The Big Con

This book examines a broad range of infamous scams, cons, swindles, and hoaxes throughout American history-and considers why human gullibility continues in an age of easy access to information. * Explores figures such as "Yellow Kid" Weil, Charles Ponzi, Orson Welles, and Frank Abagnale, among other [...]
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This book examines a broad range of infamous scams, cons, swindles, and hoaxes throughout American history-and considers why human gullibility continues in an age of easy access to information. * Explores figures such as "Yellow Kid" Weil, Charles Ponzi, Orson Welles, and Frank Abagnale, among others * Provides insight into human nature-gullibility being one aspect of it-throughout the ages, addresses the power of rumor and legend, and identifies the social conditions that have allowed some scams and hoaxes to flourish * Presents information that can serve academic research projects as well as fascinate and entertain general readers * Features the original stories behind the Hollywood movies The Sting, Catch Me If You Can, Argo, and American Hustle