History Main / ConMan

The basic, stereotypical Con Man can be seen in the streets and alleys, inviting unsuspecting victims to bet on a simple ShellGame that looks fairer than it is or convincing them to buy cheap "deluxe" watches or some other suspicious good. Sometimes they even look like {{Blatant Burglar}}s. Obviously, real con artists are a bit more subtle about their work, since the whole point is to win the trust of random strangers to scam them out later. They 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 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.

The basic, stereotypical Con Man can be seen in the streets and alleys, inviting unsuspecting victims to bet on a simple ShellGame that looks fairer than it is or convincing them to buy cheap "deluxe" watches or some other suspicious good. Sometimes they even look like {{Blatant Burglar}}s. Obviously, real con artists are a bit more subtle about their work. They 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 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.

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The basic, stereotypical Con Man can be seen in the streets and alleys, inviting unsuspecting victims to bet on a simple ShellGame that looks fairer than it is or convincing them to buy cheap "deluxe" watches or some other suspicious good. Sometimes they even look like {{Blatant Burglar}}s. Realistic con artists are a bit more subtle and unassuming than that. They 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 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.

[[quoteright:300:[[Film/HouseOfGames https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/housegames_8388.jpg]]]]
[[caption-width-right:300:[[SchmuckBait Don't you listen to this man's offer.]]]]

The Con Man (also known as a grifter, matchstick man, scam artist or con artist) attempts to gain the confidence of [[TheMark naïve 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 a confidence trick.

The basic, stereotypical Con Man can be seen in the streets and alleys, inviting unsuspecting victims to bet on a simple ShellGame that looks fairer than it is or convincing them to buy cheap "deluxe" watches. Realistic con artists are a bit more subtle and unassuming than that. They 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 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.

The basic, stereotypical Con Man can be seen in the streets, inviting unsuspecting victims to bet on a simple ShellGame that looks fairer than it is or convincing them to buy cheap "deluxe" watches. Realistic con artists are a bit more subtle and unassuming than that. They 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 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.

The basic, stereotypical Con Man can be seen in the streets, inviting unsuspecting victims to bet on a simple ShellGame that looks fairer than it is. Realistic con artists are a bit more subtle and unassuming than that. They 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 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.

The basic, stereotypical Con Man can be seen in the streets, inviting unsuspecting victims to bet on a simple ShellGame that looks fairer than it is. 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 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.

The basic, stereotypical con man can be seen in the streets, inviting unsuspecting victims to bet on a simple ShellGame that looks fairer than it is. 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 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.

The Con Man (also known as a grifter, matchstick man, scam artist or con artist) attempts to gain the confidence of [[TheMark naïve 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 '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.

Hollywood tends to treat Con Men as being one of two extremes. In shows where the Con Man is [[VillainProtagonist the star]], they are a suave, sophisticated LovableRogue, who confine their schemes to [[KarmicThief 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 [[ElderAbuse the elderly]], widows, and desperate poor people. They may even be murderous and trick people into their deaths.

See also TheCon, a list of specific methods used by con men.

[[quoteright:300:[[Film/HouseOfGames https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/housegames_8388.jpg]]]]
[[caption-width-right:300:[[SchmuckBait Don't you listen to this man's offer.]]]]

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* OneBornEveryMinute

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

* TheRoper

* TheShill

* SpanishPrisoner

The Con Man (also known as a grifter, matchstick man, scam artist or con artist) attempts to gain the confidence of [[TheMark naïve 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.

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

If you come across a direct wick, please change it to one of these:

* BiblesFromTheDead

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

* FakeMark

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

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

->''"Con men leaves their marks angry. Con artists leave them smiling."''

* FourOneNineScam

Hollywood tends to treat Con Men as being one of two extremes. In shows where the Con Man is [[VillainProtagonist the star]], they are a suave, sophisticated LoveableRogue, who confine their schemes to [[KarmicThief 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 [[ElderAbuse 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 a penny-ante con, and LongCon, which is a more elaborate conning operation. 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.