The Con plot reveals the anatomy of a confidence scheme, usually from the criminal perspective. Less action-oriented than
The Caper; while having some action, the main focus is on how
The Mark becomes the victim of his own desires.
May contain an
A-Team Montage or
Avengers Assemble sequence. Commonly uses a
Big Store setting at some point. See
The Tale and
Short Con for descriptions of particular schemes, which may be a
Plot Tailored to the Party.
The book
The Big Con, by David Maurer, is recommended to the casual reader. An anthropological study of the
Con Man circa 1935-1940, it served as partial inspiration for the original
Mission: Impossible TV series.
See also
Impossible Mission,
The Infiltration,
One Born Every Minute. While usually a standard of
The Caper, occasionally there will be a
Caper Crew running or utilizing
The Con.
Not to be confused with the colloquial term for a
Fan Convention.
Components:
Examples:
Anime and Manga
- Lupin III is both a gentleman thief and a conman. Think of him as a eastern version of Bugs Bunny.
Film
Literature
Comics
- Hellblazer series is an example of this trope, although its plots features supernatural (say fictional) elements. John Constantine, the protag, is known in the DC Universe as the "Ultimate Con Man", which he got from conning his enemies with wit, that including the devil, and God themselves.
Live-Action TV
- Mission: Impossible is, of course, the Trope Codifier.
- Hustle is an entire series of this.
- Followed up by The Real Hustle, a "consumer" show detailing what to look out for and how to avoid falling for The Con.
- Leverage, the Trans Atlantic Equivalent of Hustle follows the same general idea, although they do The Caper fairly often. They are also generally using their powers for good and usually don't keep the money they steal.
- FX The Series is about a special effects crew tricking criminals into situations where they revealed information about their crimes.
- Hawaii Five-0 features one episode where a gang of criminals pulls a Mission: Impossible-style con on a businessman by imitating members of the main cast and having the required perfect replica of the real office in an abandoned building.
- Several Sawyer-centric episodes of LOST, especially "The Long Con."
- MacGyver episode "Jenny's Chance'".
- Shawn Spencer is a con man extraordinare. Fortunately, he only uses his powers for good. And the occasional pick-up line.
- In Burn Notice, Michael Westen often gets something he needs out of criminals by pretending to be someone they would associate with for a full episode. In other words, he runs The Con...For Justice!
- Several episodes of The Rockford Files involve elaborate cons to recover stolen money or avenge a wrong.
- This (and being a Gentleman Thief) was Neal Caffrey's MO before Peter Burke caught him. Since then, he's often run The Con on criminals for the FBI. Burke himself gets in on the act sometimes.
- In the episode Mail Call of MASH, Hawkeye and Trapper trick Frank Burns to invest in the non-existing company Pioneer Aviation.
- Played with on How I Met Your Mother: Lily's breasts are getting large due to pregnancy, and Barney keeps asking to see/touch them. They end up going to dinner at a hibachi grill place (one that Barney hates and always complains about going to, saying that the cooks are not impressive, etc). Eventually he ends up betting Marshal & Lily that he can do the entire cook's routine including the "pocket shrimp" (flipping a shrimp into your shirt pocket) - if he wins he gets to touch Lily's breasts, if he loses he wears the Ducky tie for a year. They agree, thinking there's no way he can do it. But then he starts acting super confidant (flipping a shrimp into his mouth). Marshal also realizes that Barney has been conditioning Marshal to always want to eat there whenever Barney sneezes. They begin to get worried, thinking they've been conned, so they change to agreement to let him see Lily's breasts if they call the bet off. But just before Lily shows them, Marshal stops her saying that no, this is the con and that Barney was just psyching them out so they would let him see Lily's breasts. Cue triumphant gloating as they declare the bet back on. Cut to Barney back in the restaurant cooking up a storm and them about to lose the bet. But then further subverted when, just as Barney's about to catch the shrimp in his pocket, Lily flashes him so he misses the catch, meaning he has to wear the ducky tie for a year.
- Chuck's missions of the week usually alternate between this, The Caper, and full on action, and a major part of the spy game involves the team assuming identities that get them close to the target. And of course, Sarah's father is a legitimate Con Man, and has used his skills to both help and hinder them, as well as teaching Sarah much of what he knows. Ironically, that still doesn't save Chuck and Sarah from being victimized by another con artist who makes off with their wedding money. Femme Fatale DEA agent Carina also makes heavy use of The Con, and particularly specializes in seducing her targets.
Radio
- Many episodes of The Lives Of Harry Lime.
- From the opposite side, several episodes of Dragnet — most episodes where Friday and his partner are in the Bunco department that don't involve forgery involve cons.
