History Main / ConMan

The Con Man (also known as a grifter, matchstick man, scam artist or con artist) attempts to gain the confidence of [[TheMark naive people]] and [[AFoolAndHisNewMoneyAreSoonParted part them from their money]], or at least play them for a fool long enough to get what they want--that is, to pull off TheCon. Con artists often spin a '[[TheTale sob story]]' to hook the victim--maybe their dog is lost, or their car is being towed, or their mother may even be in the hospital. After that, it's all SocialEngineering; a truly gifted con artist can get away with almost anything, simply by virtue of appearing sincere and naïve (usually slightly moreso than the victim, on the theory that sympathy almost always gets you something). For complicated cons, the CaperCrew may come into play: large teams might be involved, with each member of the team playing a distinct role.

[[caption-width-right:300:Don't you listen to this man's offer.]]

See also TheCon, a lift of specific methods used by con men, ShortCon, which is penny-ante con, and LongCon, which is more elaborate conning operations. TheMark (the victim) and TheTale (the story that convinces them to part with their money) make up the rest of the con; a FakeMark or TheShill may optionally be involved too.

See also TheCon, a lift of specific methods used by con men, ShortCon, which is penny-ante con Tropes, and LongCon, which is more elaborate conning operations. TheMark (the victim) and TheTale (the story that convinces them to part with their money) make up the rest of the con; a FakeMark or TheShill may optionally be involved too.

* Ponzi

The Con Man (also known as a grifter, matchstick man, scam artist or con artist) attempts to gain the confidence of naive people and part them from their money, or at least play them for a fool long enough to get what they want--that is, to pull off TheCon. Con artists often spin a 'sob story' to hook the victim--maybe their dog is lost, or their car is being towed, or their mother may even be in the hospital. After that, it's all Social Engineering; a truly gifted con artist can get away with almost anything, simply by virtue of appearing sincere and naïve (usually slightly moreso than the victim, on the theory that sympathy almost always gets you something). For complicated cons, the CaperCrew may come into play: large teams might be involved, with each member of the team playing a distinct role.

Hollywood tends to treat Con Men as being one of two extremes. In shows where the Con Man is the star, they are a suave, sophisticated LoveableRogue, who confine their schemes to cheating the rich and the unlikable. The CopShow, however, tends to show a darker side. When a Con Man is an antagonist, they tend to target the vulnerable and sympathetic, such as the elderly, widows, and desperate poor people. They may even be murderous and trick people into their deaths.

See also TheCon, a lift of specific methods used by con men, ShortCon, which is penny-ante con Tropes, and LongCon, which is more elaborate conning operations.

Hollywood tends to treat Con Men as being one of two extremes. In shows where the Con Man is the star, they are a suave, sophisticated LoveableRogue, who confine their schemes to cheating the rich and the unlikable. The CopShow, however, tends to show a darker side. When a Con Man is an antagonist, they tend to target the vulnerable and sympathetic, such as the elderly, widows, and desperate poor people. They even be murderous and trick people into their deaths.

Hollywood tends to treat Con Men as being one of two extremes. In shows where the Con Man is the star, they are a suave, sophisticated LoveableRogue, who confine their schemes to cheating the rich and the unlikable. The CopShow, however, tends to show a darker side. When a Con Man is an antagonist, they tend to target the vulnerable and sympathetic, such as the elderly, widows, and desperate poor people.

See also TheCon, a lift of specific methods used by con men. ShortCon, which is penny-ante con Tropes.

The Con Man (also known as a grifter, matchstick man, scam artist or con artist) attempts to gain the confidence of naive people and part them from their money, or at least play them for a fool long enough to get what they want--that is, to pull off TheCon. Con artists often spin a 'sob story' to hook the victim--maybe their dog is lost, or their car is being towed, or their mother may even be in the hospital. After that, it's all Social Engineering; a truly gifted con artist can get away with almost anything, simply by virtue of appearing sincere and naïve (usually slightly moreso than the victim, on the theory that sympathy almost always gets you something). For complicated cons, large teams might be involved, with each member of the team playing a distinct role.

The Con Man (also known as a grifter, matchstick man, scam artist or con artist) attempts to gain the confidence of naive people and part them from their money, or at least play them for a fool long enough to get what he wants--that is, to pull off TheCon. Con artists often spin a 'sob story' to hook the victim--maybe his dog is lost, or his car is being towed, or his mother may even be in the hospital. After that, it's all Social Engineering; a truly gifted con artist can get away with almost anything, simply by virtue of appearing sincere and naïve (usually slightly moreso than the victim, on the theory that sympathy almost always gets you something). For complicated cons, large teams might be involved, with each member of the team playing a distinct role.

Hollywood tends to treat Con Men as being one of two extremes. In shows where the Con Man is the star, he is a suave, sophisticated LoveableRogue, who confines his schemes to cheating the rich and the unlikable. The CopShow, however, tends to show a darker side. When a Con Man is an antagonist, they tend to target the vulnerable and sympathetic, such as the elderly, widows, and desperate poor people.

* FraudsAndFoolies

The Con Man (also known as a grifter, matchstick man, scam artist or con artist) attempts to gain the confidence of naive people and part them from their money, or at least play them for a fool long enough to get what he wants, that is, to pull off TheCon. Con-artists often spin a 'sob story' to hook the victim — maybe his dog is lost, or his car is being towed, or his mother may even be in the hospital. After that, it's all Social Engineering; a truly gifted con-artist can get away with almost anything, simply by virtue of appearing sincere and naive (usually slightly moreso than the victim, on the theory that sympathy almost always gets you something). For complicated cons, large teams might be involved, with each member of the team playing a distinct role.

Hollywood tends to treat Con Men as being one of two extremes. In shows where the Con Man is the star, he is a suave, sophisticated LoveableRogue, who confines his schemes to cheating the rich and the unlikable. The CopShow, however, tends to show a darker side. When a Con Man features as an antagonist, they tend to target the vulnerable and sympathetic, such as the elderly, widows, and desperate poor people.

!!{{Sub Trope}}s: Specific types or roles for the Con Man

* AmbulanceChaser / AmoralAttorney (one that is a lawyer or pretending to be one)

The ConMan (also known as a grifter, matchstick man, scam artist or con artist) attempts to gain the confidence of naive people and part them from their money, or at least play them for a fool long enough to get what he wants, that is, to pull off TheCon. Con-artists often spin a 'sob story' to hook the victim — maybe his dog is lost, or his car is being towed, or his mother may even be in the hospital. After that, it's all Social Engineering; a truly gifted con-artist can get away with almost anything, simply by virtue of appearing sincere and naive (usually slightly moreso than the victim, on the theory that sympathy almost always gets you something). For complicated cons, large teams might be involved, with each member of the team playing a distinct role.

Hollywood tends to treat Con Men as being one of two extremes. In shows where the ConMan is the star, he is a suave, sophisticated LoveableRogue, who confines his schemes to cheating the rich and the unlikable. The CopShow, however, tends to show a darker side. When a ConMan features as an antagonist, they tend to target the vulnerable and sympathetic, such as the elderly, widows, and desperate poor people.

!!{{Sub Trope}}s: Specific types or roles for the ConMan