Why Con Artists See Right Through You

Ever wonder how con artists seem to know *exactly* how to manipulate their victims? In this video, we take a deep dive into *The Confidence Game* by Maria Konnikova, unraveling the psychological tricks behind some of history’s most infamous cons. From charming grifters to elaborate deceptions, we break down why you might be more vulnerable than you think. Learn how trust, optimism, and even your own vanity can be weaponized against you—and how to spot the con before it’s too late. Buckle up, because this journey will make you question everything.

#conartists #psychology #trustissues #selfawareness #MariaKonnikova

Become a member of this channel to enjoy benefits:

[Bigger-Than-Jesus]

This is a fantastic video! Now i have to get that book! Thank you so much for this excellent Video! I now feel confident that I can spot the con before it’s too late! ~ Subscribed!!



JUST KIDDING!! I was fuckin CONNING you, dumb ass!! it sucked! thumbs DOWN

[aroundtheworldtoo]

"It's easier to fool people than to convince them that they have been fooled."

-Mark Twain

[RandomPerson]

I had a con artist who was my best friend for years. He said the secret is not to lie to anyone but to get people to lie to themselves. It's the person who lies to themselves or as who are naive that makes the con work.

[Downecker]

I'm 75 and when I was young a neighbor told me a good one ! He said " When a man with experience meets a man with money , the man with the experience will get the money and the man with the money will get an experience !😂😂

[Mark-ggiy]

The biggest mistake my parents made raising me was instilling the idea that most people are good. They are not. Given the proper motivation, they will all lie, steal, and cheat. I have experienced this firsthand with my father, brother, ex-wife, son, daughter, and, to be honest, nearly everybody. The last was the hardest to overcome. I now have zero interest in giving anybody the next opportunity. I am 68. Yes, I take responsibility for my actions.

[noworneversoulbeach]

Everybody’s weak spot is complete honesty and transparency.

[HappyDav]

"A fish that never opens it's mouth never gets caught" sometimes that fish might starve

[brianhirt]

Even con men get conned. That's what's funny. You want to trick a trickster pay attention to what they want. They will tell you by what they focus their attention on when nobody is looking.

But counterintuitively the strongest defense against being conned is the realization that you can be conned.

[PicaPauDiablo]

Iceburg Slim said it's impossible to con a truly honest man. It's always someone looking for a shortcut that's the opening.

[ericjohnson]

It works both ways: you can ‘see through them’ too…
Maybe not when you’re young & understandably naive, but an expected maturity can be expected to thwart that…
… that’s part of ‘maturing’… getting wiser… & seeing through scams & manipulations even if inconsequential.
One thing I’ve noticed is how unhinged ‘con artists’ get when you play them…
… when you intuitively ‘read them’, & ‘play them out’… even if it’s just a pushy salesperson.
They invest THEIR time & energy in ‘playing you’… & usually get really bent when they realize you just strung them out, ‘wasting’ their time & energy…
… & I’ve literally had ‘cons’ say that in great agitation…😆…

[georgioskaraiskakis]

i think that people who manage to be emotionally detached but, cognitively attached and always put reason and critical thinking above their emotions then, it is almost impossible to fall victims.
Con artists exploit emotional vulnerabilities and that's it.

[brandinojam]

You have the power to close the door on con artists at any point of their con.

[paulturner]

This is my favourite new channel. Kind of like a book club, maybe more like a book review channel for all the most interesting topics. I am glad the algorithm led me to it.

Also, well done on how you have created, produced and more importantly decided to release it. It’s clear you have put a lot of thought into it. It’s only a matter of time now before your channel explodes!

I wish you nothing but success, and please keep flooding my feed with your videos!

[morpheusjones]

I find that con artists can talk a good game at first, but the more you probe their knowledge of anything they say, the excuses start to come out. This is especially true if they speak about something well within your domain. Are you educated about computer science or IT? Good. Ask them their thoughts on the limitations of TCP/IP which is a trivial thing that any intern should know, but only a master with real experience can talk at length about and not falter for even a moment. It is easier for a con artist to legitimately have a career if they took enough care to master entire subjects JUST so that they can con. It' like a con artist spending 8 years to learn enough medical knowledge to become a doctor just to schmooze and bamboozle prospective pharmaceutical drug companies for early access to drugs going through FDA approval to sell on the street. Like WTF. You can just make equal to or greater money just doing the thing you are "qualified" in for real. Con artists have such large egos that they forget that they themselves are not infallible and can be played just like anyone else whether accidently or intentionally.

[Skoopyghost]

I don't think I am a sociopath or a con artist, but back when I was using. Easist drug money came from overly kind people, people who had a massive ego, but won't admit it. Usually naturally skeptical people are hard to fool.

[Cynique_savant]

Cynics are immune to deception - Diogenes

[peterroberts]

Come to think of it, what isn't a con? Work, religion, marriage, education, capitalism, war.. we've all been conned all our lives. And we go with it.

[JP-zfrx]

Trust no one—but most importantly, don’t trust yourself.

[tomprice]

Simple solution - avoid those who boost your ego.

[SweetyKumari]

I watch alot of videos about social psychology(idk if thets what its called) and most of the times I find that ive already figured some stuff before they tell. But in this video i've not only learned something new, but also have realised that ive been conned not so long ago by a friend. Not in a financial but in a emotional sense. Thank you my guy, for teaching me something new everytime i watch you videos. You're doing monumentally well considering you're kind of new on the platform.