Line #12 Main/ConMan


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4	[[quoteright:300:[[Characters/SupermanRoguesGalleryAToL https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/superman_wolfingham.png]]]]
5	[[caption-width-right:300:Con your marks, get set, then go.]]
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10	->''"Con men leave their marks angry. Con artists leave them smiling."''
11	-->-- '''Rolan Quarn''', ''VideoGame/MassEffect3 [[https://youtu.be/qCZVvlt1b-Y?t=1228 Citadel]] [[DownloadableContent DLC]]''
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13	The Con Man (also known as a grifter, swindler, matchstick man, scam artist or con artist) attempts to gain the confidence of naïve people and [[AFoolAndHisNewMoneyAreSoonParted part them from their money]], or at least play them for a fool long enough to get what they want -- that is, to pull off a confidence trick.
14
15	The basic, stereotypical Con Man can be seen in the streets and alleys, inviting unsuspecting victims to bet on a simple ShellGame that looks fairer than it is or convincing them to buy cheap "deluxe" watches or some other suspicious good. Sometimes they even look like {{Blatant Burglar}}s. Obviously, real con artists are a bit more subtle about their work, since the whole point of their job is to win the trust of random strangers to scam them out later.
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17	More realistic examples will often spin a 'sob story' to hook the victim -- maybe their dog is lost, or their car is being towed, or their mother may even be in the hospital. After that, it's all SocialEngineering; a truly gifted con artist can get away with almost anything, simply by virtue of appearing sincere and naïve (usually slightly moreso than the victim, on the theory that sympathy almost always gets you something). For complicated cons, the CaperCrew may come into play: large teams might be involved, with each member of the team playing a distinct role.
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19	Hollywood tends to treat Con Men as being one of two extremes. In shows where the Con Man is [[VillainProtagonist the star]], they are a suave, sophisticated LovableRogue, who confine their schemes to [[KarmicThief cheating the rich and the unlikable]]. The CopShow, however, tends to show a darker side. When a Con Man is an antagonist, they tend to target the vulnerable and sympathetic, such as [[ElderAbuse the elderly]], widows, and desperate poor people. They may even be murderous and trick people into their deaths. Those types are almost always {{Slimeball}}s.
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21	See also TheCon, a list of specific methods (i.e. confidence games/tricks) used by con men.
22
23	!!Related tropes:
24	[[index]]
25	* FourOneNineScam
26	* AmbulanceChaser
27	* AmoralAttorney
28	* TheBarnum
29	* CardSharp
30	* ConMenHateGuns
31	* FakeCharity
32	* FakeFaithHealer
33	* FalseProphet
34	* FellOffTheBackOfATruck
35	* FencePainting
36	* TheFixer
37	* GetRichQuickScheme
38	* GreedyTelevangelist
39	* HighSchoolHustler
40	* HonestJohnsDealership
41	* {{Hustler}}
42	* LittleMissConArtist
43	* MedicineShow
44	* MockMillionaire
45	* PhonyPsychic
46	* {{Ponzi}}
47	* RoguishRomani
48	* ScammingTheBereaved
49	* ScamReligion
50	* ShadyRealEstateAgent
51	* ShadyScalper
52	* SnakeOilSalesman
53	* TheTrickster
54	* ViolinScam
55	* WhiteCollarCrime
56	[[/index]]

Context Main / ConMan