History Main / TheCon

* ''The'' classic movie example is ''TheSting''. In fact, the title is [[GetTheeToANunnery old slang]] for..."The Con!" And its spiritual remake ''Confidence''.

* ''DirtyRottenScoundrels''

* In ''TimeEnoughForLove'': [[spoiler: when Lazarus goes back in time he arranges to meet up with his grandfather and when Lazarus starts to avoid questions about his profession, [[DiscussedTrope they start talking about the nicknames of common cons used.]]]]

* ''Series/{{Leverage}}'', the TransAtlanticEquivalent of ''{{Hustle}}'' follows the same general idea, although they do TheCaper fairly often. They are also generally [[JustLikeRobinHood using their powers for good]] and usually don't keep the money they steal.

* ''SelfDemonstrating/{{Loki}}'' is not far behind, if there is someone in the Marvel universe he didn't con, and he already conned [[BeyondTheImpossible himself]], that must be probably part of a con yet to come. This is more evident in series featuring his kid (''Comicbook/JourneyIntoMystery'') and teen (''Comicbook/LokiAgentOfAsgard'') versions who don't have the raw magical power. He is the kind of guy who would con [[{{Devil}} Mephisto]] to get an inside man for a caper that turns out to be a diversion for a spy mission.

* This is the plot of episode one of ''VideoGame/TalesFromTheBorderlands''

* In Series/{{Psych}}, Shawn Spencer is a con man ''extraordinare''. Fortunately, he only uses his powers for good. And the occasional pick-up line. And sometimes because it's really entertaining.

* [[Series/{{Psych}} Shawn Spencer]] is a con man ''extraordinare''. Fortunately, he only uses his powers for good. And the occasional pick-up line.

[[AC:ComicBooks]]
* ''ComicBook/{{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, including the Devil and God themselves.
* ''SelfDemonstrating/{{Loki}}'' is not far behind, if there is someone in the Marvel universe he didn't con, and he already conned [[BeyondTheImpossible himself]], that must be probably part of a con yet to come. This is more evident in series featuring his kid (''Comicbook/JourneyIntoMystery'') and teen (''Comicbook/LokiAgentOfAsgard'') versions who don't have the raw magical power. He is the kind of guy who would con [[{{Devil}} Mephisto]] to get an inside man for a caper that turns out to be a diversion for a spy mission.

* ''SelfDemonstrating/{{Loki}}'' is not far behind, if there is someone in the Marvel universe he didn't con that must be probably part of a con yet to come, this is more evident in series featuring his kid (''Comicbook/JourneyIntoMystery'') and teen (''Comicbook/LokiAgentOfAsgard'') versions who don't have the raw magical power. He is the kind of guy who would con [[{{Devil}} Mephisto]] to get an inside man for a caper that turns out to be a diversion for a spy mission. [[BeyondTheImpossible He also repeatedly conned himself]].

* ''SelfDemonstrating/{{Loki}}'' is not far behind, if there is someone in the Marvel universe he didn't con that must be probably part of a con yet to come, this is more evident in series featuring his kid (''Comicbook/JourneyIntoMystery'') and teen (''Comicbook/LokiAgentOfAsgard'') versions who don't have the raw magical power. He is the kind of guy who would con [[{{Devil}} Mephisto]] to get an inside man for a caper that turns out to be a diversion for a spy mission.

* ''SelfDemonstrating/{{Loki}}'' is not far behind, if there is someone in the Marvel universe he didn't con that must be probably part of a con yet to come, this is more evident in series featuring his kid (''Comicbook/JourneyIntoMystery'') and teen (''Comicbook/AgentOfAsgard'') versions who don't have the raw magical power. He is the kind of guy who would con [[{{Devil}} Mephisto]] to get an inside man for a caper that turns out to be a diversion for a spy mission.

!!Examples:
[[AC:Anime and Manga]]

* ''{{Diggstown}}''

* ''TheGrifters''

[[AC:Literature]]

[[AC:Comics]]
* ''ComicBook/{{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.

* Several episodes of ''TheRockfordFiles'' involve elaborate cons to recover stolen money or avenge a wrong.

* In the episode ''Mail Call'' of ''Series/{{MASH}}'', Hawkeye and Trapper trick Frank Burns to invest in the non-existing company ''Pioneer Aviation''.

* ''Series/{{Chuck}}'s'' missions of the week usually alternate between this, TheCaper, 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 ConMan, and has used his skills to both help and hinder them, as well as teaching Sarah much of what he knows. [[spoiler: Ironically, that still doesn't save Chuck and Sarah from being victimized by ''another'' con artist who makes off with their wedding money.]] FemmeFatale DEA agent [[MsFanservice Carina]] also makes heavy use of The Con, and particularly specializes in seducing her targets.

* ''{{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.

+ ConMan

** AllNaturalSnakeOil can fit here or above - depending on how much effort the scam intended to sell it involves and the elaborateness of it. For example, the RealLife [[Kevin Trudeau http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kevin_Trudeau]] scam empire would fall in here.

* In TimeEnoughForLove: [[spoiler: when Lazarus goes back in time he arranges to meet up with his grandfather and when Lazarus starts to avoid questions about his profession, [[DiscussedTrope they start talking about the nicknames of common cons used.]]]]

* ''MatchstickMen''

* ''Manga/LupinIII'' is both a gentleman thief and a conman. Think of him as a eastern version of Bugs Bunny.

See also ImpossibleMission, TheInfiltration, OneBornEveryMinute. While usually a standard of TheCaper, occasionally there will be a CaperCrew running or utilizing TheCon.

* Followed up by ''Series/TheRealHustle'', a "consumer" show detailing what to look out for and how to avoid falling for TheCon.

* [[{{Psych}} Shawn Spencer]] is a con man ''extraordinare''. Fortunately, he only uses his powers for good. And the occasional pick-up line.
* In ''Series/BurnNotice'', 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 TheCon...''For Justice''!

* This (and being a GentlemanThief) was [[WhiteCollar Neal Caffrey]]'s MO before Peter Burke caught him. Since then, he's often run TheCon on criminals for the FBI. [[ByTheBookCop Burke]] himself gets in on the act sometimes.

* ''Series/{{Chuck}}'s'' missions of the week usually alternate between this, TheCaper, 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 ConMan, and has used his skills to both help and hinder them, as well as teaching Sarah much of what he knows. [[spoiler: Ironically, that still doesn't save Chuck and Sarah from being victimized by ''another'' con artist who makes off with their wedding money.]] FemmeFatale DEA agent [[MsFanservice Carina]] also makes heavy use of TheCon, and particularly specializes in seducing her targets.

* Followed up by ''TheRealHustle'', a "consumer" show detailing what to look out for and how to avoid falling for TheCon.

* ''Literature/TheTwelveChairs'' and ''Literature/TheLittleGoldenCalf'' by Ilya Ilf and Eugene Petrov, being the adventures of a con artist, have lot of these. Ostap Bender, the protagonist, is mostly a master of the short con and uses this to swindle just enough money to live a comfortable lifestyle. His archnemesis Koreiko, on the other hand, is a long con expert and really money-grubbing, not stopping at stealing trains of food bound to famine-stricken regions.

* ''Literature/TheTwelveChairs'' and ''Literature/TheLittleGoldenCalf'' by Ilya Ilf and Eugene Petrov, being the adventures of a con artist, have lot of these.

* ''Kurosagi'', a manga about a man who specialises in conning con artists.

* 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.

The book ''The Big Con'', by David Maurer, is recommended to the casual reader. An anthropological study of the ConMan circa 1935-1940, it served as partial inspiration for the original ''MissionImpossible'' TV series.

[[AC:Manga and Anime]]
* {{Lupin III}} is both a gentleman thief and a conman. Think of him as a eastern version of Bugs Bunny.

* ''MissionImpossible'' is, of course, the TropeCodifier.
* ''{{Hustle}}'' is an entire series of this.

* ''{{FX The Series}}'' was similar, about a special effects crew tricking criminals into situations where they revealed information about their crimes.

* Several Sawyer-centric episodes of ''{{Lost}}'', especially "The Long Con."

* In ''BurnNotice'', 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 TheCon...''For Justice''!

* In the episode ''Mail Call'' of ''[[MASHTheSeries M*A*S*H]]'', Hawkeye and Trapper trick Frank Burns to invest in the non-existing company ''Pioneer Aviation''.
* Played with on HowIMetYourMother: 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, [[spoiler: 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, TheCaper, 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 ConMan, and has used his skills to both help and hinder them, as well as teaching Sarah much of what he knows. [[spoiler: Ironically, that still doesn't save Chuck and Sarah from being victimized by ''another'' con artist who makes off with their wedding money.]] FemmeFatale DEA agent [[MsFanservice Carina]] also makes heavy use of TheCon, and particularly specializes in seducing her targets.