NCJ Number
147868
Date Published
1993
Length
128 pages
Annotation
This book provides general background information on con games, swindles and other forms of cheating. The swindles described are based on documented cases from newspaper articles, magazines, books, interviews, police files and first-hand investigative work.
Abstract
Subtitled "The Street-Smart Cop's Handbook of Cons and Swindles", this book can be used as a guide to investigating con game-type crimes. The authors describe the elderly as prime targets of swindles, cons and consumer fraud, and list reasons why they are the preferred targets. There are descriptions of various types of cons, including: pickpockets; UFOs, Big Foot and other hoaxes; fortune tellers, faith-healers, gypsy cons and scams, carny operators; cults and crimes in the world of Satanism. There is also a description of a 1-hour community relations presentation intended to educate the public. Resources, glossary, selected reading