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magicalbear New user Missouri, USA 32 Posts |
I am a member here, and have been a magician for several years. I am active in my church, and do magic for lots of people.
Here is where I need the help. I am a Police Officer full time, and we have had a quick change artist come in to town a few times and swindle a bunch of money (near a grand just from our little town). I would really like to learn how to do this so I could show clerks and managers and such how to watch for it. I have watched the videos, but they are too far away to guess what they are doing. Any help would be beneficial. Thanks |
mrunge Inner circle Charleston, SC 3716 Posts |
Here are several to get you started. These will tell you the "methods" used by world famous magicians to add costume changes into their acts.
Some of these might, or might not, be similar to what is being used on the streets but at least can give you an insight into what could be taking place. Good luck, and stay safe out there! Mark. "Instant Magic Costume Changes" by Monica "Monique" Monros book and DVD: http://www.misdirections.com/book2.htm (about 1/2 way down page - combo package) "Art Of Costume Change" DVD: http://www.hanklee.org/xcart/product.php......p;page=1 "Quick Change" by Lee Alex book: http://www.hanklee.org/xcart/product.php......p;page=1 |
magicalbear New user Missouri, USA 32 Posts |
Not clothing changes......they are using sleight of hand to steal money..... but thanks
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mrunge Inner circle Charleston, SC 3716 Posts |
Ohhh...well...try this.
"Hornswaggled Again" by Ron Bauer. This is a full description on the "short changed" effect with money. Maybe this will help. http://www.dennymagic.com/cgi-bin/hazel.......m=005075 Mark. |
mrunge Inner circle Charleston, SC 3716 Posts |
You should also (definitely) get the book "Billion Dollar Bunko" by Simon Lovell. This book will tell you about every (almost) scam known and includes a section titled "Shorting The Change."
It is now out of print but can still be found in magic stores, although you might have to look for it. Here is a link where they say it's in stock. http://www.mjmmagic.com/store/billion-do......095.html Mark. |
Jaz Inner circle NJ, U.S. 6111 Posts |
One source that may help is a little booklet called "The Change Raisers" by W.M. Tucker. "Change Raisers are the grifters who trick cashiers and clerks into returning too much change. Includes information on other shortchange artists and other cash register scams, including The Marked Bill, The Split Bill, The Torn Bill and other con games. 32 pages, paperbound. 1992"
Another is "Billion Dollar Bunko" book by Simon Lovell. "..this huge book describes hundreds of cons, scams and cheats that infest our world today." |
sfmiraj New user san fransicko, CA 45 Posts |
"Hornswaggled Again" and its variations have little to do with true short change con. Short Change 'artists' are lowlifes who resort to nickle and dime hustles. While the method may vary from hustle to hustle, what doesn't seem to change is their interaction with cash register operators.
They are quick talkers. Always seem to be in a hurry and their act portrays them as short tempered. They can strike when lines are long therefore confusing the register operator. All of these factors combine to rattle the cashier. The objective is to get the cashier to take the hustler at face value since it may sound like he knows what he's saying. In the end, the cashier essentially 'gives in' to the hustler, going against their own better judgement to avoid upsetting and inconveniencing the rest of the patrons. Who wants to be embarrassed in front of people? In just a few seconds, the act is over and the hustler walks off with a few bucks. A short con, but effective. The best defense is to tell the cashier to lay the bill on the register in VIEW, STOP, & THINK. If there's any doubt, tell the cashier to not continue with the transaction. |
magicalbear New user Missouri, USA 32 Posts |
That is a huge help guys...sfm...the guys we are dealing with is making about a hundred bucks a whack....and doing it all over the state..they have been arrested, and still continue to do it. thanks for all your help, I will continue to search...
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Simon Lovell V.I.P. 506 Posts |
Magical bear,
I have done talks worldwide to law enforcement agencies on a mariad of scams, hustles and cons. I just recently did a three hour lecture for the governments Strategic Studies Group on the art of misinformation (fill in all your own jokes there!). If you'd like to contact me please send me a private message and I'll get my phone number to you. I won't be back until Saturday but am more than happy to help out with information for you. Simon |
sfmiraj New user san fransicko, CA 45 Posts |
Quote:
On 2006-11-22 21:05, magicalbear wrote: A hundred a whack? Hmmm... sounds like more than a short change action going on. If you're willing to send video of the possible transaction, I can review it and see if there are more nefarious activity occuring. Can you offer a little more info? Such as the type/genres of stores they are hitting? Are they strictly cash transactions? Credit cards, cashier checks, travelers cheques, money orders? Counterfitting or collusion may be occuring. If you can narrow down the details/descriptions, we can better evaluate the activity. don't hesitate to PM me for any other assistance. -rk |
magicalbear New user Missouri, USA 32 Posts |
It is strictly cash.....they are hitting wal mart stores over and over, and the last time they hit a couple of convienient (sp) stores in addition. The last time the Wal Mart store did not fall for it and called for a manager...as for video, the video is almost like a time lapse, and there is no audio. There are no "funny" bills that we have found. This is also sleight of hand and mouth...they are very "agitated" acting, and very aggressive in demeanor.
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sfmiraj New user san fransicko, CA 45 Posts |
The additional info helps, thanks. Their attitude and demeanor is consistent with typical short change cons. I speculate that during these transactions, the perps engage in back and forth transactions of the bills. "I'll pay with a hundred dollar bill. Can I get some change for that? Here take this back, can I get that in 20's 10's and fives. NO! that's NOT WHAT I SAID!!! Here take these back and give me what I said...." etc. They are probably derogatory and belittling toward the cashier.
Repeated exchange of multiple bills, with increasing agitation, anger, volume, etc. Just as magicians, they may ring in a few cold bills of lower denomination on the off beat, in the middle of all of this - unknowing to the cashier. In the movie, The Grifters, Cusak's character pulls off something remotely similar while at the bar (poorly done). The Wal Mart hustlers execute their stunts much more effectively, no doubt. Humans are all susceptible. Which is why they work. They are preying on the human element and try to rattle the cashier. With this con, there isn't one specific thing to tell employees, unfortunately. Education is the best tool. My previous posts are probably the only way to defend. The cashier MUST complete a single transaction at a time and NOT cut corners to save time by executing multiple actions at once. Regardless of how the perp behaves, the cashier must remain in control of the situation. Remind the employees that the ENTIRE thing is a prescripted ACT. Interview the cashiers that foiled the perps. Ask them what transactions the perps demanded. What they said. What size bills they used. I doubt the cons are sophisticated enough to drastically alter their script from situation to situation. Additionally, education on counterfeit bills is never a bad thing. Wal Mart should already have measures in place, but the smaller houses may not be aware of all countermeasures. You may already be familiar with them, but simple things like employing bill detector pens. These are felt tip pens that when a non currency bill is marked, will turn black. These are very effective, efficient, and easy to use. Showing employees all the different markings within US currency (translucent tape that runs the width of bills, blue and red threads woven into the bills, recognition of the nuances of the texture of paper bills, etc). hope this helps. |
magicalbear New user Missouri, USA 32 Posts |
Helps a ton.....i will also add that so far every transaction has started with the purchase of somehting like candy or peanuts (usually less than a dollar) and paid for with a 100 or 50....nothing less. Then all the scripting takes place, I think one victim claimed that he said "can I get 10 20's for that hundred" and she counted what he said, not what she knew in her head was right. Thanks for the help, I am gonna get a class together to give to the clerks around here. If they can do it, so can I, but in a good way.
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sfmiraj New user san fransicko, CA 45 Posts |
Quote:
On 2006-11-30 19:03, magicalbear wrote: Interesting. Their MO is identical to all other short change cons. I forgot to mention the purchase item...usually something of small/insignificant value as you've pointed out. All large value bill transactions should be treated with a much higher degree of scrutiny and skepticism. Linguistic deception is more pronounced than sleight of hand manip, though do not rule it out. Upon coaching the employees, reiterate all of the above as RED FLAGS. Unfortunately, it is a battle ground. The cashiers are on the front line and are the primary (sole?) line of defense. Security guards, cameras, etc. are ineffective in my mind. Inventory control specialist wrongly relies on these technologies/methods as the only line of defense. Just as Casinos rely on the eye in the sky. The action is in the pit, not in front of a sea of video monitors with a sleepy attendant. A high probability exists that these hoods are a part of a greater organized crime mob. They may be connected by ethnicity. Racial profiling is a touchy subject (I'm of foreign decent), but can be a unique clue to their method of operation. Combine all the above with the reality of overworked, under paid, under appreciated cashiers, and you have a major hole in security. I'll repeat myself - The weakest link of cons are the HUMAN ELEMENT. Please keep us updated! |
TrickeryMagic New user NJ 77 Posts |
Hi magicalbear.
I used to manage a deep discount drug chain for way too many years. Each store housed a minimum of 40 employees. Most of the stores I set up were in not so great areas and we had our share of quick change artists. My cashiers and stockers were trained to handle these type of situations. In most cases arrests were made. If you'd like, call me at the shop - 973-657-0446 any time after 2pm EST, Mon.-Fri. and I would be happy to share many of their secrets. In every arrest made, simple misdirection and 'knowing the spectator to pick' were the only magic principles involved. |
Darkfrog Regular user 137 Posts |
One of the way the change raise con works is by adding additional steps to a transaction, e.g. when given a $20 bill back in change, immediately asking to exchange the $20 for a ten and 2 fives. It is during the extra transaction, that the con happens because the additional transaction adds confusion and extra time to make the cashier forget something important. We tell our receptionist that if someone does something like that, ask for a bill to be broken, ALWAYS, tell the customer to let them finish the first transaction, then they will gladly make change. ONE TRANSACTION AT A TIME is the way to foil the change raiser. We also always leave the original payment laying accross the drawer while making the change so that someone can't claim they gave us a different denomination. If you put the bill under the clip right away, you can fall for a different con where an accomplice earlier has paid with a bigger bill with some special marking on it, then the new guy describes the special mark (like a phone number, or a doodle of some sort) to "prove" that was the one they paid with. If they become belligerent or rude, call over a manager.
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