One of my favorite con artist anecdotes involves Viktor ("The Count") Lustig (1890-1947), a sophisticated
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schemer who spoke five languages.
In Chicago during the 1920s, he boldly approached gangster
Al Capone, promising to double a $50,000 investment in 60 days. Capone recognized the Count as a flimflam man but agreed. After all, Lustig knew the fatal consequence of double-crossing the original Scarface.
Lustig flew to New York, working several other scams, then returned to Chicago. He told the enraged Capone the scam had not worked according to plan, then counted the original $50,000 out onto the desk, apologetically explaining he needed the money, too.
Capone was reportedly flabbergasted, expecting either to double his money at someone else's expense or get scammed out of all of it. As Lustig went to the door, Capone proffered $5,000, either to help out a fellow crook or as reward for unexpected honesty.
In fact, Lustig had deposited the money, never intending to use it. A token reward from Capone was always his plan, earning him the title of the Man Who Conned Al Capone. At least, one who lived.
Lustig was also known as the Man Who Sold the Eiffel Tower. But that's another
story.
Con man anecdotes abound in Hustlers and Con Men: An Anecdotal History of the Confidence Man & His Games by J. Robert Nash.
Photo: Chicago Daily News negatives collection, DN-0087660. Courtesy of the Chicago Historical Society.
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