The 10 most famous scammers in human history
In the world filled with history and mysteries, there is a category of people who stand out for their devious and often brilliant scams. From selling famous landmarks that didn’t belong to them to selling fake medicines, these scammers have done everything to deceive people and enrich themselves illegally. Here are the 10 most notorious scammers in human history:
1. Victor Lustig – The man who sold the Eiffel Tower
Victor Lustig was known for selling the Eiffel Tower. Not once, but twice! He deceived people by pretending to be a government official and managed to amass a considerable amount of money through this scam.
2. Charles Ponzi – The inventor of the Ponzi scam
The name Charles Ponzi remains associated with the Ponzi scam. He misled people into investing in a postage stamp scheme by promising high returns. In reality, he was using money from new investors to pay off old ones.
3. Frank Abagnale – The Master of Identity Theft
Frank Abagnale was a genius at deception. He successfully impersonated other people, pretending to be a pilot, doctor, lawyer, and more, allowing him to earn money from these disguises.
4. George C. Parker – Monument Seller
George Parker was known for selling things he didn’t own, like the Brooklyn Bridge and the Statue of Liberty. People actually thought they were buying these famous landmarks!
5. Bernard Madoff – The Greatest Financial Fraud
Bernard Madoff committed the largest financial fraud in American history. He deceived people and organizations into investing billions of dollars in a fake investment scheme.
6. Gregor MacGregor – Inventor of a fictional country
Gregor MacGregor managed to convince people that he was the leader of a fictional country called Poyais. He sold land and raised money for this country that didn’t exist.
7. Soapy Smith – The Soap Price Scam
Soapy Smith was known for his soap price scam. He sold bars of soap pretending there was money inside. But it was all just a ploy to extract money from people.
8. Edward Howard Rulloff – The Criminal Mastermind
Edward Rulloff was considered a genius, but he used his intelligence in the service of crime. A murderer and crook, he was known for his cunning and his ability to escape justice several times.
9. Charles Dawson – The Piltdown Man Scam
Charles Dawson fooled the world with Piltdown Man – a fake fossil he claimed was the missing link between apes and humans. It took scientists 40 years to discover it was a hoax.
10. Cassie Chadwick – The False Carnegie Heiress
Cassie Chadwick posed as the illegitimate daughter of Andrew Carnegie, a wealthy industrialist. She borrowed money from banks claiming she was going to inherit a fortune, but it was all a lie.
These scammers have all left their mark on history, being known not for their good deeds, but for their skillful scams. They remind us how important it is to remain vigilant and not be fooled by people with bad intentions.