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McAnally's (The Community Pub) => Author Craft => Topic started by: LizW65 on July 30, 2012, 09:26:39 PM

Title: Research: recommend some good non-fiction books on cons and con artists, please
Post by: LizW65 on July 30, 2012, 09:26:39 PM

Thread title says it all, really. :)
I'm looking for complex but low-tech stuff, pre-high tech and personal computer age.  Mid-twentieth century preferred; up to 1970s or so is OK.  Any recommendations most appreciated.

Title: Re: Research: recommend some good non-fiction books on cons and con artists, please
Post by: Lanodantheon on July 31, 2012, 01:48:30 AM

Start with The Art of Intrusion: The Real Stories Behind the Exploits of Hackers, Intruders and Deceivers (http://www.amazon.com/The-Art-Intrusion-Intruders-Deceivers/dp/0471782661/ref=la_B001IO9WEW_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1343698780&sr=1-3) & The Art of Deception: Controlling The Human Element of Security (http://www.amazon.com/The-Art-Deception-Controlling-Security/dp/076454280X/ref=la_B001IO9WEW_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1343698613&sr=1-2) by Kevin Mitnick, You might also enjoy his autobiography Ghost in the Wires: My Adventures as The World's Most Wanted Hacker (http://www.amazon.com/Ghost-Wires-Adventures-Worlds-Wanted/dp/0316037729/ref=la_B001IO9WEW_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1343698868&sr=1-1).

Note about the above books: Mitnicks book do not focus on Technology, they focus on Social Engineering. Which is the art of the Con. 

The main principle of Mitnick's Social Engineering theories is this: "The most vulnerable part of a security/computer system is the human element. " & "The easiest way to get a piece of information you are not supposed to have is to simply ask for it. "

Another Social Engineering book is No Tech Hacking: A Guide to Social Engineering, Dumptser Diving and Shoulder Surfing (http://www.amazon.com/No-Tech-Hacking-Engineering-Dumpster/dp/1597492159/ref=la_B001IO9WEW_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1343698868&sr=1-4) .


That's off the top of my head.

Title: Re: Research: recommend some good non-fiction books on cons and con artists, please
Post by: Lanodantheon on July 31, 2012, 02:06:06 AM

Also try  How to Cheat at Everything: A Con Man Reveals The Secrets of the Esoteric Trade of Cheating, Scams and Hustles by Simon Lovell (http://www.amazon.com/How-Cheat-Everything-Esoteric-Cheating/dp/1560259736/ref=pd_bxgy_b_text_b) . Lovell is the "Con Man Consultant" on the show White Collar.

Title: Re: Research: recommend some good non-fiction books on cons and con artists, please
Post by: LizW65 on July 31, 2012, 12:40:50 PM

Thanks for the suggestions!  The last one sounds most like what I'm looking for.

Title: Re: Research: recommend some good non-fiction books on cons and con artists, please
Post by: Aminar on July 31, 2012, 02:15:01 PM

Watch Catch me if you can, or read the book.  True story written by the conman.

Title: Re: Research: recommend some good non-fiction books on cons and con artists, please
Post by: LizW65 on July 31, 2012, 08:26:17 PM

Just ordered How to Cheat at Everything and Catch Me if You Can.  Those should keep me busy for a while.