NCJ Number
43343
Date Published
Unknown
Length
0 pages
Annotation
THIS FILM DEPICTS THE TYPES OF SCHEMES AND TECHNIQUES EMPLOYED BY 'BUNCO ARTISTS' IN AN ATTEMPT TO CREATE A PUBLIC AWARENESS OF THE TRICKS INVOLVED IN CONFINDENCE GAMES AND OUR SUSCEPTIBILITY TO THEM.
Abstract
FOUR SCENARIOS ARE CREATED TO ILLUSTRATE THE DIFFERENT WAYS THAT 'CON ARTISTS' OPERATE: (1) A CONFIDENCE GAME IN WHICH AN ELDERLY WOMAN IS DEFRAUDED OF HER SAVINGS BY A GROUP OF CRIMINALS PRETENDING TO BE BANK OFFICIALS AND GOVERNMENT INVESTIGATORS; (2) AN ENCYCLOPEDIA SELLING SCHEME IN WHICH A WOMAN IS TRICKED INTO SIGNING A MISLEADING BUT LEGALLY BINDING CONTRACT; (3) A FRAUDULENT HOME IMPROVEMENT SCHEME IN WHICH A HOMEOWNER IS FORCED TO PAY AN EXHORBITANT FEE FOR STOLEN MATERIALS USED TO REPAIR HIS ROOF; AND (4) THE 'PIGEON DROP', A COMMON TRICK IN WHICH THE VICTIMS ARE TOLD THAT THEY WILL RECEIVE A LARGE SUM OF CASH IF THEY WILL MAKE A 'SHOW OF FAITH' BY PUTTING UP A SIMILAR SUM AS COLLATERAL; THE COLLATERAL IS THEN STOLEN. IT IS POINTED OUT THAT GREED IS A COMMON FACTOR SHARED BY BUNCO ARTISTS AND THEIR VICTIMS, AND THAT SENIOR CITIZENS ARE ESPECIALLY VULNERABLE TO THIS TYPE OF CRIME. THE VIEWER IS THEN SHOWN ALTERNATIVES TO EACH OF THE FOUR SITUATIONS THAT ILLUSTRATE HOW THE CON ARTISTS COULD HAVE BEEN FRUSTRATED IN THEIR ATTEMPTS HAD THE VICTIMS BEEN BETTER INFORMED ABOUT CONFIDENCE SCHEMES.