Understanding the Con Man Mind--Your Key to Financial Survival

--Be they a Carnival Shell Game Operator, a Captain of Industry, or a Prominent Politician, knowing the Rules of their Game is essential to Protecting your Money and all Financial Assets from the Con Man

With the ringing sincerity of a used car salesman's hand shake, you are often asked to accept with blind faith many supposed"facts of life"

No hint, suggestion, or innuendo is ever offered that a strict Rules Regimen was foisted on you--to maneuver you into a vulnerable state.

What Rules must the con man follow in order to fleece, pillage, and plunder--to rob, steal, embezzle, and defraud? There are Rules of the Game. The con man must learn these Rules well, if he hopes to insulate himself from the consequences of pick-pocketing your wallet.

Now, visualize yourself as the con man. Up, up, and away then. Here we go, with these sacrosanct Rules which you must follow in order to be successful:

> You must always instill a firm "Us against Them" feeling in your followers. They must be constantly led to believe that only your philosophy is the correct one in fighting this conspiracy-- out to "get" you. You must inculcate the urgency of winning this battle so strongly among your followers that it would sound like losing it would be akin to being sentenced to cutting an acre of grass--with their teeth.

> The end always justifies the means because you are playing a zero sum game. Either you have it, or don't--or "they" have it, or don't. Setting up a very tangible, clear cut goal, but one cloaked in mystery, is a stealth strategy that pays off. Yes, it's the bringing together of these seemingly conflicting elements that does it.

> Rules only apply to your enemies. Not to you, the con man. Always demand that your opponents religiously follow the Rules.
Pin-point these Rules. Spell them out. The old axiom--give me ambiguity or give me something else--has no place here.

> Ruthlessness is essential. You must do whatever it takes to create and maintain power and control. As a cunning, skillful con man, exercise your white-knuckle grip.

> A respectable public face is essential. If you have overcome a dread disease, talk about it. (If not, make one up.) If you served in the Armed Forces, burnish your image by making yourself a war hero. Proclaim yourself a born-again sinner. Everybody loves a hero. These are just a few examples of options you have.

> Manipulation, blackmail, bribery, lies, and half-truths are all O.K.. if they will further your ends. Remember, a kick in the butt is only a few inches from a pat on the back.

> Without exception, always claim the high moral ground. Let it be known that God is on your side, and the Devil reincarnate is in the driver's seat of your enemies' attacks on you. It's lonely at the top, but you do eat better.

> Create a "Code," within which you can give orders without it being known that you are giving orders. Guard yourself from any incriminating connection. (You can't really be expected to answer an anonymous letter, can you?)

> Use disinformation readily. It is a great tool for conning and manipulating.
Do it, constantly. You can't give your followers a coffee break; it would take too long to retrain them.

> Keep as few records as possible. Share your records--only--on a strict need-to- know basis. And, with only the dumbest, most inept people in your following. (Like giving a drunk another drink to sober him up.)

> Never pay directly for any criminal services you might require--forgers, bribers, etc. Always use an indirect method, so nobody can connect you, if discovered.

> If anything goes wrong, deny the allegation and damn the alligator. Start a verbal fire storm. Remember it doesn't matter what the temperature is, it's always room temperature.

The world of the con man is, purposely, so filled with confusion and distortion that everything is either a half-truth or a half-lie, depending upon which version you are talking about.

Thus, in the final analysis, it's the one who slices the bread that controls its distribution on the bread line. You--as the potential victim, then--must be able to recognize all the slight-of-hand trickery of the one operating the slicer.

To guard yourself from rationing.

And, perhaps, even starvation.