grifter meaning

Understanding What It Means To Be a Grifter

A “grifter” is a slang term for someone who engages in petty or small-scale swindling. Essentially, a grifter is a con artist who tricks people out of their money through fraud and deception. But there’s more nuance to the term than just that basic definition. Let’s take a deeper look at what it really means to be a grifter.

The Origins of the Term “Grifter”

The word “grifter” first emerged in the early 20th century criminal underworld. Back in the 1920s and 30s, a grifter referred to a pickpocket or street hustler who made a living through petty theft and scams. Over time, the term broadened to encompass more types of small-time criminals who swindle folks out of cash.
These days, calling someone a grifter implies they are more than just a common thief – they are skilled at gaining people’s trust and exploiting it for monetary gain. A true grifter is a smooth talker and clever schemer who can convince even skeptical marks to fork over their hard-earned money.

Common Tactics and Schemes of Grifters

Grifters employ all sorts of tricks and tactics to pull off their cons. Here are some of the most common grifting schemes:

The Pigeon Drop

This infamous scam has two grifters working together. One grifter pretends to find a large sum of cash on the ground. When an unsuspecting victim (the “pigeon”) comes by, the other grifter offers to split the money if they put up some “good faith” cash first. Of course, once the victim produces their money, the grifters take off with it.

Fake Injury Scams

A grifter purposely stages an injury, often in a public place like a supermarket. They make a huge commotion about their “injury” with the goal of demanding money from the business to prevent them from filing a lawsuit. This type of insurance fraud scam is often pulled off using fake slip-and-fall injuries or faked food poisoning incidents.

Fortune Telling Fraud

Grifters posing as psychics or fortune tellers flag down passerby on the street and convince them that a horrible misfortune will happen unless they pay for an expensive “cleansing ritual.” This simple curse scam continues to fool superstitious folks out of outrageous sums like hundreds or even thousands of dollars.

Fake Charity Schemes

One of the lowest grifts is when a scammer sets up a bogus charity organization to take advantage of other people’s generosity. This con artist will stand on street corners and ask for donations, or even go door-to-door soliciting funds for a cause that doesn’t actually exist. All the money they collect just goes straight into their own pockets.

Who Typically Becomes a Grifter

Grifters can come from all walks of life. Con artists are found among all ages, genders, nationalities, and socioeconomic backgrounds. However, some common motivations and traits exist among many who become petty swindlers, including:

• Financial desperation – Rising inequality means more people struggle in poverty, leading some to grift out of desperation.
• Thrill seeking – Some grifters just get an adrenaline rush or high from pulling off a clever scam.
• Lack of empathy – Most con artists display narcissistic or antisocial behaviors, like lack of remorse for their victims.
• History of childhood trauma – Studies link adverse childhood experiences to higher rates of adult criminality.

Of course, these factors do not excuse the actions of grifters or other scammers who knowingly steal from and manipulate their victims. But understanding the psychology behind grifting can help prevent folks from falling prey to schemes in the first place.

Examples of Famous Grifters

Both real-life and fictional grifters abound in popular culture. Here are some of the most notorious schemers, scammers, and flimflam artists:

Frank Abagnale

The incredible story of Frank Abagnale became the basis for the 2002 film Catch Me If You Can. Between ages 16 and 21, Abagnale grifted over $2.5 million by posing as a pilot, doctor, and lawyer – all without any formal credentials or training. His youthful charisma allowed him to evade capture while cashing forged checks across 26 countries.

Anna Delvey

Anna “Delvey” Sorokin scammed New York socialites and luxury hotels out of hundreds of thousands of dollars. This Russian-born grifter pretended to be a wealthy German heiress in order to secure loans and skip out on bills. Her lavish ruse was eventually uncovered, and she was convicted in 2019 on multiple felony fraud charges.

Harold Hill

Professor Harold Hill, the main character in The Music Man, had to be one of fiction’s most clever grifters. This traveling salesman made his living by tricking small towns into paying for musical instruments and uniforms with the promise of starting a boys’ marching band – then skipping town before anyone realized it was a sham.

Protecting Yourself From Getting Grifted

While most grifter scams seem obvious in hindsight, a truly skilled con artist can fool even smart, skeptical people. Here are some tips to avoid getting swindled:

• Watch for red flags like high-pressure sales tactics or requests for upfront fees.
• Verify a charity is legitimate before donating money.
• Consult with professionals like doctors or lawyers rather than trusting advice from strangers.
• Trust your gut instincts – if a deal seems too good to be true, walk away.

Staying vigilant and protecting your personal information are also key to avoid falling prey to identity theft or online fraud schemes. Consider putting a security freeze on your credit reports as another layer of protection.
If you do get caught up in a grift, don’t feel ashamed – con artists can fool even the most cautious people. Report the fraud to local authorities and contact your bank right away before the thieves can get away with your money. With quick action, grifters may finally face justice for their crimes.