Throughout history, the world has witnessed some of the most cunning and audacious con artists who deceived people in unimaginable ways. Some sold iconic landmarks, others impersonated royalty, and many amassed immense wealth through fraudulent schemes. Here’s a list of ten of the most notorious scammers and their legendary deceptions.
1. Vincenzo Peruggia – The Man Who Stole the Mona Lisa
Vincenzo Peruggia (1881–1925) was an Italian museum worker and artist, infamous for stealing the Mona Lisa from the Louvre in Paris on August 21, 1911. Disguised as a museum employee, Peruggia hid inside the museum overnight and walked out the next morning with the painting under his coat. He kept it hidden in his apartment for two years before attempting to return it to Italy, leading to his arrest in 1913.
2. Gregor MacGregor – The Fake Prince of Poyais
After serving as a general in the Venezuelan War of Independence, Gregor MacGregor returned to Britain in the 1820s, claiming he had been granted an eight-million-acre territory in present-day Honduras. He convinced investors and settlers to support his fictional “Kingdom of Poyais.” Hundreds of hopeful settlers traveled there, only to find an uninhabitable jungle. Many perished, and MacGregor eventually fled, leaving financial ruin in his wake.
3. Frank Abagnale – The Master Impostor
Frank Abagnale, an American fraudster, gained notoriety for his identity scams, which inspired the 2002 film Catch Me If You Can. By the age of 21, he had successfully impersonated a pilot, doctor, and lawyer, cashing fraudulent checks worth over $2.5 million. After being arrested, he later worked with the U.S. government to help combat financial fraud.
4. Charles Ponzi – The Father of the Ponzi Scheme
Charles Ponzi, an Italian swindler, orchestrated one of the biggest financial scams of the early 20th century. He promised investors high returns through international postage arbitrage but instead used funds from new investors to pay off earlier ones. The scheme collapsed, leaving thousands bankrupt. Ponzi was eventually arrested and deported to Italy.
5. Elizabeth Holmes – The Fraudulent Tech Billionaire
Elizabeth Holmes, founder of Theranos, claimed her company could perform multiple medical tests with just a few drops of blood. Valued at $9 billion, Theranos was later exposed as fraudulent when its technology was found unreliable. Holmes was convicted of fraud in 2022 and sentenced to 11 years in prison.
6. The False Dmitrys – Impostors to the Russian Throne
Three different impostors claimed to be Dmitry Ivanovich, the son of Ivan the Terrible. The first False Dmitry seized the Russian throne in 1605 but was killed within a year. Two other pretenders followed, each gaining temporary support before being executed. These scams led to chaos in early 17th-century Russia.
7. Sylvia Browne – The Fake Psychic
Sylvia Browne gained fame as a television psychic, falsely claiming to communicate with the dead and solve missing persons cases. Many of her predictions were incorrect, and she was eventually exposed as a fraud. She was also convicted of investment fraud and theft.
8. Natwarlal – India’s Notorious Conman
Natwarlal (born 1912) was one of India’s most infamous fraudsters, known for repeatedly selling the Taj Mahal, Red Fort, and even the Indian Parliament. A master of disguise and deception, he escaped from prison multiple times before disappearing in 1996 at the age of 84.
9. Victor Lustig – The Man Who Sold the Eiffel Tower
Victor Lustig (1890–1947) was a notorious con artist who tricked scrap metal dealers into believing the Eiffel Tower was for sale. He successfully executed the scam twice before fleeing to the U.S., where he was later arrested for counterfeiting.
10. George C. Parker – The Man Who Sold the Brooklyn Bridge
In the 19th century, George Parker repeatedly sold New York’s Brooklyn Bridge to unsuspecting buyers. He convinced them they could charge tolls to pedestrians and vehicles. When victims tried to set up toll booths, the police quickly stopped them. Parker was eventually caught and sentenced to life in prison.
Conclusion
History is filled with con artists who exploited people’s trust and greed to execute some of the most daring scams ever seen. Despite their temporary success, most met unfortunate fates, often ending up in prison, exile, or poverty. Their stories serve as a cautionary tale about the dangers of deception and the importance of due diligence.