The Art of Deception, part 1. The Stories of 5 Infamous Pre-Internet Scammers

Scammers have been around for centuries, preying on unsuspecting people and exploiting their desires for wealth and safety. From elaborate pyramidal schemes to audacious identity thefts, history is filled with tales of cunning con artists.

While their methods and mediums were different before the internet was invented, the fundamental nature of the scam remains unchanged: to deceive others for personal gain.

Here are five of the most notorious imposters from the past.

Charles Ponzi, the father of the pyramid scheme

Charles Ponzi, an Italian immigrant who arrived in the United States in 1903 with just $2.50 in his pocket, is best known as the creator of the 'Ponzi scheme.'

Ponzi discovered the differences in currency exchange rates of international postal stamps, each worth 5 cents. He saw the opportunity to make money, so he started buying cheap stamps from countries where currency was falling in value and redeemed their value in the U.S.

Later, he recruited people from Europe to send him stamps, which he sold in the U.S. for profit. Ponzi expanded his scheme, promising ordinary people huge investment returns, attracting thousands who entrusted him with their money. However, rather than investing the money as promised, he used new investors' funds to pay returns to earlier investors.

This unsustainable pyramidal model, known and used by many others afterward, eventually collapsed.

Victor Lustig, the man who sold the Eiffel Tower twice

In 1925, Victor Lustig learned from a newspaper that the Eiffel Tower had become expensive to maintain, which inspired him to come up with the idea of a scam.

Posing as a government official, Lustig convinced scrap metal dealers that the Eiffel Tower was slated for demolition. He obtained a quote from a dealer in France, sold the rights to salvage the metal, collected a substantial sum, and promptly vanished. The scrap metal dealer was so ashamed of being tricked that he didn't go to the police.

After the scam, Lustig moved to Vienna, but he was back in Paris in a month, trying to sell the Eiffel Tour to different scrap metal dealers. Although he failed this second time, he could still evade arrest, earning him the nickname "The Man Who Sold the Eiffel Tower."

Gregor MacGregor, a successful real estate agent for a fictional land

Gregor MacGregor, a Scottish soldier and adventurer, is best remembered for orchestrating one of the most bold scams in history - selling properties in a

country that didn't exist.

In the early 19th century, MacGregor claimed to be the "Cacique" (chief) of a fictional Central American country called Poyais. He described Poyais as a tropical paradise abundant with natural resources and opportunities for colonization and investment. He published elaborate brochures, fabricated maps, testimonials, and descriptions of the supposed riches of the land.

His marketing efforts proved highly successful, attracting hundreds of eager investors and settlers who were lured by the promise of wealth and opportunity in Poyais. Many sold

their possessions and invested their life savings in the venture, believing they were embarking on a new and prosperous chapter in their lives.

However, Poyais did not exist, and the land was an inhospitable jungle. Many investors lost their fortunes, and MacGregor escaped punishment by fleeing to France.

Ferdinand Waldo Demara, the master of identity thefts

Ferdinand Waldo Demara, also known as "The Great Impostor," was a master of

deception whose exploits would make any contemporary scammer envious.

Under a series of stolen identities, Demara worked as a civil engineer, zoology graduate, doctor of applied psychology, monk (both Trappist and Benedictine), assistant warden at a Texas prison, philosophy dean at a Pennsylvania college, hospital orderly, lawyer, and teacher, among others.

One of Demara's most incredible impersonations occurred in 1951, when he assumed the identity of Dr. Joseph Cyr, a surgeon, and joined the Royal Canadian Navy. Despite having no medical training, Demara performed surgeries aboard the HMCS Cayuga during the Korean War, earning praise for his skillful operations.

Amy Bock, the woman who pretended to be a man to marry a wealthy widow

Amy Bock, a Tasmanian-born New Zealand trickster, spent much of her life doing petty fraud. Her usual pattern involved making emotional claims to her employer or other acquaintances to obtain money or property. She also tried various other scams, such as taking watches for "repair" and claiming to have lost them, shopping under her employer's or acquaintance's name, or selling tickets to concerts or events that never happened.

Bock continued these scams for most of her life, but after her release from prison, she orchestrated the scam of her life: she impersonated a man named "Percy Redwood," a rich sheep farmer.

Under this false identity, Amy Bock courted and married Agnes Ottoway, a wealthy widow, in 1909. The marriage granted Bock access to Ottoway's substantial fortune, which she promptly began squandering on extravagant purchases and gambling. Her deception was eventually uncovered when Ottoway's family grew suspicious and launched an investigation.

Stay safe from scams

Scams have been around for centuries, with impostors and fraudsters finding new and creative ways to deceive people. Even fairy tales have attempted to warn us about the dangers of trusting too easily.

No one is immune to falling victim to scams, especially when we're tempted by offers that seem too good to be true, like a "gingerbread house."

Fortunately, Bitdefender Scamio, our AI-powered scam detector that can help you distinguish between genuine and fake offers. Remember, staying vigilant, being cautious, and using the right tools can help you stay safe from scams.