An International Organization Of Law Enforcement Professionals: Established in 1986

A Con Man’s Mentality

By: Dennis M. Marlock ©2002

Several years ago, I had occasion to engage the husband of a Gypsy fortune teller in a philosophical discussion involving the nature of his wife's inherently dishonest career.  "Why do you continue to take advantage of other people's misery and ignorance?" I asked.  "Doesn’t running from the law ever wear you out?"

"You must be kidding," he said, "look at what I've got.  I buy a new car every year, my wife brings in over $500,000 a year without any real effort, and I don't pay any taxes."  Now well into the gloating stage he continued:  "I never had to work a day in my life.  Suddenly you come along and suggest that I give it up.  For what?  I should work like those other suckers, give half my income to the government, and be happy with a lot less.  You've got to be kidding," he repeated.

"Sure," I said, "you're beating the system, but times have changed, and you and your wife will eventually have to answer for your crimes.  And I think you know it."

 "We're willing to take that chance,” he replied.  “It's what we do for a living, and we won't stop until someone stops us.  And I don't see that happening any time soon."

"If I didn't know better," I said, "it appears you just fell prey to one of your wife's fanciful predictions."

He smiled, shook his head, and said,  "You just keep up the hard work, Dennis, because I don't have the time for it, I've a new car to buy."

This was not my first exposure to an ideology so firmly rooted in the belief that hard work is only for suckers.  On the contrary, I have never met a con artist who believed otherwise. 

Another version of this rationalization came from a career con artist I arrested for posing as a police officer.  In defending his choice of professions, he offered the following:  "The only jobs I could get before becoming a con man were always low paying, go-nowhere jobs.  Now I make a lot of money.  I get to travel all over the country, and I don't have to answer to nobody."  He closed with, "I'm doing what hardworking suckers would like to be doing, but they just don't have the guts to take a chance." 

Perhaps the con artists are correct. After all, why should they be forced to make any worthwhile contributions to society, or become hard working suckers. In keeping with their beliefs and desires, I and countless other officers shall do everything within our power to place such people into a society where hard work is completely unnecessary---In Prison.

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