60 Minutes

Tricksters, forgers, fakers, scammers, grifters, swindlers, rounders, and cheats; cons, quacks, frauds, imposters, charlatans, rip off artists, and snake oil salesmen. They hold a fascination, because of their cleverness at separating the gullible from their money.

Little wonder that in the TV news show 60 Minutes, segments that focus on con men are among the most popular.

This book delves into the 60 Minutes archives to describe 19 of the best (or worst, depending on your point of view). Among them is Clifford Irving, who fabricated an autobiography of the reclusive Howard Hughes; Kirby Hensley of the Universal Life Church, who considered religion itself a scam, and sought to ordain millions of people who could gain tax exempt status by starting their own churches; and art forgers so talented that they fooled the top experts. Others include perpetrators of pyramid schemes, stock market swindles, credit card fraud, and workers' comp scams. While some (like Hensley) come across as lovable rogues, others (such as the man selling fake cancer cures) cost people not just their money, but their lives.

This account offers summaries of the 19 cases, with excerpts of dialogue and small TV- screen shaped photos. While this account is entertaining, it's not much of a substitute for the TV episodes themselves. Much can be lost in turning a book into a movie or TV drama, and it turns out that the reverse is true as well.

Nevertheless, readers intrigued with how confidence tricksters fool their gullible victims will likely enjoy this book. Fans of 60 Minutes will appreciate the fact that Mike Wallace gives an introduction, and of course Andy Rooney (arguably a con man of a legal sort) offers a closing commentary.… (altro)