The Art of the Con (42 page)

It's true that I've crossed the line a couple of times, but I'm happy to admit that I don't have what it takes to be a real con man. If I did, I'd care only about what works, never how—and the last thing I'd want to do is reveal anything that might get the money.

It's important to emphasize that my perspective has been motivated by a lifetime of study and practice. I came to the BBC show as a producer, director, writer, and expert on the art of deception. My co-stars on
The Real Hustle
were the charming chameleon Alexis Conran (originally an actor, now also a presenter, magician, mentalist, consultant, speaker, commentator, anti-gambling campaigner, and gambler) and the very beautiful Jessica-Jane Clement (model, actress, and presenter). They would certainly have their own opinions about the show based on their personal experiences and motivations. For me it was a chance to experiment and to learn; being on camera was just a means to an end.

My findings are based on hundreds of sources and thousands of hours practicing and studying these methods. The manner in which
The Takedown
,
The Real Hustle
, and
Scammed
were filmed created a unique opportunity for someone with my interests and a willingness to share what I learned. This book is about con games
as I see them
after reviewing and analyzing hundreds of scams that I've performed on television as writer, producer—or hustler.

This book would not have been possible without those who shared their secrets over the last thirty-something years.

Thanks to Jason England, Steve Forte, Rod The Hop, Bob Bain, Sonny Day, Timbas, Larry Jennings, Douglas Cameron, James Lewis, Alan Ackerman, Jim Patton, BB (aka The Seldom-Seen Kid), Ronald Wohl, Whit Haydn, Bob Sheets, Doc, Bill Herz, Eric Mead, Michael Weber, Dean Dill, Patrick Page, Moves, Ron Connelly, Darwin Ortiz, MZ, DW, GO, MB, AW (aka Gus), “A,” Mark Mason, Sal Piacente, Norm Beck, Marty G, “Alien,” The Colonel, “Adam,” Marc Rogers, Jeff McBride, Henderson Lynne, Francis, Tony Giorgio, Gene Maze, William Kalush, Juan Tamariz, George Joseph, Phil H, Frenchie The Hawk, and the Farmer's Market gang.

For my “life of crime”: Leslie Greif and Adam Reed; Jim Milio, Melissa Jo Peltier, and Mark Hufnail; Andrew O'Connor, Matt Crook, Anthony Owen, and David Britland.

Sincere appreciation to Jason England for providing photographs and for sharing his remarkable collection.

Thanks to Lyons Press and my editor Jon Sternfeld for his enthusiasm, encouragement, and patience.

Thanks also to my agents David Boxerbaum and Laura Nolan (and her assistant Katelyn Dougherty) for making this happen.

Finally, special thanks to Roy Walton for pointing me in the right direction.

Part investigator and part performer, R. Paul Wilson is one of the world's foremost expert on cons and scams. His hit TV show,
The Real Hustle
, has run for eleven seasons on the BBC and been syndicated in more than forty-five countries. The show is studied by universities and law enforcement agencies to understand confidence games.

Paul was born in Cyprus in 1969, was raised in Singapore, and moved to Scotland in 1977. Since the age of eight he has studied con games, conjuring, and cheating. After college, Paul was recruited by the British Army Intelligence Corps, where he served before being injured and returning to civilian life. He went on to spend ten years as a computer consultant before becoming a professional performer and speaker for clients around the world.

In 2002 Paul moved into film and television as a writer, director, and producer. By 2004 he found himself in front of the camera, exposing con games by performing them for real. In 2012 he presented his unique one-man show “Lie. Cheat. Steal. Confessions of a Real Hustler” at the famed Edinburgh Fringe Festival.

Paul has written and starred in eleven seasons of
The Real Hustle
, created and starred in
The Takedown
for Court TV, and created, produced, and starred in
Scammed
for the History Channel. He has also directed, consulted, and acted in films and TV shows, working with many A-list actors including Sylvester Stallone, Jamie Foxx, Gabriel Byrne, and Jeremy Piven, among others. He has contributed articles to newspapers and reported for the BBC's
Watchdog
and
Crimewatch
.