"Scammed" (series) on History Channel

Like many of you I lamented the death of the original History Channel, with the replacement of Hitler documentaries with reality shows and the like. But I was actually tricked - or should I say “scammed” - into watching a show, Scammed, featuring a guy named Paul Wilson who is apparently the world’s greatest con man. (So if he really is, clearly he isn’t that great if he’s been “outed” as such.)

Basically the show walks you through a number of cons, with marks followed by secret cameras. I admit that it’s quite interesting, essentially because the cons all rely on people’s intrinsic greed and assumptive nature.

The best con on the show was a variant of the Nigerian 419 scam. Essentially, the mark was convinced to put up $40K of his money to get a huge payday by transferring some foreign dude’s money. It was pretty elaborate and involved a whole cast of confederates (about 8), renting a fake office, and taking the mark to a fancy dinner. In the end, the mark is left with a suitcase full of blank paper… until he gets a call from the Paul guy confessing to the scam and gets his money back. (His nephew who himself was taken on a 419 scam was in on the con.)

Pretty entertaining and let me feel a sense of superiority. “I’d never fall for that!” (Yes, I know, that’s what the next mark always says.) Anybody else watching it?

Now I will. Sounds interesting.

Thing is, I’m not seeing any episodes showing up on my DVR… Is the season over? Damn.

Not even at history.com. There is a DVD available, though. Sorry I missed it.

I watched that episode. Obvious 419 scam, but his greed won out in the end.

Now on YouTube.

That sounds interesting, I’d like to watch it. I’m always interested in how scams work.

There’s a really good book on the subject too, called The Con, which I really enjoyed. Many scams play on people’s desire to help others, too.

Some movies on the subject:

The Grifters (with Anjelica Huston)

The Flim Flam Man (with George C. Scott), A classic!

Harry in Your Pocket (with James Coburn)

Paper Moon, but the book was better, Addie Pray.

There’s also Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, which is about two conmen (played by Michael Caine and Steve Martin) being tricked by a greater con artist (Glenne Headly) – which illustrates the fact that scams often work on the victim’s greed.