***ClickSearch is NOT a phone spying service. Users will never have the ability to surreptitiously track, monitor, or spy on someone’s phone. ClickSearch cannot be used to stalk, secretly track, or monitor someone’s cell phone without them knowing.***

If you’re trying to expose a con artist, you can rely on tech-advanced people search sites. Web-based people search engines like ClickSearch can help you efficiently acquire valuable information just by typing in someone’s first and last name. Some modern platforms even offer reverse address search, reverse phone lookup, or reverse image search.

What are Con Artists?

Swindlers, grifters, bamboozlers, shysters, hustlers – all these people are technically con artists. They may be addressed differently or are named other names, but their schemes and attacks all boil down to deception. 

Con artist is a shortened term for confidence artist. After all, their fraudulent activities all start with intentionally and cautiously gaining the trust and confidence of their target victims. Using pre-arranged circumstances or pre-drafted stories, they lie, fool, cheat, and manipulate people. They make use of false scenarios, creating false beliefs and false expectations. They sugar-coat and over-sell whatever tactic they choose to use – from enticing product promos to inviting service packages to profitable business proposals to beneficial loan arrangements. Some even take advantage of human needs or emotions such as what happens in romance scams.

Ultimately, the goal of con men is to make money. And, unfortunately, spotting one is harder than it seems. These malicious people have spent countless hours perfecting their confidence, their tone, their approaches, and even their charisma. In most cases, they execute their fraudulent schemes without guilt or remorse. Con artists are known for their misplaced egos. Psychology experts characterize them as psychopaths, narcissists, or Machiavellians.

5 Common Con Artist Schemes

Con artists are creative and innovative individuals. They always come up with new ways of executing their schemes and accomplishing their goals. Here are some of the most used attacks of these fraudsters. 

• Street Swindling

These are executed in public places. While the takeaway is usually just a few dollars, these can be done more easily and quickly than they can target as many victims as they desire. 

One example of a street con is the so-called Pigeon Drop. The con strategically plants an envelope of cash somewhere their target can surely spot and will wait to move until the victim spots it first. The con will then sway the victim to split the money equally and using a distraction, the target ends up with an envelope full of paper. 

• Investment Scams

These are usually executed on trading platforms or within communities of potential investors. In this scheme, cons take advantage of people’s ignorance of the essential rules of trading or marketing, as well as poor math skills, subjectivity, and greed. 

Pyramid schemes or sugar-coated as “multi-level marketing” are the most common forms of investment scams. This involves recruiting people who are willing to shell out money in exchange for a promised high ROI in a short time. 

• Advance Fee Fraud

This scheme is usually done virtually or remotely. This is more popularly known as the Nigerian Money Transfer Scheme or Nigerian Scam. 

In this attack, the cons introduce themselves as heirs or relatives of a recently deposed ruler. They seek help from their targets, asking them to shoulder the fees of certain transactions to process the release of their money.

• Fake Products/Services

These are online sales scams that target gullible or careless consumers. These happen on various digital marketplaces or web-based stores. 

The cons offer fake products or non-existent services. They make the ads enticing enough that they get to convince their targets to agree to a pay-as-you-order setup. 

• Loans/Mortgages Bluff

These fraudulent schemes involve cash loans, credit refinancing, home mortgages, and various other large-scale loans. 

Cons usually target individuals who they know are already in deep financial troubles. One example of these is the so-called ‘debt removal’ services. They will ask for a large fee in exchange for some sort of a certificate that’s meant to invalidate your loan. But, of course, the said certificate is worthless.  

People Search Sites and Other Ways of Outsmarting Con Artists

Con artists are professional swindlers who have mastered the game of deceit and manipulation. Nevertheless, while it’s not so easy to find a person with such malicious intentions, there are certain things you can do to protect yourself. 

• What is a People Search Engine and How Does it Help?

The top people search sites are web search engines that are specifically programmed for people searching. Premium platforms like ClickSearch enable users to acquire valuable information just by typing in one’s name or phone number. ClickSearch, specifically, constantly collates information from reliable sources and simultaneously updates its databases to ensure only accurate and up-to-date details will be included in the generated reports.

Using any internet-enabled device, you can gain access to anyone’s personal information and public records.

• Legal name
• Age
• Gender
• State of origin
• Contact details
• Home addresses
• Education
• Employment
• Criminal records
• Arrest reports
• Properties

The reports are extensive and can significantly help you in verifying one’s true identity. You can also use the information you acquire to confirm whether the person you’re engaging or transacting with has good intentions. 

• What are Other Ways of Protecting Yourself from Cons

Aside from running standard or criminal background checks on the person who’s trying to persuade you about something, here are some other precautionary measures you can take.

• Be Keen. Be vigilant and pay attention to their tone, body language, and choice of words. Extreme extroversion, excessive confidence, and unwavering composure could all be tell-tale signs. Try to look them in the eyes if possible.
  
• Be Suspicious. Don’t be gullible. Try to challenge whatever the person is offering you. Probe until you get satisfactory answers and not just desirable statements. Remember, anything that’s too good to be true, it probably is.
• Be Careful. Be mindful of the details you disclose, as well as your body language. Cons are merely looking for loopholes and weaknesses so be sure to always put your guard up.

Conclusion

Several paid or free people search sites and tech-advanced tools are now available to help steer you away from such criminals. But at the end of the day, you have the biggest role to play when it comes to your safety and security.

Tiffany Hill

Tiffany is a lead writer who has a passion for all of the latest use of technology. Tiffany has been writing and delivering the latest app reviews and news for ClickSearch. She is an unbelievable author and continues to produce must-read content.