From offers 'too good to be true' to presenting false information, confidence schemes are employed worldwide for illicit financial gain. Some criminals, known as confidence men (or women), con artists, or grifters, rely on a gift for gab or lies and deception to steal money or commit other crimes. When on top of his or her game, the con artist can manipulate or trick a victim into willfully handing money over, usually in anticipation of a bogus financial return. ""Cons and Frauds"" looks at the history of these moneymaking scams, how individuals and police can fight them, and what signs to look for to avoid being the next dupe on a con artist's list.Chapters include, Anatomy of a Con, How to Avoid Common Scams, ID Theft, E-Cons: Scamming on the Grifter Superhighway, and Educating the Public.

Consultant editor: John L. French