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Throughout history, in every country, there have been con artists. Why are they always with us?

12 Comments

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12 Comments
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Because there are always people who have concerns or desires that can be taken advantage of. A con artist is basically just a liar and thief using those concerns or desires opportunistically. Sometimes it’s because their victims (supporters) are just too gullible.

6 ( +6 / -0 )

Throughout history, in every country, there have been con artists. Why are they always with us?

Because it pays.

Either you are a low-level scammer, like with the "It's Me" scams or Nigerian 419 and you make a healthy profit fleecing the marks until people or the technology or law catches up with you.

Or you reach the exalted ranks of Baron Von Ripper Offer, the Trump clan and assorted politicians where you are so insulated by wealth,privilege and pseudo-legality that there is little chance of you ever receiving a comeuppance.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

Why are they always with us?

If you want to know the answer, I can help. Just send me ¥10,000 or equivalent in dollars or euros and I will reveal the truth to you.

9 ( +9 / -0 )

If you're talented in the art of BS-ing someone, why not make a living out of it? Put your skills to (not so) good use so to speak.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Eh? All sorts of crime have always been with us everywhere. Unfortunately part of human nature.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Why are they always with us?

Their role models are in power.

3 ( +3 / -0 )

Throughout history, in every country, there have been con artists. Why are they always with us?

because we haven't learned how to function without politicians yet

2 ( +2 / -0 )

Because at some point we institutionalized scamming and called it "government".

2 ( +2 / -0 )

Tune into daytime tv and its non-stop adverts encouraging old people to buy supplements for their various ailments. There are plenty of legal scams that prey on the weak, where buyer is not capable of "beware".

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Sadly, many people are brought up to be gullible. For example many in the west are brought up to believe in talking snakes, virgin births and the dead coming back to life. Its a small step for con artists to persuade these people, who have already abandoned logical thinking, to go along with their scam.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

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