Just read " Glenn W Turner: Con Man or Saint?"

Hi Joe,

Thanks for the recommendation!

On "con men" - one book I found interesting is "America's Guide to Fraud Prevention"
by Brett Champion.

"Brett Champion" (the pen name of Steven Comisar) is a con man, and he wrote this book as a con man who had "gone clean" and wanted to prevent fraud. He explains exactly how his own scams worked.

After reading this book, my conclusion was that the main difference between a con artist and a legitimate business-person is that in a legitimate business, you have to deliver on your promises.

On the other hand, a con artist can promise the world, but will never deliver - that's the major difference, as I see it. He'll take the money and run.

In Comisar's case, he tried to "reform" himself, and was even on TV as an expert telling people how to prevent fraud. But in the end, he kept on doing it, and I think he's currently in jail. There's more information (for those who are interested) at http://www.usdoj.gov/usao/cac/pr/249.htm .

I guess it shows that crime just doesn't pay in the long run! (Batman was right.)

I once attended a Jim Rohn talk, and he said that he studies both those who are financially successful, and those who are bankrupt. He studies the successful people in order to learn what to do, and he studies those who are destitute in order to learn what NOT to do.

I guess we can look at con artists the same way - learn what NOT to do (and that they pretty much all end up doing some jail time in the end).

- Dien Rice