reasoning and the conclusion(s), but behave with no affect WRT to what a 'reasoning' person would be expected to exhibit.

Examples I've encountered might be characterized in fictional writing as being mesmerized, in thrall;...stunned. They just don't seem 'real'. Yet there they are. One individual I've dealt with at some length 'believes' products being hawked by a company that calls itself “Mannatech” have phenomenal health benefits. Truth told, the active ingredient in all their pills and supplements is powdered gum arabic. They buy in drums from Monsanto. They euphemize the nomenclature of the ingredients of course, but there is nothing there but powdered bubble gum and a couple of buffers. Even after a detailed analysis of the stuff was given the victim... right down to the atomic level, and after agreeing with the exposure of the fraud, they continue to spend upwards of $70 a month buying the stuff and recommending it to all their friends!

Another instance involves a different victim who was conned into believing that the oil companies have suppressed technology that would allow cars and trucks to run better on water, utilizing what amounts to sham electronic components and a slightly modified hydrolysis cell. Even after being shown the stoichiometric impossibility that such an apparatus could affect the performance of an internal combustion engine, with explanations of Newton's First and Second Laws of Thermodynamics and The Theory of Relativity thrown in for good measure, in addition to revealing that for the device to work as advertised it would have to be a perpetual motion machine, they blythly remain convinced the purveyors of the thing have to be on the up-and-up and the the science behind it (pseudoscience that is) is perfectly sound.

TV viewers have seen the infomercials and ads for the “Q-Ray” ionizing bracelet, “Dr. Ho's” little electrostatic epidermal stimulator and the “Laser Hair Therapy” cons and most sentients wonder just who the dickens could fall for such nonsense. My curiosity revolves around what neurological explanation(s) or hypotheses there may be that can account for this type of disconnect, this seemingly 'irrational' behavior?

I regularly read articles of different perspectives, but I personally appreciate those which have information up to the mark. So thats the reason, it simply appreciate the information provided to make-up my mind before taking any step.

In “Catalog of human population” itch person have a structure from the moment he or she has being borne and have steady properties of these subspecies (without dependence from race, a nationality and features parental psycho physiological the structures, being only insignificant proof-readers).

This Group will give people a chance to report con artists that may have con'ed them.
Con artists make money through deception. They lie, cheat and fool people into thinking they've happened onto a great deal or some easy money, when they're the ones who'll be making money. If that doesn't work, they'll take advantage of our weaknesses -- loneliness, insecurity, poor health or simple ignorance. The only thing more important to a con artist than perfecting a con is perfecting a total lack of conscience.
What does the average con artist look like? Despite what you may think, he isn't always a shady-looking character. A con artist is an expert at looking however he needs to look. If the con involves banking or investments, the con artist will wear a snappy suit. If it involves home improvement scams, he'll show up wearing well-worn work clothes. Even the basic assumption that the con is a "he" is incorrect: there are plenty of con women too.

You might think you can spot a con artist because he's someone you instinctively "don't trust." But the term con artist is short for confidence artist -- they gain your confidence just long enough to get their hands on your money. They can be very charming and persuasive. A good con artist can even make you believe he is really an old friend you haven't seen in years.

Con artists do share certain characteristics, however. Even the best con can only go on for so long before people start getting suspicious. For that reason, con artists tend to move frequently. They may have a job that allows this, or they might claim to have such a job. Railroad worker, carnival worker and traveling salesman are all parts con artists play to cover up their constant relocations.

A Con's a Con
Different terms for con artists include: flim flam man, sham artist, shyster or sheister, bunco man (after the name of a popular "fixed" card game that has since become synonymous with scams), bamboozler, swindler, grifter and hustler.

Hi, I was just conned of 150 000 euros (aprox 200000 dolars...I work for charity and all I wanted to make it better for the charity - you might not want to believe it....These people worked on me 3 months and they did it espacialy through a time when I got ill with hep E that I got in my mission in South America...I am now trying to sell my house to try to return averything to the charity - since I am from eastern europe this is extremly big amount of money...anyway...I cannot believe what kind of an idiot I can be. I have a psychological backround, working as a psychoterapist and a director of y charity working with drug users......How could I give up like this? It was against all my "instincts", experience, knowlidge.....you want to believe, there must be luck sometimes in your life!!!!

Very nice article and funny. Thanks for posting. Sometimes we got trick because of our helpful attitude along with mentality of greediness. We often take advantage of hitting two birds at one stone situation.

"My research has demonstrated that they have highly dysregulated oxytocin systems."

This is clever jargon for "I want you to believe there is a measurable physiological difference between social and antisocial individuals, because I'm of a clique of psychologists who claim there is, without real evidence. That's why I didn't actually provide you with any, and just waved my hand and claimed there is some."

We have a client with an urgent request to find a psychologist in Twin Cities, MN area who is expert as what goes on in the mind of a con artist as well as the victim. $300 honorarium to approved panelist.

Panelist would participate in Continuing Legal Education class (CLE) on the afternoon of Tuesday, October 27. The name of the CLE is “Con Men, Charlatans, and Conspirators.” Client has two panelists so far: one legal, one former con.

Seeking a third panelist: a psychologist who specializes in what a person goes through when they have been the victim of a con artist, and what goes on in the mind of a person like Bernard Madoff. Panelist would receive an honorarium of $300 to participate. They would need to feel comfortable on camera because the CLE is broadcast live online.

If you have leads, please send them to me ASAP, by the end of the day 9/29/09.

Thank you so much for your consideration,
Teresa on behalf of Go-to-Gal, Connection Concierge