In Anatomy of a Con Artist: The 14 Red Flags to Spot Scammers, Grifters, and Thieves, Johnathan Walton recounts his friendship with the charismatic Mair Smyth, who he thought was an Irish heiress until she stole his life savings and shattered his peace of mind. This harrowing experience and his long quest for justice inspired in Walton a new calling to help victims of fraud. Here, he offers critical relationship red flags to watch out for, guidance on what to do if one has been scammed, and tips on "pitching" a criminal case to the police.
Reality TV producer Walton hosts the popular true-crime podcast Queen of the Con. Each of the real-life stories he features in this book contains multiple red flags; if the victims knew to look for these warning signals, they might have prevented the fraud. When in doubt, Walton advises, a basic Internet search with a consumer background-check service is a good starting point.
Walton delves into the fascinating psychology of con artists, explaining how they use emotions to gain entry into their targets' lives. They don't "outsmart" their marks; instead, they "out-feel" them by making them care deeply about the con artist or their cause. Professional scammers can even be someone a victim has known their entire life, as in a case Walton recounts of a 50-something IT professional who was defrauded out of $365,000 by a high school friend.
Walton is an engaging storyteller, and his tools for spotting potential con artists are priceless resources because, ultimately, these dishonest individuals "don't just take your money, they take a piece of your soul." --Shahina Piyarali