Tag Archives: The Big Con

Today I’m going to take a look back at David Maurer’s “The Big Con: The Story of the Confidence Man” (TBC), and pick out those points which strike me as most interesting. I will focus primarily on those matters which … Continue reading →

Chapter 9 of David Maurer’s “The Big Con: The Story of the Confidence Man” (TBC) is largely a glossary of terms used by con men of the early 20th century. It’s interesting, but mostly beside any points I’m interested in … Continue reading →

Chapter 8 of David Maurer’s “The Big Con: The Story of the Confidence Man” (TBC) is devoted to a survey of various “Short-Con Games”. There’s not a lot here, aside from a catalog of fraud, so I’ll cover it quickly.

Chapter 7 of David Maurer’s “The Big Con: The Story of the Confidence Man” (TBC) bears the somewhat mysterious title of “Tin-Mittens”. This phrase is defined in the book’s glossary as: “A fixer. By implication, one who likes to hear … Continue reading →

Chapter 6 of David Maurer’s “The Big Con: The Story of the Confidence Man” (TBC) is entitled “Birds of a Feather”, and discusses the characteristics of con men in general terms. It’s interesting stuff, but it seems to me to … Continue reading →

Chapter 4 of David Maurer’s “The Big Con: The Story of the Confidence Man” (TBC) consists of a discussion of “The Mark”; it provides some insight into the qualities that make a man a likely victim of a confidence game, … Continue reading →

Chapter 3 of David Maurer’s “The Big Con: The Story of the Confidence Man” (TBC) is a description of the basic operation of three of “The Big-Con Games”. Each can be summed up quite simply, but this chapter also offers … Continue reading →

Chapter 2 of David Maurer’s “The Big Con: The Story of the Confidence Man” (TBC) is a discussion of the history and purpose of “The Big Store”, a fictitious enterprise staffed and run by con men for the purposes of … Continue reading →

Chapter 1 of David Maurer’s “The Big Con: The Story of the Confidence Man” (TBC) is entitled “A Word About Confidence Men”. This chapter offers a brief overview of the nature of con men and con games. Its greatest message … Continue reading →