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Top 10 Con-Artists in History (Part 1)
![Kate and Maggie Fox, Spirit Mediums from Rochester, New York. Daguerreotype by Thomas M. Easterly, 1852 Missouri History Museum Archives. Easterly Daguerreotype Collection n17196](https://www.ourtimebd.com/beta/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/1-Our-07-02-2015-copy-492x650.jpg)
Kate and Maggie Fox, Spirit Mediums from Rochester, New York. Daguerreotype by Thomas M. Easterly, 1852 Missouri History Museum Archives. Easterly Daguerreotype Collection n17196
EshanMaitra
The word ‘Con’ derived from the word ‘Confidence’. This is actually the main reason that made these con-artists to pull the greatest cons of all time and made them so famous! Their stories were so extraordinary that, even the movies about them became block-busters as well. I bet you are already thinking about Leonardo Dicaprio in the ‘The Wolf of Wall Street’. There is no question about their brilliance. (Note: Each of them just mentioned in a serial, not ranked.)
1. Margaret, Leah and Kate Fox, Performed Shows in Tours to Speak with the Ghosts
Fox sisters convinced the world in 19th century that they could speak to ghosts. They had tours around the world and made tons of money doing that for 40 years. By the snap of their fingers supernatural beings would appear, make weird noises and spoke to them! Soon, they became international celebrities and married rich. Later, they revealed their hoax saying that, they were just cracking their toes and ankles to make supernatural sound and rest of the things were just made up. Even that story in the media earned them $1500. They soon went broke for their excessive spending on wine and died at early age.
2. George Parker, Sold the Half of New York
He was a New Yorker and he sold about half of the New York to the wealthy tourists for millions during 1920s. Try imagine the currency difference of that time. This even included Statue of Liberty. He even sold the Brooklyn Bridge to several buyers. Often twice a week, for several years. Unfortunately, cops caught up to him years after and he spent rest of his life in Sing Sing Prison since 1928.
3. Frank Abagnale, The 16 year of Pilot
Spoiler alert for the people who haven’t seen the movie ‘Catch Me If You Can’. This was actually based on a true story of 16-year-old young boy who posed as 9 identities and defrauded banks of millions of dollars. As a Pan American World Airways’ pilot, he traveled in 26 countries just as the company pilot. He even forged his own academic certificates, professional licenses and bank checks for collecting his mothy pays. This guy even posed as a Doctor and Attorney, even passed the bar test as a Harvard Alumni. He was finally arrested by a FBI agent in 1969, at the age of 21. FBI got so much interested in him that, after 5 years of prison time they put Frank as their security consultant. This guy even made one of the most infamous escapes two years after.
4. Benny Hinn, The False Prophet
Since, 1980’s he has been running his campaign claiming himself as a Christian Prophet of Healing. His ‘Miracle Crusade’ videos of healing people in the oddest ways even can be found on Youtube. His rituals even as grand as in stadium venues with thousands of people. His ministry collects $100 million donation annually. That, he spent buying his $10 million mansion and $36 million worth of Jet Planes. Though his healing power been proven as fraud, but still his believers kept him away from jail time.
5. Sholam Weiss, Committed Grandest White Collar Crime in History
In 1990, Sholam Weiss along with his few other con friends, who were business owners and attorneys, bought the National Heritage Insurance Company. That they looted and fleeced for it was worth, putting it in debt of $450 million. Also managed to keep it out of FBI’s notice for years. When his fraud and collapse of an insurance company was identified he fled the country, in 2000. Sadly, he was captured and serving for 845 years of prison. Man, I will be even more surprised if he lived that long.
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