HOAXES AND SCAMS A Compendium of Deceptions, Ruses and Swindles

Sifakis (Carl)

ISBN 10: 1854799037 / ISBN 13: 9781854799036

Published by Michael O'Mara Books, 1994

About this Item

Hardback. Featuring an exhaustive collection of the world's most devilish money-making schemes and elaborate practical jokes. The book details the origins and methods of numerous classic scams - from the age-old shell game to cash machine swindles of today - and supplies biographical information on a range of shady characters who took advantage of the avaricious and the gullible for years, including notorious imposters (Count Alessandro di Cagliostro), master swindlers (Charles Ponzi and "Yellow Kid" Weil), brilliant forgers (Louis Marcy) and renowned spiritualist fakers (Daniel D. Home and the Fox sisters). Here's just a sampling of the slippery dealings and ruses investigated : Mass-produced Millet and Corot art forgeries; musical masterpieces "discovered" by Fritz Kreisler; mysterious sightings of Bigfoot and the Loch Ness Monster; phony snake-oil cures for arthritis; the real authors of "Hitler Diaries"; reports of wild animals ravaging New York City; rumours of Paul McCartney's "death" plus much, much more. Illus. 293pp. 4to. h/back. From the library of true crime writer, Wilfred Gregg, with his personal b/plate. F. in F. dw. A fairly heavy book which will require additional postage.

Seller Inventory # 16843

Bibliographic Details

• Title: HOAXES AND SCAMS A Compendium of Deceptions, Ruses and Swindles
• Publisher: Michael O'Mara Books
• Publication Date: 1994
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 1854799037
• ISBN 13: 9781854799036
• Binding: Hardcover / Hardback
• Edition: First edition.
• Condition: Fine
• Dust Jacket Condition: Fine
• Seller catalogs:
  • Frauds/Forgers/Conmen

About this title

Synopsis

This provides a collection of money-making schemes and elaborate practical jokes from around the world. There are over 1000 entries, fully indexed, cross-referenced and laid out in an A-Z format. The book also details the origins and methods of numerous classic scams - from the age-old shell game to cash machine swindles of today - and provides biographical information on a range of shady characters. Topics include the supposed skull of "Piltdown Man" which was regarded as the missing link for a generation before it was proved to be an elaborate hoax and "Dr" John Brinkley who became a millionaire with his quack surgery for reviving male sexual prowess by providing male patients with goats' testicles.