Conned: A History of Scams, Frauds and Swindles

To the many people who've been the subject of a con, this book will be of personal interest: even if you haven't, there's still a fascination in how it has happened to others. The great, the god and the bad, from Oscar Wilde to Al Capone, have fallen victim to the wiles of the trickster. In Capone's case, he purchased a machine from 'Count' Victor Lustig, guaranteed to produce dollar bills. Other great cons described in this alarming yet funny book are: Royal Cons, Psychic Swindlers, Fairground Cons, Sexual Swindles and Gambling Swindles.