Scammed: Cons and Scams Revealed

We have all been scammed at one time or another, with or without realising it. People have been scamming others for thousands of years, and scams work because of two uniquely human traits – greed and gullibility. MapStudio’s new book, Scammed, looks at uncovering the techniques of scams, hoaxes and cons.

Part one looks at famous scams and the psychology of how and why scams work, as well as ways of preventing being scammed and the various types of scams used.

Part two “ready to have some fun” has easy-to-do magic tricks, giving readers challenges, puzzles, predictions and amazing feats and other fun stuff to try out with family and friends. You don’t have to understand an illusion to enjoy it, and what is magic to some is just science to others.

Highlights:

• Famous scams, the psychology of how and why scams work
• Ways to prevent being scammed
• Internet, email and financial scams
• Pseudo-science technology
• Mind over matter : The World of the psychic
• I see dead people : The World of the clairvoyant
• Heal the world (for a price) The world of faith healing
• The latest and greatest : Y2K
• The latest and greatest: Balance bangles hand in the balance
• Scams using Facebook as a platform
• Scams using cell phones as a platform
• Detail on ponzi schemes
• Updates on 419 and similar scams
• More detail on scam protection
• Examples of modern scams
• Psychic fraud
• The Malaysian plane, MH 370
• Celebrity psychics
• Advertising scams, telemarketing scams
• Easy-to-do magic tricks
• Relationship between magic and scams